Wonderful (The Beach Boys song)
"Wonderful" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It was to be included on the ill-fated 1966–1967 Smile album. A reworked version was released on their 1967 album Smiley Smile. A subsequent recording was later released for Brian Wilson's 2004 album Smile.
History
Brian Wilson claims that he and Van Dyke Parks wrote the song along with "Heroes and Villains" "Cabin Essence" and "Surf's Up" in a giant sandbox with a piano in it that Wilson had built in his living room. The original version was based around a harpsichord (with numerous bootlegs documenting Wilson's attempts at recording the basic harpsichord track on his own). The harpsichord track was then mixed with some horn overdubs together with a bass, both entering in the second verse. A recording session featuring only Brian and Al Jardine was held in January 1967 in which they recorded the backing vocals. Afterwards, Brian recorded the lead vocal on his own.
"Wonderful" is linked thematically to the Father/Child song cycle which also included "Child is Father of the Man" and "Surf's Up". It has often been compared to "She's Leaving Home" by The Beatles due to their similar context and baroque-pop recording techniques.
The Smiley Smile version contains sustained organ chords as nearly the only accompaniment. It also includes an interlude not found on the original version. The interlude is based upon a recording Brian made in April 1967 which would act as a fading coda to the song "Vega-Tables". "Vega-Tables" would itself be re-recorded without the coda on Smiley Smile.
The Smile version was completed and performed with the rest of the finally completed Smile songs, live in February 2004 by Brian Wilson and his band, including members of the Wondermints with prior Beach Boys guitarist/vocalist Jeff Foskett. A studio version of the Smile arrangement was subsequently recorded and included on the Smile studio album when it was released later in 2004. The song was released as a limited 7" single backed with "Wind Chimes" totaling 5,000 copies on blue, green, and yellow vinyl.
Credits
- Written by: Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
- Album: Smiley Smile 1967 / Smile 2004
- Time: 2 minutes 21 seconds
- Produced by: The Beach Boys (Smiley Smile)/ Brian Wilson (Smile)
Performers: Smile Version:
- Brian Wilson – lead vocals, keyboards
- Scott Bennett – vocals, keyboards
- Nelson Bragg – vocals, percussion
- Jeffrey Foskett – vocals
- Probyn Gregory – trumpet
- Jim Hines – drums
- Bob Lizik – bass
- Paul Mertens – clarinet
- Taylor Mills – vocals
- Darian Sahanaja – vocals, keyboards
- Nick Walusko – vocals, guitar
- Stockholm Strings 'N' Horns
See also