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Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece
Author Domenic Priore, dubbed by MOJO 'the world's foremost Smile-ologist', has written the definitive book on the entire experience - from the original recording to the revival tour and beyond. He has been in the studio with Wilson, as well as on the road for the celebrated European Smile concerts, and the result is the full version of one of pop's mythic stories. Features forewords by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Previously published by Sanctuary.
199 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 22, 2014
Fluff and disappointing; stuck between biography, reporting, and blog-quality compiling of fsections and chapters, it underwhelms, it loses focus in it's narrative as it jump-jump-jumps around in the telling and largely proves to just be a in-the-know fan driven book (with access!).
Some worth-while tangents on the state of popular music in the early to mid 1960's and southern California culture in the 50's and 60's, but it's a partial telling when it comes to Brian Wilson. Partial and not in-depth though it makes biographical attempts.
I wanted an impartial report from 1966/1967 with ties to Wilson's resurrection later on. This is a fan-magazine issue that's being sold for much more than it's worth. Mind you, I'm judging the book here and not Wilson; it's just a vapid and shallow take on a much broader story, turned into cult-fan fluff that lacked an editor.
Some worth-while tangents on the state of popular music in the early to mid 1960's and southern California culture in the 50's and 60's, but it's a partial telling when it comes to Brian Wilson. Partial and not in-depth though it makes biographical attempts.
I wanted an impartial report from 1966/1967 with ties to Wilson's resurrection later on. This is a fan-magazine issue that's being sold for much more than it's worth. Mind you, I'm judging the book here and not Wilson; it's just a vapid and shallow take on a much broader story, turned into cult-fan fluff that lacked an editor.
August 24, 2015
excellent read for anyone interested in the life and/or music of Brian Wilson. enlightened me on quite a few things that had been misrepresented in many Beach Boys films. great coverage of the creation of most of Brian's music not only Smile. Kill Mike Love.
March 7, 2026
This is just not a great book, unfortunately. I thought it would be all about Brian Wilson's legendary lost album Smile. I thought it would be a break down on recording sessions, techniques, songwriting, musical collaboration. It is not that.
What this book is, is a disjointed, badly edited blog post. There were a lot of things I found odd about this book.
First, the author rattles off lists of clubs in the 60s, and the bands that played them. If you are into the music of the 60s enough to read a book about Brian Wilson, you probably know that the Doors played at Whisky A Go Go. He does this over and over again. Lists of the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, every garage rock band, and every club Brian ever hung out at.
Second, there are just plain mistakes. I spotted errors when describing albums by Van Dyke Parks, and the High Llamas. I am sure there are more that I didn't detect.
Third, the author's frankly unnecessary digs at random things (or Mike Love). He brings up his hate towards red states and Reagan, and also fires off shots at heavy metal music. None of this adds to the narrative. Finally, there is his hate towards Mike Love. This almost seems to border on personal. A person interested enough in Brian or the Beach Boys probably already knows the infamous light that Mike Love has been cast in, and this book would have you believe he is the worst man to ever walk the earth. It's also not kind to the other members of the band either (who he refers to as Beach Boys Inc).
Fourth, the speculation. A lot of this book seems like pure speculation from someone who was not really there. The stuff about the band purposely taking their instruments on the road to prevent Wilson from recording, or the idea that the Beatles had their employees listening in on Smile just seemed to be nothing but speculation.
Next, there is the hagiographic POV this book has when it comes to Brian. It glosses over Brian's drug use, mental state, and eccentricities during the Smile period which have become legendary. If you're interested in the topic, you probably would like to learn more about this- but it's hardly mentioned, and the failure of Smile is laid mostly on his bandmates (especially Love) and corporate executives shoulders.
Finally, the part where the author becomes a character in the story pivotal to the resurgence of Smile as a pat on the back to himself just had me rolling my eyes.
This book isn't a total stinker. It's interesting to hear Parks perspective on Smile, and there are some interesting parts about late 50s and early 60s California culture. And it was also a bit interesting to hear how Brian revisited and created new lyrics for some of the pieces in the 2000s. But what I really wanted- a detailed account how Smile was written and recorded- was simply not there.
Ultimately, if you are wanting something revolving around the actual musicianship, writing, creating, and recording of songs, I'd recommend Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boy's Pet Sounds. I found it a very musically inspiring read.
What this book is, is a disjointed, badly edited blog post. There were a lot of things I found odd about this book.
First, the author rattles off lists of clubs in the 60s, and the bands that played them. If you are into the music of the 60s enough to read a book about Brian Wilson, you probably know that the Doors played at Whisky A Go Go. He does this over and over again. Lists of the Doors, the Grateful Dead, Frank Zappa, every garage rock band, and every club Brian ever hung out at.
Second, there are just plain mistakes. I spotted errors when describing albums by Van Dyke Parks, and the High Llamas. I am sure there are more that I didn't detect.
Third, the author's frankly unnecessary digs at random things (or Mike Love). He brings up his hate towards red states and Reagan, and also fires off shots at heavy metal music. None of this adds to the narrative. Finally, there is his hate towards Mike Love. This almost seems to border on personal. A person interested enough in Brian or the Beach Boys probably already knows the infamous light that Mike Love has been cast in, and this book would have you believe he is the worst man to ever walk the earth. It's also not kind to the other members of the band either (who he refers to as Beach Boys Inc).
Fourth, the speculation. A lot of this book seems like pure speculation from someone who was not really there. The stuff about the band purposely taking their instruments on the road to prevent Wilson from recording, or the idea that the Beatles had their employees listening in on Smile just seemed to be nothing but speculation.
Next, there is the hagiographic POV this book has when it comes to Brian. It glosses over Brian's drug use, mental state, and eccentricities during the Smile period which have become legendary. If you're interested in the topic, you probably would like to learn more about this- but it's hardly mentioned, and the failure of Smile is laid mostly on his bandmates (especially Love) and corporate executives shoulders.
Finally, the part where the author becomes a character in the story pivotal to the resurgence of Smile as a pat on the back to himself just had me rolling my eyes.
This book isn't a total stinker. It's interesting to hear Parks perspective on Smile, and there are some interesting parts about late 50s and early 60s California culture. And it was also a bit interesting to hear how Brian revisited and created new lyrics for some of the pieces in the 2000s. But what I really wanted- a detailed account how Smile was written and recorded- was simply not there.
Ultimately, if you are wanting something revolving around the actual musicianship, writing, creating, and recording of songs, I'd recommend Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boy's Pet Sounds. I found it a very musically inspiring read.
February 25, 2019
Every now and then, I find a book that thrills me with its promise. After all, who doesn't want to know the full story behind one of the great missing pieces of music in history?
And then, you read it.
Sigh.
This book is not a balanced look at Brian Wilson's lost "Smile" album. It is a Wilson fanboy's look at how wrong the Beach Boys, and everyone else, was.
The author, we find our very late, is tight with the Brian Wilson side, and strongly against the other members of the Beach Boys, which of course colors his story. It even leads him to make a few wild assertions. For example, he agrees that maybe their publicist in 1966-67 was actually a spy planted by their friendly rivals, the Beatles. They must have heard an early mix of "Smile," which led them to create "Sgt. Pepper."
Uh, no.
Unfortunately, this book is largely the recollections of one man - and not even Brian Wilson himself. The vast majority seems to come from Van Dyke Parks, the lyricist who worked with Wilson at the time. Other voices are very late to the game, and not very important.
This is not really a comprehensive book on one of the most important albums of the rock era. It's a fanzine article that goes on far too long.
Read more of my reviews on Ralphsbooks.
And then, you read it.
Sigh.
This book is not a balanced look at Brian Wilson's lost "Smile" album. It is a Wilson fanboy's look at how wrong the Beach Boys, and everyone else, was.
The author, we find our very late, is tight with the Brian Wilson side, and strongly against the other members of the Beach Boys, which of course colors his story. It even leads him to make a few wild assertions. For example, he agrees that maybe their publicist in 1966-67 was actually a spy planted by their friendly rivals, the Beatles. They must have heard an early mix of "Smile," which led them to create "Sgt. Pepper."
Uh, no.
Unfortunately, this book is largely the recollections of one man - and not even Brian Wilson himself. The vast majority seems to come from Van Dyke Parks, the lyricist who worked with Wilson at the time. Other voices are very late to the game, and not very important.
This is not really a comprehensive book on one of the most important albums of the rock era. It's a fanzine article that goes on far too long.
Read more of my reviews on Ralphsbooks.
June 18, 2018
If you don't have to have your narratives spoon fed to you in linear fashion, there's a lot to love in this examination of the history of Brian Wilson and his often knuckleheaded family/bandmates in regards to their pre-70s career, with particular emphasis on the troubled sessions for what surely would have been his masterpiece, SMiLE. I have read a fair amount about the Boys from Hawthorne in years past, and I found myself learning new things about those events, much to my surprise, especially when it came to why the project was scrubbed in the wake of the Beatles' SGT. PEPPER'S. This book takes you up to after Brian finally got around to finishing and releasing his version of the record in 2004, to triumphant reviews.
Domenic Priore is an insider, a longtime observer of not only the Beach Boys but the California scene in Los Angeles, and he knows whereof he speaks in regard to the subject. Musician and SMiLE lyricist Van Dyke Parks also contributes a substantial amount of information. If you've ever wondered about this fractious period in the convoluted history of the Beach Boys, you should give this one a read.
Domenic Priore is an insider, a longtime observer of not only the Beach Boys but the California scene in Los Angeles, and he knows whereof he speaks in regard to the subject. Musician and SMiLE lyricist Van Dyke Parks also contributes a substantial amount of information. If you've ever wondered about this fractious period in the convoluted history of the Beach Boys, you should give this one a read.
March 3, 2020
This book was well written and had the information I was seeking, missing from the Brian Wilson autobiography I last read. It is definitely one-sided; we hear from Van Dyke Parks and those who still work with Brian, but are missing the Mike Love and Capitol Records side of what happened. The author also interjects some personal information about himself I didn’t really see pertinent to the story. Still, an enjoyable read.
May 12, 2021
Wow. This is probably the best Brian/Beach Boys-related writing I have personally read (and some of the best music writing in general). This book includes lots of Van Dyke Parks quotes and input, which is certainly nice. This book is clearly coming from the point of view of someone who deeply loves and believes in “SMiLE” as a timeless work of art. I shot through these pages in a couple of days. I recommend you do the same.
December 16, 2023
There's some good information here, much of it courtesy of Van Dyke Parks. Priore is sort of a tiresome voice to me -- the last bit, where he becomes a character himself, is a little much, as is Priore's absolute contempt for the rest of the Beach Boys and his pure hatred of Mike Love. Nonetheless, you probably should read this if you care about one of the most legendary "lost" records in pop music history.
June 3, 2025
A quick, decent read for fans of Brian Wilson and Smile, but Priore makes no effort to provide a balanced or nuanced account of what happened. The other Beach Boys, particularly Mike Love, are presented entirely in the wrong without an exploration of why they felt the way they did. I did enjoy the insights into making the 2004 album.
January 24, 2026
Always curious about any book focused on this album as the story/legend seems to dwarf the actual recording. The author is knowledgeable on Wilson and the music but I would have liked to have heard more about the way the other band members actually reacted as well as the label folks. Glad I read this as I learned quite a bit abut Van Dyke Parks. Guy seems pretty cool.
September 26, 2021
"An interesting book which covered much more than the recording of Smile and went up to Brian Wilson's Smile tour and CD." was what I wrote on 15 April 2010.
Eleven years later I enjoyed reading this book and even played "Brian Wilson presents Smile" and the first disc of "Smile" by the Beach Boys (which had still not been released at the time this book was first published) as I was reading it.
I confess that I quite like some of the music that the Beach Boys recorded without Brian Wilson but it was clear from Mike Love's on stage comments during Beach Boys concerts that Mike Love was pretty obnoxious so no surprise that Mike Love comes across as the villain in this book.
Eleven years later I enjoyed reading this book and even played "Brian Wilson presents Smile" and the first disc of "Smile" by the Beach Boys (which had still not been released at the time this book was first published) as I was reading it.
I confess that I quite like some of the music that the Beach Boys recorded without Brian Wilson but it was clear from Mike Love's on stage comments during Beach Boys concerts that Mike Love was pretty obnoxious so no surprise that Mike Love comes across as the villain in this book.
October 31, 2025
There’s too much adoration of a flawed album and not enough criticism. SMiLE is undeniably great but Pet Sounds it ain’t. With most making-of books about iconic albums, I want to put the book down and just listen to the album and revel it what I love. This one was so over the top it made me question if I actually liked the tracks that much in the first place.
July 11, 2010
An excellent reading. I found particularly touching the last chapters, the ones about the resurrection of Smile.
Of course you have to be familiar with Wilson's work to really appreciate this book.
Of course you have to be familiar with Wilson's work to really appreciate this book.
December 23, 2011
I almost gave up on this on page 2 due to the writing, but I'm glad I didn't because there was worthwhile info and analysis about "Smile" and Beach Boy internal dynamics amidst the fanboy worship. Drugs only come up twice, briefly.
June 8, 2022
Beware - sloppy research, painful fanboy editorializing, and major factual errors abound.
For the straight story on Smile, stick with Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! and Paul Williams' How Deep Is the Ocean.
For the straight story on Smile, stick with Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! and Paul Williams' How Deep Is the Ocean.
June 8, 2012
to be there then and young
January 24, 2016
A good historical account of Brian Wilson's lost masterpiece. The author's writing style seemed a bit self-congratulatory.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews