10 Greatest Albums That Never Happened
2. The Beach Boys: Smile
Smile was intended to be the ambitious follow up to the Beach Boys' groundbreaking Pet Sounds (1966). Brian Wilson's struggles with mental health, have been well documented over the years. But, during the '60s, those close to him, still had no idea as to the extend of his illness. LA in the late '60s was a time of chemical experimentation; if you weren't getting out of your mind on acid, or smoking pot with a religious fervour, you were probably considered a bit of an oddball. Brian Wilson's mounting eccentricities were chalked-off to his excessive indulgence in such activities.
Between '66 -'67 he attempted to create his masterpiece. Initial recording sessions were successful, but over the months, his drug fuelled paranoia started to derail the project. He was convinced his management team were conspiring to end his career. At one point he became so deluded, that he believed his songs had satanic powers. He ended up destroying the take of a particular track, entitled Fire, as he believed it had caused a house fire across the street from the studio. Eventually Wilson became so overwhelmed, that the album was scrapped.
He revisited the project in 2004, recording new material, inspired by the early Smile sessions. Brian Wilson Presents Smile, was hailed by critics as a masterpiece, but Wilson himself, claimed it paled in comparison to his original vision.