Wind Chimes (song)

Infobox Song
Name = Wind Chimes


Border =
Caption =
Type =
Artist = The Beach Boys
alt Artist = Brian Wilson - "Smile"
Album = Smiley Smile
Published =
Released = September 18, 1967
track_no = 8
Recorded = July 10 & 11, 1967
Genre = Pop music
Length = 2:36
Writer =
Composer = Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
Label = Brother Records
Producer = The Beach Boys
Tracks =
prev = "With Me Tonight"
prev_no = 7
next = "Gettin' Hungry"
next_no = 9
Misc =
Audio sample? =

"Wind Chimes" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for the American pop band The Beach Boys, and was intended to be on the aborted 1966 album "Smile". The band completely re-recorded the song for inclusion on their next album, "Smiley Smile". That version was released on the b-side of "Wild Honey", their 1967 single which charted at #31 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

When Brian Wilson returned to finish "Smile" as a solo project in 2004, he would record the song again. This version was also used as a b-side, this time for Wilson's solo recording of Wonderful which charted at #29 in the UK.

Original version

"Wind Chimes" was originally written and recorded for the "Smile" project. It is one of the few songs that was completely finished for the album and was included as one of the previously unreleased tracks on the "" boxset released in 1993.

In its original version, "Wind Chimes" was in AAB form. The A sections feature Carl Wilson on lead vocals, singing over a backing track consisting of vibraphones, percussion, and bass guitar. The B section consists of variations on the bass line from the A section, first sung by the whole group over a full backing track, and then, much more quietly, by three pianos.

The song was recorded in three sessions. On August 3, 1966 at Gold Star Studios, Brian Wilson produced the backing track. Two months later, on October 5, the A sections of the backing track were redone with a much smaller band, and the band recorded their vocals on October 10. The October recording sessions were at Western Studios and were engineered by Chuck Britz.

musicians

*Charles C. Berghofer - upright bass
*Hal Blaine - drums
*Frank Capp - percussion
*Al de Lory - piano
*William Green - clarinet
*Sam Glenn - saxophone
*James Horn - clarinet
*Al Jardine - vocals
*Carol Kaye - bass guitar
*Larry Knechtel - organ
*Mike Love - vocals
*Jay Migliori - saxophone
*Van Dyke Parks - unknown
*Don Randi - piano
*Lyle Ritz - upright bass
*Brian Wilson - vocals
*Carl Wilson - guitar, lead vocal
*Dennis Wilson - vocals

miley Smile version

After "Smile" was abandoned, the group quickly recorded an album, to be released in its place. "Smiley Smile" would be released in September of 1967 and featured both new songs and new recordings of songs originally intended for "Smile". The new version of "Wind Chimes" was recorded by the band on July 10 & 11 at Brian Wilson's home studio. It starts with 2 A sections, just like the original version, but the rest of the song is different, ending with a vocal tag based on a "Smile" track called "Holidays".

As with the other "Smile" songs that were re-recorded for "Smiley Smile", the arrangement is much sparser than the original recording. Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Dennis Wilson all take turns on the lead vocals.

See also

*The Beach Boys
*Smiley Smile
*List of songs by The Beach Boys