BEACH BOYS SMILE ALBUM SIGNED BY BRIAN WILSON 1983 BROTHER RECORDS 1ST PRESS EX

$

285

      This auction is for the rare "THE BEACH BOYS - SMILE" album , released in 1983 on the Brother Records label.  This is a first pressing which came with a one sided insert.  Catalogue number is ST2580.  THIS ALBUM HAS BEEN SIGNED BY BRIAN WILSON (in the middle of the front cover)!  There are so many backstories here, so let's get to it...


            I purchased this album new on one of my frequent trips to NYC back in 1983.  Always on the lookout for anything concerning these sessions, this was probably the first album I saw where the producers tried to make an actual, listenable, album of the SMILE-era songs.  To quote a line from the liner notes insert, "We've taken all material from the SMILE era that we could lay our sweaty hands on and tried to organize it in a relatively smooth-flowing order on this record to give you a glimpse, a very rough approximation of what might have been".

     Of course, over the forty years that followed since this album, there's been multiple boxed sets of recordings concerning SMILE.  But back then...        Apparently, there was a second edition of this release (plainly stated as such on the cover's top right corner) that had updated quality on some songs, and/or different versions of songs that appeared on the this first edition.


      
      THE COVER AND ALBUM ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.  You can see Brian's autograph in the center of the front cover in picture #1, with a closeup in photo #2.  Pics #3 & #4 are of small blunts on the bottom two corners.  #5 is of the back cover, and #6 shows the very beginning of some faint ringwear (to the left of the word "SMILE"), and a light crease along the top edge that starts by the word "Like" in the title "Do You Like Worms?".  

      The next two photographs #7 & #8 are of the track listing, but as it states, you have to see the record labels for the correct playing order.  I'm not sure if you can see it or not in picture #7, but that light crease that starts at the top goes down and gradually diminishes to the left of "Good Vibrations".    Photos #9 -10 - 11 are of the organizations listed at the bottom.  Pic #9 shows a small crease on the bottom left corner.

      Photographs #12 to #15 display each side of the vinyl, and closeups of their labels.

      There is a long SURFACE scratch that can plainly be seen in picture #16.  To make sure, I play-tested the first three tracks on this side, thinking for sure that I would hear something amiss, at least on the first track "George Fell Into His French Horn".  But after also listening to "George Fell",  "Heroes And Villains" and "Vega-Tables"...nothing.  No skips, pops, tics...nada.  The only thing I heard was at the very, very end of "George Fell", where a few light tics could be heard.  But I honestly believe these are inherent in the pressing, OR were on the original acetates (or what have you) that the producers copied from (since I don't hear any problems anywhere else on these tracks).

       Whatever the case, keep all the above in mind before bidding.  I always try to describe items as if YOU are holding the item in your hands and looking at it.


      As stated, this first edition also came with a one-sided insert, which can be seen in full in photos #17 through #21.  I like how it was written by "James Watt  July 4th, 1983".  Back in that year, President Ronald Reagan's Interior Secretary James Watt banned all rock concerts from playing at the National Mall. Watt said "hard rock" music "brought the wrong element," citing drug and alcohol use.  He invited Wayne Newton instead.  The Beach Boys did not play there that year, but did return a year later to play.


      Now...on to the autograph.  The last three pics are of a small flyer from the venue where I was able to meet Brian backstage before the show.  This took place at the F.M. Kirby Center For The Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.  You can see his show listed about halfway down as "An Evening With Brian Wilson   Wednesday  11/11/2009 Pop".  Good thing I kept this with the album...  In the last photo, there is a small picture of Brian in the bottom left corner.

      Though the "meeting" was quick, it was something I will never forget.  There was probably a dozen of us lined up (I received my invite from a radio industry friend that I worked with).  Everybody was allowed one autograph.  When it was my turn, there was Brian sitting atop an instrument case.  He would sign pretty much whatever you gave him.         So...after getting "SMILE" signed, I broke protocol, and whipped out an old Atlantic City Steel Pier program that I already had Mike Love's autograph on (THAT is a whole 'nother story!).  His handler shouted "Only one autograph!" and I yelled back "I've been waiting forty years to meet him and I'm getting this signed!"  HA!  However, I was so freakin' nervous, I didn't get him to sign by the programs Beach Boys picture...he wound up signing the previous page by a picture of...The Petticoat Junction Girls!!!   Well, it's in the same booklet I suppose.  I was just so ecstatic to be in his presence.



      If you have any questions about these items, please feel free to email me.  Also, check out my other auctions going on NOW of various other items of interest (including some other Beach Boys memorabilia...with more on the way).  Thanks again for looking...during these most very...very...vey...troubled times...




6-22-25





Record Grading: MINT (10) Perfect! Still sealed albums are presumed MINT, but covers may not be. I will not grade any opened album as "mint", since there's obviously been some handling. NEAR MINT (9.5) ---- Close, but one or two tiny flaws that do not impact play. Vinyl may have a barely visible scuff mark, but no scratches. Label is bright, clean and unmarked. Covers close to perfect with very minor signs of wear or age just becoming evident. EXCELLENT (9) ----Disc plays near-perfect. There could be scuffs or a hairline scratch or two that does not impact play. Vinyl is bright and shiny. Label is clean and unmarked. Cover may have some slight corner creases or minor ringwear. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS (8) ---- Record handled and played occasionally, but very carefully. Very minor scratches and/or scuffs that should have little impact on the sound quality, or minor label imperfection---noted, but otherwise clean. VERY GOOD PLUS PLUS records may have some light surface noise during quiet passages or between tracks. Covers: one or two minor wear issues such as writing on cover, corner creases, some ringwear, minor staining, etc. (All noted). VERY GOOD PLUS (7) ----The record has been cared for, but has some minor flaws. Light scratches and/or marks/scuffs that won't make a big impact. Light surface noise here and there, but nothing to overwhelm the listening experience. Covers may have a few minor defects (duly noted). Those who are looking for pristine-only might not be pleased, but most music fans would be happy to have a collectible album in this condition. VERY GOOD (6)---- The record has been played often with some care, but also a little neglect. Record displays visible surface wear---scratches or scuffs that will cause some minor to perhaps occasionally moderate surface noise. Vinyl could be "dull" at this point and not "shiny', or still perhaps shiny, but then a little more scratched-up. Usually a cover is VG when one or two of these problems are evident: ring wear, seam splits, bent corners, loss of gloss, stains, etc. Most music fans would be happy to have a highly collectible album in this condition. VERY GOOD MINUS (5) ---- Well-played with little luster and moderate surface noise, but skip-free. Lots of scratches/scuffs or fewer but more deeper marks. Several cover flaws will be apparent, but should not obliterate the artwork---seam splits, significant ring wear, tears, cuts, taping (all noted). I will only sell RARE "VERY GOOD MINUS" records. GOOD (4) --- Pretty beat-up with lots of scratches, but not dead yet. Record should still appear not to skip, though it's possible it can. Surface noise is moderate to occasionally heavy. Seam splits are usually a bigger issue around this level with the records better off in a plastic sleeve. I only sell VERY RARE "GOOD" records. They are certainly "good enough" until another copy comes along. GOOD MINUS (3) --- Even more beat with tons of scratches and LOTS of surface noise. Skips are possible, though I wouldn't intentionally sell a record that does. Given the right moment, fans could probably enjoy a GOOD MINUS record, but might also be irritated by it at times. I will only sell VERY VERY RARE "GOOD MINUS" records. Covers are hanging together by a thread (seams shot) but not intentionally defaced. FAIR (2) ----FAIR records appear and sound lousy (significant surface noise, horrific scratches). I won't sell these, unless I find something that is SO INCREDIBLY RARE. Expect skipping or a very unpleasant listen. Covers may be defaced, seamless, stained beyond belief. POOR (1) ---- Unlistenable and undisplayable. BID / BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, I HAVE BEEN SELLING (MOSTLY) MUSIC ON EBAY SINCE 1998.   AS ALWAYS, MONEY BACK ON RETURNS IF NOT SATISFIED. Please note that sealed albums can only be returned unopened. Pennsylvania (PA) Residents must add the required 6% sales tax.   Thanks for looking and good luck!