The Beach Boys - Smile -1967-

For decades, Smile was a holy grail. Bootlegs circulated among collectors, revealing fragments of genius: “Surf’s Up” (a devastating piano ballad), “Wonderful” (a delicate waltz about lost innocence), “The Elements: Fire” (a terrifying, percussion-driven inferno). Wilson retreated into seclusion, obesity, and mental illness, rarely speaking of the project.

For nearly 40 years, Smile existed as a ghost. The band attempted to salvage parts for a slapdash replacement album titled Smiley Smile (1967), which Wilson described as a "bunt" instead of a "home run." It was quirky and charming, but it was not the symphony. The Beach Boys - Smile -1967-