Track Archive

    The track archive is a collaborative effort. The information has been entered by Andrew Gladwin and Rob McCabe. The scripts were written by Mike Wheeler. If you have any comments, please notify us by e-mail: cabinessencequestions@hotmail.com.

    Heroes and Villains

    Written by: Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
    Produced by: The Beach Boys
    Recording date:
    Take Number:
    Master Number: 57020
    Time: 3:37
    Lead Vocal by: Brian
    Originally appeared on: Smiley Smile
    Subsequently appeared on: Sunshine Dream; Made In USA; Good Vibrations box set

    Notes:
      Arguably, the musical theme and centrepiece of the unreleased "Smile" album. The various "Heroes and Villains" themes were to be interwoven throughout the album.

      Smiley Smile consisted of stripped down reworkings of several "Smile" songs. In the case of this track, the original "Smile" backing track was used (for the most part). The Beach Boys overdubbed the vocals at Brian Wilson's home studio.

      Although, the original "Smile" version is different, this track still ranks as one of the most complex tracks the group recorded.

      Original "Smile" track fetaures a different section sung by Brian and Mike Love, which is referred to as the "in the cantina" section and features a lyric that confuses Beach Boys fans about as much as "cranberry sauce/I buried Paul" does to Beatles fans. :-)

      This version uses "Bicycle Rider" as a chorus, only with different lyrics. When the band played the song in the early 70's, Mike grunted the "de heroes, de heroes, de heroes and villains" chant from "Bicycle Rider".

      The vocals are just out of this world.

      The very first single released on the Brother Records label.

    Single:

    Brother 1001
    A-side with: You're Welcome
    Released on: 7/31/67
    Charted on: 8/5/67
    Reached: 12
    Heroes and Villains (Smile version)
    Heroes and Villains (Sections)
    Heroes and Villians (intro)
    Heroes and Villains (backing track)
    Heroes and Villains (live)

    Link to lyrics for this track.

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