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This month Rhino releases its long-awaited Brian Wilson Presents Smile DVD, a two-disc package featuring David Leaf’s Beautiful Dreamer documentary, a live performance of Smile, and several extras including recording outtakes, extra interviews, performances, a photo gallery, and a music video. Fans have been waiting for this since they saw cameras filming early shows on the tour, including the Royal Festival Hall premiere. The set is a very worthy companion to the CD and vinyl releases. 

Leaf’s documentary, while offering few new pieces of information, is an engrossing piece of work that is probably the perfect single introduction to the entire Smile story. While other films, like Don Was’ I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times and The Beach Boys: An American Band offer some tantalizing fragments regarding the story, Beautiful Dreamer covers much more than those documentaries while also featuring new interviews with key players. Leaf managed to talk to Lorren Schwartz, Van Dyke and Durrie Parks, David Anderle, Danny Hutton, and of course Brian. Al, Bruce, and Mike are absent, which is a shame, but understandable. The only person I wish Leaf had spoken to out of the potentially willing was Marilyn, as she witnessed the creation of much of this music in her own home. To make up for missing persons, though, the extra interviews provide a nice tangent from the proper documentary, particularly Van Dyke Parks’ interview of Brian. They discuss Brian’s favorite part of Smile, their songwriting and social history, and Van gets Brian to discuss his feelings regarding a return to the material as well as play parts of several songs. 

The other major portion of this set, the live show, is a gift for fans unable to see the show in person. Brian appears happy, energetic and proud of his 37 years of work. And he should be. The only weakness with the show is the fluctuating volume. Perhaps the live experience is similar, but some parts were very quiet while others were very loud, partly killing the mood. The filmed studio sessions provide a nice elaboration of the live experience, though. We get to see the band working on “Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow,” “Heroes and Villains,” “In Blue Hawaii,” and “Good Vibrations,” among other bits. 

Aside from the sound issues mentioned above, and the fact that the set seems to focus on “Heroes and Villains” and “Good Vibrations” over other songs, it is as perfect an encapsulation of the Smile phenomenon as is available. New fans will be able to easily get wrapped up in the story, which for once portrays the music in a positive light. Old fans will enjoy looking at the work in the studio, the partnership of Brian and Van, and Brian’s ultimate triumph. Watching him move, speak, and act is like witnessing the 24 year-old living through his golden era all over again. This is a set that will impress on first viewing and easily grow with time.