Child Is Father Of The Man

From The Smile Shop

1 Sessions
2 Available Session Recordings
3 Official Releases

Sessions

October 7, 1966

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This song is conceivably the "masculine" flip-side to "Wonderful," which is why Priore places it here. This track is best known for being the basis for the startling coda to the released version of "Surf's Up." This track is almost totally instrumental, save for the intricate group vocals during the chorus. Brian recorded the instrumental track and the first set of group vocals in October 1966, and added more group vocals in December. Incidentally, listen for the striking resemblance (particularly in the use of the muted horn) between this track and Dennis' FRIENDS cut, "Little Bird," recorded just two years later. -- David Prokopy, The Prokopy Notes

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October 12, 1966

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They talked of their new LP Smile which is being released later this year, and of which it was said by Dennis – "In my opinion it makes Pet Sounds stink – that's how good it is." I got a sneak preview of one of the tracks the previous night when Dennis played me a piano version of one track, 'Child Of The Man', a cowboy song, and then gave me the throwaway line of the year – "And this is a prayer I'm working on for it!" -- Keith Altham, Beach Boys Sensational Visit (Nov. 11 1966)

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December 2, 1966

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December 6, 1966

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February 29, 1968

Song title: Little Bird
Studio:	Brian's Home Studio
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So fans, family and bandmates alike were shocked when two songs Dennis had written with poet Steve Kalinich, 'Little Bird' and 'Be Still', not only made the 1968 album Friends, but were actually among the highlights. The discovery of an artistic voice may have surprised Dennis as much as it did everyone else. "It was not our intention to write songs when we first got together," explains Kalinich, "and I don't think he could even see himself as a creative entity apart from the band. But we sparked each other personally, and then creatively. I left the words to 'Little Bird' sitting on his piano one night, and the next day he had the music. Dennis had an amazing talent; I could read him a poem once, and he'd then play it back to me as a musical melody. It was unschooled and unedited – he was in awe as this music came pouring out of him. Dennis was all passion. But having made this incredible personal breakthrough, his first impulse was to try and set me up to write with Brian. That was Dennis: generous even when it might not be to his advantage." -- Ben Edmonds, Dennis Wilson: The Lonely Sea (Mojo, November 2002)

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