Song For Children

From The Smile Shop

Song For Children (also known as "Untitled Song #1", "I Ran" and "Look")

1 Sessions
- 1.1 August 12, 1966
- 1.2 October 13, 1966
2 Available Session Recordings
3 Official Releases

Sessions

August 12, 1966

Song title: Untitled Song #1 (tape is labeled Look)
Studio:	Western Recorders
Time of session:	1pm to 5pm
Engineer:	Chuck Britz
Master Number:	56473
Length Of Song:	2:16
Musicians/vocalists:	Hal Blaine (Drums), Jimmy Bond Jr (Upright Bass), Frankie Capp (Vibes, Bongos, Tambourine), Al de Lory (Keyboard), George Hyde (French Horn), Richard Hyde (Trombone), Barney Kessel (Guitar), Larry Knechtel (Organ), Jay Migliori (Woodwind), Bill Pitman (Guitar), Ray Pohlman (Bass)

One of the revelations in Priore's recently updated book has been the correcting of several titles associated with bootlegged tracks over the years. One of the more significant screw-ups was a mix-up involving two instrumental tracks. The first, heard here, is a track called "Look" (according to the original tape box--Elliot's research shows no session log with that title; hence, unfortunately, no date can be tied to this track). For years, this song was presented on bootlegs under a different title ("Holidays," which as we will see is actually the title to yet another SMILE instrumental). Again, its placement here as the "earth" segment of "The Elements" is almost entirely out of convenience ("Look" being one of the remaining SMILE cuts that apparently isn't "tied" to any other song). Note, however, the reoccurrence of a musical theme from "Good Vibrations," played by the xylophone and piano during this cut. -- David Prokopy, The Prokopy Notes

One section of the 1966 song "Look" was not used for the 2004 song "Song For Children". It was a musical quote, from 'Twelfth Street Rag', as composed by Euday Louis Bowman. -- Andreas

Brian's second session for SMiLE is a track not dissimilar to "Good Vibrations". "Untitled Song #1", as it was titled on the AFM sheet, was recorded at Western with Chuck Britz at the helm. The song is more commonly referred to as "Look" however, as that title was scrawled upon the tape box for this session. Musicians at this session include: Hal Blaine (drums), Jimmy Bond, Jr. (upright bass), Frank Capp (vibes, bongos, tambourine), Al De Lory (keyboard), George Hyde (french horn), Richard Hyde (trombone), Larry Knechtel (organ), Jay Migliori (woodwind), Bill Pitman (guitar) and Ray Pohlman (bass). There are also a tuba and flute present, but those musicians are unknown.

As the entire track is initially recorded in one segment, the surviving tapes of takes 1-19 offer little of significance. The song has already been fully arranged, and it's mainly just a matter of the band getting the right feel. Take 20 is complete and is marked as "best" and assigned a Master No. 56473; duration 2:16. According to SMiLE expert Lou Shenk; "Three edits were made to the master: in the chorus, 10 bars from pickup take 2, then 10 bars from pickup take 1, then the rest of the song from pickup take 2." (The "pickup" sessions for "Look" have yet to be circulated, even amongst most collectors.)

A completed unknown take of "Look" exists, running 2:41 and ending with an alternate drum pattern to that of take 20. Also, an "assembly" take has since appeared on the 2003 bootleg The Secret SMiLE, with a run time of 3:00. This is most likely a true Brian Wilson edit, and contains a noticable five second gap at 1:35.

The bridge to "Look" is a musical quotation of the standard "12th Street Rag". This section was removed, however, when the song ultimately surfaced as "Song for Children" on 2004's Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE. -- Jason Penick, The Beach Boys Recording Guide

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October 13, 1966

Song title: I Ran, formerly listed as "Untitled Song #1", though the tape box from the previous session was labelled "Look"
Studio:	Western Recorders
Time of session:
Engineer:
Master Number:	56473
Length Of Song:
Musicians/vocalists:	6 Beach Boys

The Beach Boys hold a vocal overdubbing session for 'I Ran' (Master #56473) onto take 20 of the August piano track. The complete vocal session goes missing from the tape library.

Instrumental track recorded Aug 12, 1966 with 11 musicians at Western. Vocals recorded Oct 13, 1966 with 6 Beach Boys.

The vocal session tape is lost, so all we have is the instrumental track in an edited mix of take 20. Three edits were made to the master: in the chorus, 10 bars from pickup take 2, then 10 bars from pickup take 1, then the rest of the song from pickup take 2. The session sheet was logged as "Untitled Song #1," the tape box as "Look" but the song was renamed "I Ran (formerly Untitled Song #1)" for the vocal session. One of the many revelations of Smile 2004 is that this song is now named Song for Children and has new lyrics recalling both Wonderful and Child is Father of the Man. -- Lou Shenk, A SMiLE Primer

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