First conceived in 1966 but only completed in 2004, Brian Wilson Presents Smile has been called "the best-known unreleased album in pop music history" and "an American Sergeant Pepper." Reading Smile offers a close analysis of the recording in its social, cultural and historical contexts.

Dale Carter is Associate Professor of American Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark, and Director of the university's American Studies Center. Carter is the author or editor of a number of books and scholarly articles on aspects of 20th century American history, society and culture.These include The Final Frontier: The Rise and Fall of the American Rocket State (1987) and (as editor) War and Cold War in American Foreign Policy, 1942-62 (2002). Academic journals that have published his work include Popular Music and Society, Popular Music History, Rock History, Popular Music, American Studies in Scandinavia, the Canadian Review of American Studies and the European Journal of American Culture.

Introduction

1 Into the Mystic? The Undergrounding of Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, 1964-1967

2 My Regeneration: The Salvation of "Heroes and Villains"

3 Uncovering the Cornfield: "Cabin Essence" and the Revision of History

4 Wonderful Land: Smile's Child Ballads

5 Wave Power: Smile's Renewable Energies

Conclusion