HEROES & VILLAINS SINGLE
- US Release: July 31, 1967
- UK Release: August 18, 1967
- Chart High: US #12; UK #8
- Backed With: “You’re Welcome” (Brian Wilson solo)
HEROES & VILLAINS RELEASE
- JULY 31, 1967
Just weeks after the group’s last minute cancellation at Monterey, the drastically reshaped and partly re-recorded centerpiece of SMiLE, “Heroes & Villains”, is issued as a single in America. The B-side is “You’re Welcome”, a solo Brian Wilson chant from the SMiLE sessions. The first Brother Records release comes after eight months of silence from the Capitol-distributed label. The disc will fail to make the Top Ten, but it certainly a hit, peaking at number 12, though nowhere near the commercial success of “Good Vibrations.”
After the release in America, Bruce Johnston heads over to Britain to promote the group’s new highly anticipated 45, set for release on August 18th. Bruce will tell US radio: “I was at the Speakeasy club in London when they debuted “Heroes & Villains”. Everyone really cheered and got up to dance. But when the tempo on the track changed, I knew we’d blown it with that record.”
Pictured: Italian variant (Top) Dutch variant (Bottom)