Smile (David Gilmour song) explained

Smile
Cover:David Gilmour - Smile.jpg
Type:single
Artist:David Gilmour
Album:On an Island
B-Side:Island Jam
Recorded:2001
Genre:Progressive rock, art rock
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:On an Island
Prev Year:2006
Next Title:Arnold Layne
Next Year:2006

"Smile" is a single by guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour, released on 13 June 2006. The song was on the UK charts for 1 week and peaked at 72.[1]

Live

The song was first performed at Gilmour's 2001 and 2002 live shows[2] [3] (and also on the accompanying DVD) where Gilmour introduced it as: "This is a new one so if you are bootlegging, start your machines now." It was eventually recorded at his houseboat studio, the Astoria, for the 2006 album On an Island. The song is in 3/4 time.

During the three nights at the Royal Albert Hall during his On an Island Tour in 2006, empty CD wallets bearing the Smile single cover, and a CD-sticker were left on seats of audience members who would discover them on arrival, each one bearing a unique number. The idea was to download the single from iTunes, burn it to a CD-R, place the CD-shaped sticker onto the burnt CD and keep it in the wallet.

"Island Jam" was initially available via Gilmour's website before being made more widely available.

An unmastered form of "Smile" can be heard briefly on the BBC2 show Three Men in a Boat which retraced a trip on the River Thames, and visited the houseboat.

Track list

  1. "Smile" (David Gilmour/Polly Samson) – 4:03
  2. "Island Jam" (Gilmour) - 6:33

Personnel

"Smile"

"Island Jam"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: David Gilmour | Artist . Official Charts . 12 July 2012.
  2. Book: Manning, Toby. The Rough Guide to Pink Floyd. 2006. Rough Guides. London. 1-84353-575-0. 146. 1st. Which One's Pink?.
  3. Book: Schaffner, Nicholas. Saucerful of Secrets: The Pink Floyd Odyssey. 2005. Helter Skelter. London. 1-905139-09-8. 326. New. Afterword – High Hopes.