One of the few SMiLE songs that we're fairly sure where on the album it would have been placed—because Brian literally states during the session takes that "this is a little intro to the album". Recorded on October 4th 1966 a capella in four separate pieces, each featuring about two vocal phrases and edited together in the end. Brian prepared a rough mix in December 1966 that was curiously missing the second-to-final vocal phrase. Despite being completely recorded and that rough mix assembled, the entire track was scrapped—most likely likely because the album itself was scrapped along with its own introduction.
Hurting for Brian Wilson-penned material for The Beach Boys' 20/20 album (as well as pressure from Capitol Records to use some of the then-mythical SMiLE recordings), Carl & Dennis went back and assembled the track, adding additional vocal overdubs in November 1968. The finished track was included on the album.
It is of note that some SMiLE historians feel the song could have closed the SMiLE album instead of opening it, contrary to Brian's claim on the session tapes. This stems from a 1969 interview with Michal Vosse who had claimed:
"As to Smile itself—well, you know about "Surf’s Up." It was going to kind of close the album, and then after it was over they were going to a sort of choral, a-men sort of thing."
Does "Our Prayer" sound like an amen? Maybe...
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