The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Capitol Records
On this day in 1966 The Beach Boys released their seminal pop masterpiece 'Pet Sounds'. Brian Wilson lead the charge as the Californian sunshine was substituted for studio manipulation and a producers wet dream.
Pet Sounds received a lukewarm response in the US and critical acclaim in the UK where it was hailed as one of the most progressive pop albums ever due to Brian Wilson's recording techniques and studio wizardry. It was produced, arranged and almost entirely composed by Wilson. Wilson adopted a wall of sound technique devised by Phil Spector in years previous. Production costs were supposedly in the range of 70,000 US dollars or in today's economic climate around 550,000. Compare that to studio sessions that cost a fortune and produce relatively nothing of merit, it's quite the mind-blowing feat.
Pet Sounds was influenced by The Beatles 'Rubber Soul' record released the year prior and, in turn, influenced Revolver released a little later in '66. A lovely little back and forth of influence between the finest and most forward thinking bands of the time. Good Vibrations was a leftover of the Pet Sounds sessions. That's how fruitful and 'vibrant' these sessions must have been. How and why it was left off of the album, God Only Knows. The lucky fly on the wall that was around for them doesn't understand just what it has witnessed in a popular culture sense.
Psychedelically touched singles 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and 'God Only Knows' make the A and B-side of the same single! Now there's a bold statement. It may just be the finest single ever released considering the B-side is usually a lesser known track and most times a throwaway if we're being honest. For this period in the sixties it's quite 'out there' to say the least. Unconventional uses of household items are used over the course of the abum for atmospheric and tangible effect. Proving that psychedelic states exist within our everyday existence if one wishes, just give Brian a call and he'll sonically sort you out.
Favourite Track: That's Not Me
May 16th, 1966.
