The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations & Pet Sounds Appreciation Topic !

[Walter Hale 4]

57 years later, Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’ gaining fans, appreciation​


The year was 1966. The music industry was about to be rocked by one of the most innovative and groundbreaking albums ever created. The album was "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys, and its creator was none other than the band's musical genius, Brian Wilson. However, the effect the record had on the music industry wasn't appreciated for more than three decades.

The Beach Boys enjoyed immense success from past albums, including the iconic "Surfin' USA" and "Little Deuce Coupe." The band's success is credited to the members' captivating harmonies and melodic surf-rock style. It was Dennis Wilson, one of Brian's two younger brothers in the band, the only actual surfer in the group, whose idea it was to play surf rock.

"Seriously, Dennis got the idea that we should write something about surfing, because he was a big, avid surfer ... then," Brian said in the 2021 documentary "Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road."

Be that as it may, Brian Wilson was eager to develop new styles of music.

Following a severe panic attack in late 1964, Brian was compelled to stop touring with the group and return home to Los Angeles. This afforded him the ability to focus on writing and creating new music. Inspired by The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album and producer Phil Spector, Wilson longed to make the "greatest rock album ever." On May 16, 1966, the band's 11th studio album, "Pet Sounds," was released. It took The Beach Boys' sound in a completely new direction.

But "Pet Sounds" was not met with the same fanfare as all of the group's previous surf rock works. It faced harsh critiques after its release. So why did "Pet Sounds," which years later earned double-platinum status, fail to garner critical and commercial acclaim in 1966 when it's now regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time?
Critics credit "Pet Sounds'" poor performance to the band deviating from the sound its core audience had become accustomed to.

"'Pet Sounds' wasn't a commercial flop, but it did signal that the group was losing contact with its listeners," said critic Dave Marsh, co-founder of Detroit's Creem rock magazine.

Their past albums included songs that evoked a beachy, summer mood. "Pet Sounds" didn't have the same vibe. It was much more melancholic. The record may not have been a complete commercial flop, but it was the catalyst for the band's commercial decline.

"It was a little ahead of its time," said original Beach Boy Al Jardine in a 2016 interview with the music news website Best Classic Bands.

Oftentimes, art takes time to be appreciated. You could say "Pet Sounds" was like a bottle of good wine; it got better with age. Since its disappointing release, the masterpiece's popularity has grown exponentially. The album's most revered song, "God Only Knows," is regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written (ranked No. 11 in Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"). It features intricate vocal harmonies and a lush orchestral arrangement that are the hallmarks of Brian Wilson's creative genius.

Another standout track on the album is "Caroline, No" known for its poignant lyrics and austere production. The heart-wrenching ballad talks about a girl moving on with her life, leaving the singer puzzled as to what went wrong. A personal favorite of mine, "That's Not Me" is about a young man and his movement toward independence. The song features the same captivating harmonies, but the orchestral theme of the album is subtle. Wilson claims the song illustrates much more about his life.

"Pet Sounds" is now recognized for three things: First, its detailed instrumentals. Wilson used a wide variety of instruments, ranging from horns to a theremin, which is played by small finger and hand movements within its electromagnetic field, without physical contact. He even plucked the strings inside a piano with a hairpin for the intro to "You Still Believe in Me."

Next, the breathtaking harmonies. They are heard on nearly every song on the album, and their angelic tone is like nothing ever heard before. Lastly, Wilson's methods of production. His rule for production was that there was none. His techniques were abstract, and the music scene wasn't ready for it.

Brian's musical mind is a gift. Unfortunately, he suffers from a disease called schizoaffective disorder, which causes paranoia and auditory hallucinations in his everyday life. The inventive music he has written throughout his career, especially on "Pet Sounds," coincided with his disease. This is what gave "Pet Sounds" its rather emotional tone.

"Even the most upbeat songs were shot through with yearning and loss and confusion," wrote British journalist Alexis Petridis, a critic for The Guardian.

Wilson has said he hears voices in his head that say very derogatory things. It started when he was 25 years old, he said, but he didn't get professional help until he was 40. He's said that though these voices haunt him every day he has ways to fight them.

"I try to combat the voices by singing really loud. When I'm not on stage, I play my instruments all day, making music for people. Also, I kiss my wife and kiss my kids. I try to use love as much as possible," he said in a 2006 interview with Ability Magazine.

In the last 57 years, the music industry has changed countless times. Those changes brought a new appreciation for "Pet Sounds" and solidified Brian Wilson's artistic mind as one of the greatest in music history. Now, nearly six decades later, we remember "Pet Sounds" not just for the songs it contained, but for its everlasting effect on the music industry.


Written by Alex Burnstine
Chattanooga Times Online

Alex Burnstine is a 17-year-old boarding student at McCallie School who describes himself as a musician obsessed with all things rock n' roll and a huge fan of The Beach Boys, "Pet Sounds" and especially Brian Wilson.

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2023/may/20/57-years-later-beach-boys-pet-sounds-gatfp/

[Walter Hale 4]

The Beach Boys Pet Sounds Photo Shoot at The San Diego Zoo 1966 with original script​


News 8's Marcella Lee reads original script from February 10, 1966. So likely it was February 9th. It's amazing to see the photo shoot come to life in this rare video that was buried in the archives for much too long. Stay tuned to see original script after the video.





Discovered: Lost footage of Beach Boys at the San Diego Zoo in 1966


Did the Beach Boys get banned from the zoo after 1966 'Pet Sounds' cover shoot?
Jeff gets to the bottom of it. The film has been buried in the News 8 archive for 55 years and we are absolutely thrilled to share it on the anniversary of their day at the zoo. Jeff talks to Ron Garrison, zoo photographer, and Mike Love about their memories of this day.
Watch and see what you think.

[Walter Hale 4]

Wouldn't It Be Nice (Isolated Tracks)​

Made with the 5.1 mix, the stereo instrumental remix, the Pet Sounds Sessions boxset and mvsep.com

0:00 Bass
2:19 Drums + Tambourine + Timpani
4:45 Stripped Down Instrumental (Bass/Drums/Pianos/Guitar)
7:16 Guitars + Brass + Keyboards
9:45 Backing Vocals
11:52 Vocals

[Walter Hale 4]

What The Beach Boys and other legendary artists/musicians thought of Pet Sounds...




PET SOUNDS | The Stars of 1966 Give Their Verdict on the Beach Boys' Masterpiece...​

A couple of months after the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds was released, several stars of 1966 such as Eric Clapton, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon, Andrew Oldham, Scott Walker and Spencer Davis, among others, share their opinions on the album and the genius of Brian Wilson.

[Walter Hale 4]

Grab your headphones and have a close listen to Caroline, No in this sequence !


Caroline, No (Mono)


Caroline, No (Stereo)​



Next is a fanmade product using the Unsurpassed Masters. This has reverb-reduced !


Caroline, No (2021 Stereo Mix)



Brian Wilson - Caroline, No (original-speed stereo mix with complete ending)​


It's always bothered forjustsomemusicstuff that the original speed version of "Caroline, No", which sounds much better and more natural than the released version that was sped up to make Brian sound younger, doesn't have the full, beautifully somber ending to the song with the passing train and Brian's dogs barking.

That’s now fixed.

[Walter Hale 4]

now, here's what the iconic Good Vibrations sounded like when first released on a single in mono.

1966 HITS ARCHIVE: Good Vibrations - Beach Boys (a #1 record--mono)​
Over a dozen sessions and about 90 hours of taping preceded the release of Brian Wilson’s complex 3½ minute masterpiece.

The original 45rpm single was issued on Capitol 5676 - Good Vibrations (Wilson-Love) by The Beach Boys, produced by Brian Wilson.

Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard, Cash Box & Record World #1 - UK Peak: 1,



And there'll be loads more Good Vibrations to come as this thread develops.

[Walter Hale 4]

The Beach Boys and The Wrecking Crew - Good Vibrations Session Film...




Interestingly, the uploader states that Wrecking Crew bassist Carol Kaye who has played on several of the "Good Vibrations" sessions, and has been identified as a prominent contributor to the track. However, analysis by Beach Boys archivist Craig Slowinski indicates that "none of those recordings made the final edit as released on the single." Certainly news to me

[Walter Hale 4]

my favorite song off Pet Sounds is the mighty Here Today. Here's a five-pack for all of us to enjoy

[Walter Hale 4]

[Walter Hale 4]

[Walter Hale 4]

next addition will be the iconic Good Vibrations Deconstructions,

Good Vibrations was recorded in four different studios then skillfully pieced together by Brian Wilson. Here is the song dissected by studio. Each featured different instruments, tempos, and structure.

[Walter Hale 4]

Good Vibrations (Instrumental)​






Good Vibrations - Isolated Vocals​

[Walter Hale 4]

[Walter Hale 4]

Very good review on Good Vibration process on songfacts -
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beach-boys/good-vibrations

[emjel]

57 years ago on the 8th November 1966, I was fortunate enough to see the group perform live in London and they included a couple of songs from the Pet Sounds album (God Only Knows and Sloop John B) both big hits in the U.K. plus Good Vibrations which was currently heading toward the Top 10. As soon as Mike Love introduced the song, the audience went wild and he said he needed to make sure the theremin was working correctly. After around a twenty second tryout, they started and it was quite difficult to hear the song at times because of all the screaming. It really was a fabulous show.

[Walter Hale 4]

Oh my my. Have a look here at how many artists and musicians who have at one time or another waxed "God Only Knows".
One could start up a God only Knows appreciation thread that showcases the diversity including foreign ones

https://secondhandsongs.com/search?search_text=God+Only+Knows

[Walter Hale 4]

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows - 5.1Stereo

[Walter Hale 4]

look at that !! God Only Knows was a major hit record in the UK in 1966 but the U.S. it reached a measly #39 !!!

"God Only Knows" is a pop music landmark and Beach Boys classic, but it went unheralded in the United States when it was released as a single in July 1966. It was first released as the B-side of "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and then as an A-side, but with little promotion. Fear was that radio stations would refuse to play a song with "God" in the title.

In the liner notes to the reissued Pet Sounds album, Tony Asher explained, "I really thought it was going to be everything it was, and yet we were taking some real chances with it. First of all, the lyric opens by saying, 'I may not always love you,' which is a very unusual way to start a love song."

In America, the song peaked at a lowly #39 in September 1966 and would only be truly appreciated much later. It did far better in the UK, where it went to #2 in August behind The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." That November, The Beach Boys played the song at some London concerts, which is where they first saw its impact.
Carl Wilson (Brian's brother) handled lead vocals on this track. Not long after the song was released, he said, "At present our influences are of a religious nature. Not any specific religion but an idea based upon that of Universal Consciousness. The concept of spreading goodwill, good thoughts and happiness is nothing new. It is an idea which religious teachers and philosophers have been handing down for centuries, but it is also our hope. The spiritual concept of happiness and doing good to others is extremely important to the lyric of our songs, and the religious element of some of the better church music is also contained within some of our new work."


https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beach-boys/god-only-knows

[Walter Hale 4]

1966 HITS ARCHIVE : Sloop John B. - Beach Boys (a #2 record--mono)



Good fanmade corrected EQ mix with this one




Sloop John B (Isolated Tracks)...​

[Walter Hale 4]

A number two UK and #3 US record. What follows is review over on songfacts...

Songfacts®:

"Sloop John B" is a traditional West Indies tune about a sunken boat. It was adapted in 1951 by Lee Hays of the Weavers (as "The John B Sails") and revived in 1960 by Lonnie Donegan. The Beach Boys' folk music buff, Al Jardine, turned Brian Wilson onto the Kingston Trio's recording of the song. For their updated version, Wilson added elaborate vocals and a 12-string guitar part. He also changed some of the lyrics, including "This is the worst trip since I've been born" to "...I've ever been on" as a wink to acid culture.
The song was popularized by The Kingston Trio, who adapted it from a version in poet Carl Sandburg's 1927 songbook The American Songbag. The Kingston Trio's version stays true to the song's Calypso roots, and was released on their first album in 1958. Eight years later, The Beach Boys changed the title to "Sloop John B," and came away with a hit. Their debt to The Kingston Trio goes far beyond this song: The Beach Boys adopted the group's striped, short-sleeved shirts and wholesome persona as well. >>
This was the biggest hit from The Beach Boys landmark album Pet Sounds. The album was the brainchild of Brian Wilson, who got the title when Beach Boy Mike Love suggested dogs were the only creatures that would like it. To keep the animal theme, Wilson put some barking dogs on the album.

With Wilson at the controls, the album was recorded at United Western Recorders in Los Angeles, in the studio known as "Western 3." Wilson coaxed a big sound out of the little room, which measured just 14' x 34'.
Brian Wilson hired 13 musicians to record this song on a midnight - 3 a.m. session on July 12, 1965. The session players packed into United Western Recorders in Los Angeles that night were:

Hal Blaine (drums)
Carol Kaye (electric bass)
Al De Lory (keyboards)
Al Casey (guitar)
Lyle Ritz (upright bass)
Billy Strange (guitar)
Jerry Cole (guitar)
Frank Capp (Glockenspiel)
Jay Migliori (clarinet)
Steve Douglas and Jim Horn (flutes)
Jack Nimitz (sax)
Charles Britz (engineer)

Billy Strange did some guitar overdubs at another session on December 29, 1965.
According to pop historian Joseph Murrells, this was the Beach Boys' fastest selling record to date - over 500,000 within two weeks in the US alone. >>
During a discussion and performance at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles in January 2009 Wilson said that Pet Sounds was named using Phil Spector's initials. Wilson's approach to the producing of the album was influenced by Spector's "Wall of Sound" technique.
In the movie Forrest Gump, this plays when Forrest is in Vietnam, and the camera shows the latrines. The lines, "This is the worst trip I've ever been on... I wanna go home" are emphasized. >>
In the days before digital, recording engineers had a limited number of tracks to work with, so they would sometimes mix-down their recordings to free up extra tracks (losing a generation of recording quality every time). "Sloop John B" was mixed down twice, while all the other songs on the album had at most one mix-down.
In Paul Williams' Outlaw Blues, Beach Boys associate David Anderle said "Sloop John B" was made before all the other Pet Sounds songs, and was an attempt to give the Beach Boys a more masculine, virile image. At the time, Wilson was under fire from critics for making "wimp-rock."

https://www.songfacts.com/facts/the-beach-boys/sloop-john-b

[Walter Hale 4]

57 years ago on the 8th November 1966, I was fortunate enough to see the group perform live in London and they included a couple of songs from the Pet Sounds album (God Only Knows and Sloop John B) both big hits in the U.K. plus Good Vibrations which was currently heading toward the Top 10. As soon as Mike Love introduced the song, the audience went wild and he said he needed to make sure the theremin was working correctly. After around a twenty second tryout, they started and it was quite difficult to hear the song at times because of all the screaming. It really was a fabulous show.

emjel , my friend I just found this archive on the Beach Boy's UK tour in 1966. Which show emjel you saw, there were two concerts at Granada Theatre, London, England on 8 November.


https://www.setlist.fm/search?artist=3d6c17b&page=2&query=tour:%281966+European+Tour%29

[emjel]

57 years ago on the 8th November 1966, I was fortunate enough to see the group perform live in London and they included a couple of songs from the Pet Sounds album (God Only Knows and Sloop John B) both big hits in the U.K. plus Good Vibrations which was currently heading toward the Top 10. As soon as Mike Love introduced the song, the audience went wild and he said he needed to make sure the theremin was working correctly. After around a twenty second tryout, they started and it was quite difficult to hear the song at times because of all the screaming. It really was a fabulous show.

emjel , my friend I just found this archive on the Beach Boy's UK tour in 1966. Which show emjel you saw, there were two concerts at Granada Theatre, London, England on 8 November.


https://www.setlist.fm/search?artist=3d6c17b&page=2&query=tour:%281966+European+Tour%29

Yep, that’s the one and certainly a night to remember for a few reasons.

I cannot exactly remember why this next event happened, but when they started singing I Get Around, some members of the audience in the closer seats to the stage suddenly and unexpectedly started to stand up cheering, which kinda caused a ripple effect because everyone wanted to see what they were doing on stage and as I stood up, I got whacked across the side of my head by an over enthusiastic girl behind me who was swinging her hand bag around with all excitement. It sounds really funny telling it now, but luckily, the bag wasn’t that heavy, so no stars and the girl quickly apologised, but that was definitely (forgive the pun) a stand out moment of the show for me, along with their performance of Good Vibrations and which I made sure I was not in striking distance of that girl when they performed that song lol.

I still have the programme booklet somewhere in the archives in the loft. I bought the Best Of The Beach Boys album there, and whilst queuing up, Mike Love stuck his head around a door next to the concession stand, shouted "hi" to everyone and then quickly disappeared. And after the show, we had to walk 6 miles home as the last two buses were unexpectedly cancelled to where we wanted to go. And being November, it was a pretty cold damp night too, and three days later, I went down with a really nasty bout of tonsillitis so was off school for the next week and a bit and had to be given antibiotics as the throat infection then found it’s way into my stomach. Certainly a memorable two weeks from late 1966.

[Walter Hale 4]

Good one emjel ! Certainly quite a good, long memory you have there.


Next addition will be the title track Pet Sounds in various mediums.









Pet Sounds - 5.1 Stereo