Pet Sounds

Pet Sounds is the 11th studio album by the American band the Beach Boys. It was released in 1966. The album was very popular for its complex but catchy pop songs and technical recording style.

The leader of the band, Brian Wilson used a system of recording songs that was a little different than the system they had used before. Much of the album was recorded by Wilson himself using professional studio musicians. - people who are hired to play songs for an album. In the recording, stringed and wind instruments were used. They also used instruments that were very unusual for rock music. These included vibraphones, harps, French horns, harpsichords, electro-theremins. Also, things like bicycle whistles, and Coca Cola cans with stones inside of them were used. The lyrics of the songs were more serious. They talked about the problems, disappointments and sadness of a young man. Because all the songs had a similar mood and themes, it is considered to be a concept album.

After the album was released, Pet Sounds did not sell very well. Wilson felt this was a failure but music critics loved it. The album got real recognition in 1990s-2000s, when many music magazines listed it in their lists of the best albums in popular music.

Wilson decided to make another album in the same way. The new album, he called Smile.

Pet Sounds Media

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  The Beach Boys in February 1965. From left: Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Brian and Dennis Wilson, and Mike Love

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  From left: Johnston, Melcher, Asher, and Brian at a Pet Sounds recording session in early 1966.

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  Phil Spector (center) at Gold Star Studios, where he developed his Wall of Sound method (1965)

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  Asher and Wilson modeled Pet Sounds after Tin Pan Alley's songwriting craftmanship (pictured in 1948; Rodgers and Hammerstein with Irving Berlin)

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  Brian's vocals dominate Pet Sounds

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  The Pet Sounds compositions are distinguished for avoiding definite key signatures. Pictured is a visual representation of the harmonic structures present in the verse and chorus of "God Only Knows".

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  Former entrance of Western Studio on Sunset Boulevard (2019)

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  Wilson conducting a Pet Sounds session behind the mixing desk at Western

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  A Scully four-track 280 tape deck, identical to the model used for Pet Sounds

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  Mike Love at a Pet Sounds vocal overdubbing session. He later rejected claims that he had disliked the album.