To this day 'Pet Sounds' has not been beaten. This is the definitive pop record of all time!
When The Beach Boys returned from their 1966 tour of Japan they found a project that would be called 'Pet Sounds' waiting for them. The twenty three year old precocious talent, genius, maestro Brian Wilson whatever you may call him - had embarked on what would become probably the greatest record ever made.
It was something the public, the record company and even the Beach Boys themselves were not ready for. Brian Wilson had created a masterpiece. Vocal harmonies that took weeks to record, perhaps months as Al Jardine recalls saying "..it was exquisite torture..." lush symphonic arrangements, baritone saxes, accordions, car horns, bells, harps you name it. It seemed that if existed it was on the album - and not just for the sake of it. Wilson's arrangements were carefully planned, thought out, crafted and created. Its an album that still stands the test of time some forty years later and has influenced many musicians over the years and many still each and every day.
2006 is the fortieth anniversary of the legendary album and EMI has released this incredible collection of the original recordings, unheard of versions, classic interviews, rare promo films, stills and chats with musicians from the sessions and of course the Beach Boys themselves.
Brian Wilson was not only lauded by his peers but he even appeared on a TV show at the time hosted by the great classical composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. He saw his talent and what a talent it was.
Wilson admits that the inspiration behind the album was 'Rubber Soul'. He felt competitive with the Beatles and wanted to top it. The lyrics written by Tony Asher were poetic, poignant and a mix of popular and much darker and revealing words. It matched Wilson's incredible melodies and arrangements.
Songs like 'God Only Knows', 'Good Vibrations', 'Wouldn't It be Nice' stand tall as some of the best songwriting ever. Add to that the arrangements, production and performance and you have 'Pet Sounds'
Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary release takes the listener into the mind of Brian Wilson and reveals the process, the pain and the joy of making a classic album.
-- ATM
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