⭐️ The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" Turns 60 📀

A masterpiece that astonished the Beatles

The Beatles were topping the charts and that year released their magnificent album, Revolver. The Liverpool band also performed their last live show, on August 29, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Three years later, they would give the memorable rooftop concert.

Meanwhile, the Rolling Stones were shaking the world with their fourth album, Aftermath, featuring gems like "Under My Thumb," "Stupid Girl," "Mother's Little Helper," and "Out of Time," among others.

On the other side of the Atlantic, in the United States, the Beach Boys, led by Brian Wilson, were surprising everyone with their magnum opus: Pet Sounds.

Brian, the group's main songwriter, felt the pressure of having to create hit after hit. This led him to suffer a panic attack mid-flight in 1964. So he made a crucial decision: he would stop touring with the band. This way, the musician could dedicate all his time to creating new songs. The rest of the group accepted the challenge.

In early 1966, Brian got together with some friends at his house to listen to the Beatles' new album, Rubber Soul. “The album blew my mind. That was what I wanted to do,” Wilson acknowledged in his autobiography, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” The 23-year-old songwriter felt the need to surpass that work. “I’m going to record the most important album in history,” he told his family and friends.

“The Beach Boys split into two groups. In late November 1964, my cousin Brian decided to stop touring. He wasn't comfortable. What he wanted was to stay home, with his piano, composing music. And that's what he did. And that led to 1965's 'California Girls.' In November of that same year, we released the album Beach Boys Party with tracks like 'Barbara Ann,'” Mike Love recalled to La Viola in May 2024.

The young artist was experiencing a period of maturation both artistically and personally. All those feelings had to be incorporated into this new work. He felt the lyrics weren't up to par with the music. So he contacted a young publicist he had met at a party, Tony Asher, whom he called to help him.

Once in the studio, the musician called a large number of session musicians, known as The Wrecking Crew, who had played with major artists like Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. They had also worked with Phil Spector, a major influence on Wilson.

Those summery melodies were left behind, giving way to an intricate soundscape incorporating novel or unusual instruments (the theremin, used to score horror films) and even the barking of dogs. A distinct symphony within that pop world. The record label also noticed the difference.

Finally, on May 16, 1966, Pet Sounds was released. The response from the public in the United States was not what they had hoped for. However, the album took off in England, reaching the top of the charts and surprising musicians of the time.

Brian Wilson had achieved his goal: even the members of the Beatles felt a special attraction to Pet Sounds. Paul McCartney acknowledged that the song "God Only Knows" - the first in pop and rock history to have the word God in the title - was one of the most beautiful songs in history and that it brought about a change in how the Liverpool quartet approached their next projects.

And you, which song from the album is your favorite?

Let's talk about it in the comments section! 👇