The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds [Mono + Stereo]

The best Beach Boys album, and one of the best of the 1960s. The group here reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create a richly symphonic sound. Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with exotic touches of orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. It wouldn't have been a classic without great songs, and this has some of the group's most stunning melodies, as well as lyrical themes which evoke both the intensity of newly born love affairs and the disappointment of failed romance (add in some general statements about loss of innocence and modern-day confusion as well). The spiritual quality of the material is enhanced by some of the most gorgeous upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) ever heard on a rock record. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "God Only Knows," "Caroline No," and "Sloop John B" (the last of which wasn't originally intended to go on the album) are the well-known hits, but equally worthy are such cuts as "You Still Believe in Me," "Don't Talk," "I Know There's an Answer," and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times." It's often said that this is more of a Brian Wilson album than a Beach Boys recording (session musicians played most of the parts), but it should be noted that the harmonies are pure Beach Boys (and some of their best). Massively influential upon its release (although it was a relatively low seller compared to their previous LPs), it immediately vaunted the band into the top level of rock innovators among the intelligentsia, especially in Britain, where it was a much bigger hit. The 1999 reissue added a new stereo version of the entire album to the original mono program. ~ Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Casey Guitar Al DeLory Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Tack Piano Alan Jardine Vocals Alan Robinson French Horn Andrew Sandoval Mastering Supervisor, Transfers, Tape Transfer Arnold Belnick Violin Barney Kessel Mandolin, Guitar Bill Pitman Guitar Billy Strange Guitar (12 String Electric), Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String) Bobby Klein Sax (Tenor) Brad Benedict ?, Photo Research Brad Elliott Liner Notes Brian Wilson Supervisor, Liner Notes, Organ, Author, Vocals (Background), Guitar, Arranger, Piano, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals Bruce Botnick Viola, Engineer Bruce Johnston Vocals Carl Fortina Accordion Carl Wilson Guitar, Guitar, Vocals Carol Kaye Bass (Electric), Bass Cheryl Pawelski Executive Producer, Reissue Producer Chuck Berghofer String Bass Chuck Britz Engineer Darrel Terwilliger Viola Darren Wong Art Supervisor Dave Jampel Photography David Leaf Liner Notes Dennis Diken Research, ? Dennis Wilson Vocals, Drums Don Randi Piano Ernie Tack Trombone (Bass) Frank Capp Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Tympani [Timpani], Bells, Percussion Frank Marocco Accordion Gail Martin Trombone Gary Coleman Bongos, Tympani [Timpani] George Jerman Photography, Cover Photo Glen Campbell Guitar (12 String) Glenn Ross Campbell Guitar, Guitar (12 String Electric) H. Bowen David Engineer Hal Blaine Drums, Bongos, Percussion, Tympani [Timpani] Harry Hyams Viola Jack Nimitz Sax (Baritone) James Getzoff Violin Jay Migilori Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone) Jay Migliori Sax (Tenor), Sax (Baritone), Clarinet (Bass), Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute Jerome Reisler Violin Jerry Cole Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Jerry Williams Percussion Jesse Erlich Cello Jim Elliott Production Consultant, Producer Jim Gordon Drums, Percussion Jim Horn Sax (Tenor), Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Baritone) Joe Gastwirt Remastering Joseph DiFiore Viola Joseph Saxon Cello Jules Jacob Flute Julius Wechter Percussion, Tympani [Timpani], Latin Percussion, Vibraphone Justin DiTullio Cello Larry Knechtel Organ Larry Levine Engineer Larry Walsh Mixing, Track Mix, Digital Remastering Leonard Hartman Horn (English), Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass) Leonard Malarsky Violin Lisa Reddick Producer Lyle Ritz String Bass, Ukulele Mark Linett Stereo Mix Producer, Mixing, Compilation, Digital Remastering, Track Mix, Coordination, Audio Supervisor, Engineer, Liner Notes, Producer Michael Etchart Executive Producer Mike Deasey Guitar Mike Deasy Sr. Guitar Mike Love Vocals, Vocals (Background) Mike Melvoin Harpsichord Nick Martinis Drums Norman Botnick Viola Paul Atkinson Executive Producer Paul Horn Sax (Tenor) Paul Tanner Theremin Plas Johnson Saxophone, Flute, Percussion, Sax (Tenor) Ralph Balantin Engineer Ralph Schaeffer Violin Ray Pohlman Mandolin, Bass (Electric), Guitar (Bass), Guitar Richard Evans Design Ritchie Frost Percussion, Drums Ron Furmanek ?, Research Ron McMaster Digital Remastering, Remixing Roy Caton Saxophone, Trumpet Russ Wapensky Sessionography Sam Gay Art Supervisor Sid Sharp Violin Steve Douglas Saxophone Steve Douglas & the Rebel Rousers Sax (Tenor), Clarinet, Saxophone, Percussion, Flute Tammy Kizer Production Consultant Terry Melcher Vocals, Tambourine Tibor Zelig Violin Tommy Morgan Harmonica Tommy Steele Art Direction Tommy Tedesco Guitar (Acoustic) William Kurasch Violin William Kurash Violin