In the Kind of World Where We Belong: Pet Sounds (60 Year Anniversary)
Whether you’re transported to a sunny beach watching the surfers fly by or thinking of where you are in life, on the 60th anniversary of The Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds‘, it is still as timeless as ever.
Admittedly, the word timeless is thrown around a lot when talking about music, especially as ‘oldies’ start to be discovered by teens in their bedrooms. But ‘Pet Sounds’ is one that will never grow old. Standing as the group’s eleventh album, they had already cemented themselves into the record collections of quiet suburban homes.
Their happy-go-lucky ditties showcased picture-perfect America. Indeed, a family band who were just having a good time surfing and grabbing a milkshake with their best girl. While still making unbelievably good music, it wasn’t until ‘Pet Sounds’ that they opened up a whole new part of themselves. Legend himself, Brian Wilson, was only 23 when writing, arranging, and producing this masterpiece. Although this feels young for a man who created such a groundbreaking work of art. It was just that which made the record what it is. The life of a young man in his 20s, just trying to figure it out.
For us now, this kind of genre is easily attainable. Everyone talks about their dreams and the way life isn’t always what you want it to be. Alternatively, in 1966, when your band was nothing but a blinding light of hope, this was a big change. And a brilliant one at that.
I Guess I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Cited as one of the best albums ever written, its influence on musicians that followed has those who came before to thank, too. Brian Wilson listened to The Beatles’ ‘Rubber Soul’ and declared to his wife that he would make the greatest rock album ever made.
Funnily enough, this musical exchange didn’t stop there. As a direct result of this, The Beatles were inspired themselves, leading to their eighth studio album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. Since then, many bands have given credit where it’s due to ‘Pet Sounds’, including Queen, David Bowie, and Radiohead. Furthermore, The Beach Boys’ unique harmonies and Brian’s use of layering in production would change music forever. For example, bands like Fleet Foxes incorporate astonishing harmonies. Meanwhile, The Flaming Lips’ 1999 album, ‘The Soft Bulletin‘, is cited as the 90s ‘Pet Sounds‘ due to its experimentation and pop melodies.
Listen to My Heart Beat
Undoubtedly, the album would not be the groundbreaking masterpiece we know and love without the insight and passion of every member. It was Brian Wilson’s triumphant landing into experimentation with its production that really solidified it for what it is. He was able to use the whole of the recording studio as an instrument itself. Utilising session musicians, such as one of the most recorded studio drummers, Hal Blaine. Also, there was Carol Kaye, a prolific bassist whose career spanned over 60 years with around 10,000 recordings. Wilson would work with Kaye one-on-one to give him time to play back just their parts and test out new ideas. Along with working with the whole band, he could conduct them until he was happy with the sound. He took inspiration from producer Phil Spector and his dense overlapping of layers.
Alongside his unusual way of recording, he opted for instruments that were not only unusual for the time but also now. The bass harmonica in ‘I Know There’s An Answer’ pulls us into an almost psychedelic territory. Whereas the typical piano was made one-of-a-kind by the force and density with which he played. Admittedly, his experiments reached another level with his use of Coca-Cola cans filled with sand and stones and bicycle bells. Creating the harp-like sounds during the intro of ‘You Still Believe In Me’ by plucking the strings on a grand piano with hairpins.
Even so, not all of these decisions were made with the venture to discover new sounds, but rather as a necessity. Brian Wilson suffered from hearing loss in his right ear. This resulted in him recording in mono audio, which is a sound system that uses a single audio channel. This was rather than the usual stereo that focuses on two independent audio channels, as Brian could not hear this. There is a debate that it also contributed to his attention to melodies.
Happy Times Together
What makes ‘Pet Sounds’ so beautifully distinct is the way its story has echoed through the ages. Despite the band’s sunny disposition, they faced a lot of battles. This included declining mental health, drug addiction, and tragic deaths. It is almost hard to imagine they are the same people who wrote the chirpy lover boy tracks. Nevertheless, they found a way of bringing light and happiness to all those who’d listen.
What made this LP was Brian’s knowledge and fierce devotion to creating magic, Mike Love’s understanding of what made pop, Al Jardine’s harmonious tone, Bruce Johnston’s fight for recognition, and Dennis Wilson’s standout drumming on ‘That’s Not Me‘. This is the heart and soul of the record. Without a doubt, there are a million reasons it is regarded as one of the best albums of all time. I know that in 60 years from now, we will have found even more reasons for that to be true,
Listen to ‘Pet Sounds‘ below or buy it here. You can find more anniversary pieces like this one, as well.
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