Pet Sounds: the greatest album of all time.
In my opinion and in the opinion of many other people, the greatest album ever made is Pet Sounds.
The last Beach Boys album to be made before Pet Sounds was the Party album. The sucess of Party made Capitol record executives happy enough to allow for more time to be spent on the next Beach Boys album. That next album would be Pet Sounds.
After hearing th 1965 Beatles album, Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson decided that he too should add lyrical merit to his songs. Although Rubber Soul was a good album lyrically, musically it was not. Thus, Brian came to the decision that he wanted to next Beach Boys album to be the greatest rock album ever made.
Conveniently, when Brian decided to make Pet Sounds, the rest of the Beach Boys were on tour in Japan. Due to this, he was able to collaborate with a lyricist other than Mike Love. The lyricist he chose was actually jingle writer, Tony Asher.
Boys records, Pet Sounds
concept and instead, used
similar to Phil Spector, George
The length of time Pet Sounds
was almost unheard of in
put into the album reflects its
on Pet Sounds include flutes,
along with standard rock
fender guitar, electric bass and
combination of instruments
music.
Unlike other Beach
drifted from the surf
orchestral stylings more
Gershiwin or Beethoven.
took to make (6 months),
1966. however, the time
superior quality.
The instruments used
cellos, violins, saxaphones
instruments such as a
a drum set. Such a
was a milestone in popular
When the rest of the Beach Boys returned from Japan to record this album, they were very worried that their new style would not be accepted by fans. Mike Love was especially upset because Brian diddn't stick to the formula. Mike was not alone however; the record executives at Capitol were worried the album would not spawn a hit single.
When Pet Sounds was released on May 16, 1966, it did not enjoy much comercial success in America, "only" charting at # 10 on 5/28/68. Although it was not recieved well comercially, it was acclaimed critically.
After Paul McCartney and John Lennon heard Pet Sounds, they were in awe of it. Thus, they frantically made an attempt to make a better album. The result was Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Although Sgt. Pepper is a decent album, it mimics Pet Sounds in that there are dogs barking and a train clanging on one of the tracks. And unlike Brian Wilson, the Beatles had George Martin produce their albums.
The appreciation of Pet Sounds extended throughout England andit was the #2 selling album for the year. However, the Beach Boys acceptance had just began in England. With the release of "Good Vibrations" in the later part of 1966, the Beach Boys would become the most popular group of 1967.
The influence of Pet Sounds continues today. Infact, there really hasn't been any advancements past it. In a recent poll of rock's most influential figures, Pet Sounds was voted the greatest album of all time. It is a true classic that will far out live any other album made before and after it.
