Pet Sounds
I recognize that this is a landmark recording: Vocals had never been recorded like this (in so many layers) previously. There are some “classical” influences that rarely been employed before, such as the nearly Baroque vocal parts (multiple voices competing at once) on a few songs (one in particular I’m forgetting) and a few changes of tempo. Then there’s the pioneering use of samples on one track, and the usage of non-traditional instruments and weird noises in a few songs. But I can’t get over the hype. Try as I might, I have no idea how this could be considered The Greatest Album of All Time. It’s really The Most Overrated Album of All Time, despite its innovation and quality. Celebrators of this record go to great lengths to claim its psychedelic (it’s not remotely), that it’s rock music not just pop music (show me some electric guitars folks). And I’m not convinced that the music of Phil Spector (whose band Wilson uses here) and Burt Bacharach was particularly less innovative than what Wilson is doing here. And I can’t help but feel strongly that, not only is it not The Greatest Album of All Time, it’s not The Greatest Album of 1966.
Track listing
| Song | Writer | Length |
| Wouldn't It Be Nice | Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, Mike Love | 2:25 |
| You Still Believe in Me | Wilson, Asher | 2:31 |
| That's Not Me | Wilson, Asher | 2:28 |
| Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) | Wilson, Asher | 2:53 |
| I'm Waiting for the Day | Wilson, Love | 3:05 |
| Let's Go Away for Awhile | Wilson | 2:18 |
| Sloop John B | traditional, arranged by Wilson | 2:58 |
| God Only Knows | Wilson, Asher | 2:51 |
| I Know There's an Answer | Wilson, Terry Sachen, Love | 3:09 |
| Here Today | Wilson, Asher | 2:54 |
| I Just Wasn't Made for These Times | Wilson, Asher | 3:12 |
| Pet Sounds | Wilson | 2:22 |
| Caroline, No | Wilson, Asher | 2:51 |
Personnel
Per band archivist Craig Slowinski.[1]
The Beach Boys
- Al Jardine – vocals
- Bruce Johnston – vocals
- Mike Love – vocals
- Brian Wilson – vocals; producer; plucked piano strings on "You Still Believe in Me"; bass guitar, Danelectro bass, and organ on "That's Not Me"; piano on "Pet Sounds"; overdubbed organ or harmonium on "I Know There's an Answer"
- Carl Wilson – vocals; lead guitar and overdubbed 12-string electric guitar on "That's Not Me"; 12-string electric guitar on "God Only Knows"
- Dennis Wilson – vocals; drums on "That's Not Me"
Guests
- Tony Asher – plucked piano strings on "You Still Believe in Me"
- Steve Korthof – tambourine on "That's Not Me"
- Terry Melcher – tambourine on "That's Not Me" and "God Only Knows"
- Marilyn Wilson – additional vocals on "You Still Believe in Me" introduction (uncertain)
- Tony (surname unknown) – tambourine on "Sloop John B"
Session musicians Template:Small Template:Div col
- Chuck Berghofer – string bass
- Hal Blaine – bicycle horn, drums, percussion, sleigh bells, timpani
- Glen Campbell – banjo, guitar
- Frank Capp – bells, beverage cup, timpani, glockenspiel, tambourine, temple blocks, vibraphone
- Al Casey – guitar
- Roy Caton – trumpet
- Jerry Cole – electric guitar, guitar
- Gary Coleman – bongos, timpani
- Mike Deasy – guitar
- Al De Lory – harpsichord, organ, piano, tack piano
- Steve Douglas – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, temple blocks, tenor saxophone
- Carl Fortina – accordion
- Ritchie Frost – drums, bongos, Coca-Cola cans
- Jim Gordon – drums, orange juice cups
- Bill Green – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, güiro, tambourine
- Leonard Hartman – bass clarinet, clarinet, English horn
- Jim Horn – alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone, flute
- Paul Horn – flute
- Jules Jacob – flute
- Plas Johnson – clarinet, güiro, flute, piccolo, tambourine, tenor saxophone
- Carol Kaye – electric bass, guitar
- Barney Kessel – guitar
- Bobby Klein – clarinet
- Larry Knechtel – harpsichord, organ, tack piano
- Frank Marocco – accordion
- Gail Martin – bass trombone
- Nick Martinis – drums
- Mike Melvoin – harpsichord
- Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, bass saxophone, clarinet, flute
- Tommy Morgan – bass harmonica
- Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone, bass saxophone
- Bill Pitman – guitar
- Ray Pohlman – electric bass
- Don Randi – tack piano
- Alan Robinson – french horn
- Lyle Ritz – string bass, ukulele
- Billy Strange – electric guitar, guitar, 12-string electric guitar
- Ernie Tack – bass trombone
- Paul Tanner – Electro-Theremin
- Tommy Tedesco – acoustic guitar
- Jerry Williams – timpani
- Julius Wechter – bicycle bell, tambourine, timpani, vibraphone
The Sid Sharp Strings Template:Div col
- Arnold Belnick – violin
- Norman Botnick – viola
- Joseph DiFiore – viola
- Justin DiTullio – cello
- Jesse Erlich – cello
- James Getzoff – violin
- Harry Hyams – viola
- William Kurasch – violin
- Leonard Malarsky – violin
- Jerome Reisler – violin
- Joseph Saxon – cello
- Ralph Schaeffer – violin
- Sid Sharp – violin
- Darrel Terwilliger – viola
- Tibor Zelig – violin
Engineers
- Bruce Botnick
- Chuck Britz
- H. Bowen David
- Larry Levine
- Other engineers may have included Jerry Hochman, Phil Kaye, Jim Lockert, and Ralph Valentine.
