Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 13, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 16, 1966
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B00000JJQK
• Also Available in: Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (140 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,647 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Wouldn't It Be Nice

2. You Still Believe in Me

3. That's Not Me

4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)

5. I'm Waiting for the Day

6. Let's Go Away for Awhile

7. Sloop John B

8. God Only Knows

9. I Know There's an Answer

10. Here Today

11. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

12. Pet Sounds

13. Caroline No

14. Hang on to Your Ego [*]

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If you need some pointy-headed pundit to sell you on the merits of Pet Sounds, your money might be better spent on an ear specialist. Brian Wilson's gift to 20th-century music elevated this pop album into a beguiling musical and emotional cogency that still operates outside pop culture's fickle space-time continuum--and limited critical lexicon. There's never been another record to compare (Rubber Soul, its inspiration, is close; Sgt. Pepper's, its response, misses the point), and certainly no album has been as dissected, overanalyzed, and predigested for public consumption. In 1997 Capitol Records devoted an entire four-disc box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, to its thorough deconstruction. The techno-marvel centerpiece of that project--the album's first true stereo mix, painstakingly conjured out of multitape session sources by producer-engineer Mark Linett (under Wilson's supervision)--was at once heresy and revelation. Now the label has gratifyingly seen fit to offer both mixes on a single disc (along with alternate versions of "Hang On to Your Ego," the original title of "I Know There's An Answer"), an idea that should please the orthodox and heretics alike. And while the album has always clearly been The Brian Wilson Show featuring the Beach Boys, biographer Brad Elliott's concise new notes attempt to be more inclusive of a wider band perspective. The result (three of the five band members claim credit for the album title) sometimes resembles Rashomon. If Pet Sounds forever crystallized the band's various creative (in)differences, it also became Wilson's grand karmic joke on his band mates; its burgeoning reputation (Mojo magazine's panel of pop experts once elected it greatest album of all time) guaranteed they would sing its songs--and praises--until the end. And if putting two different versions of the same album on one disc seems like overkill, look at the bright side: it's a perfect excuse to listen to the glorious Pet Sounds twice.- Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Pet Sounds disc to own, November 29, 1999

By	B. Gabel (Southeastern PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Few will argue that PET SOUNDS is one of the most significant musical releases in the 20th century. Some call it the best album of all time, and while I feel it is impossible to give any musical piece a definitive "best" distinction, PET SOUNDS is a required album in any genuine collection of modern music. What makes this particular reissue exciting is the stereo remixing. While this remixing was initially created for the 4CD PET SOUNDS SESSIONS, the remastered mono and stereo versions now fit on one inexpensive disc. I don't have the historical perspective to decide which version is better (after all, PET SOUNDS was released before I was born). However, after hearing the mono version for dozens of times (on the 1990 CD release), the stereo version on this 1999 remaster is a captivating revelation. The problem I have with mono recordings is the lack of soundstage depth and imaging. After all, you cannot reproduce the original 3D sound event with one channel. The stereo tracks blast this album wide open. Instead of everything emanating from the center, voices and instruments are placed in lifelike, floating space. Sonic texture and detail is improved significantly and you can hear the "air" around the instruments for the first time. The opening transition of "You Still Believe In Me" is smooth, unlike the cut-and-paste sound of the original mono version. Placing all of the harmonious voices in "God Only Knows" is easier and the articulate positioning invites close study of the arrangements and production. The only problem with the stereo version is that it is a hack. While the stereo remixing was performed under Brian Wilson's supervision, Mr. Wilson probably made different decisions during the modern remixing sessions than he would have made back in 1966. So the mono version remain the only true statement, from a historical perspective at least. Fortunately, since both versions occupy this disc, it doesn't necessarily matter which is better; both appear in glorious form.

Just to fan the PET SOUNDS vs. SGT PEPPERS flames a little, the stereo remixing reveals that Brian Wilson's offering is superior to the Beatles. The little details and encompassing sounds of the remixing suggest PET SOUNDS features the better production and creative insight. But what remains, stereo remixing or not, is that PET SOUNDS is personal emotion distilled into a 35 minute album. SGT PEPPERS, as whimsical and confident and incredible as it is, is too self-aware and pretentious (although it can be argued that pretension is derived from genius). It tries so hard to be the best there ever was that some of that genuine musician-listener connection is compromised. I speculate that SGT PEPPERS receives its "best album of all time" distinction because it is a Beatles release. It seems contradictory to award that distinction to a somewhat ordinary West Coast band that the Beach Boys were. After all, the Beach Boys had PET SOUNDS, but they didn't have REVOLVER, RUBBER SOUL and ABBEY ROAD in their canon.

Possibly a more challenging question is: PET SOUNDS or KIND OF BLUE?

40 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars JUST WASN"T MADE FOR IT'S TIME, March 6, 2000

By	Dean Martin Dent (SAN LEANDRO,CA) - See all my reviews

Most young today people associate The Beach Boys music with surfing,cars,chicks and fun,fun,fun.Thus when the songs,Wouldn't It Be Nice,Sloop John B,and God Only Knows are recycled for the umpteenth time on a compilation album,it's easy to overlook the wonderful production,as well as the depth of its parent album Pet Sounds.Since it set the standard for albums for the last 34 years,most seemed lost on its impact.But when you truly listen and get inside these songs that you really experience the beauty of this album.The aforementioned themes are replaced with songs of introspection and more adult themes.Brian Wilson's need to compete with The Beatles turned into burning creativity as he recorded Pet Sounds with meticulous attention to detail.Using some of Phil Spector's Wrecking Crew as well as the famed Wall Of Sound technique,the albums complexity was nothing short of amazing.Songs like That's Not Me,Here Today and Caroline No display both beauty and sadness in their own unique way.Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows,and Waiting for the Day are rays of light that seems on the brink of turning into dashed dreams.The Beach Boys harmonies are flawless though since Brian sings most of the leads,you'd almost think they're guest stars on their own album.Even for all its accolades,Pet Sounds was deemed a failure back in '66(due to the general publics as well as Capitol Records inability to understand and embrace the record)But over the years it has left the other Beach Boys albums in the dust,as well as accorded its own boxed set.In '66 it seemed way ahead of its time,nowadays it just exist outside of time.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why should you buy this album?, March 1, 2000

By A Customer

Well in case the hourdes of 5 star reviews weren't enough for you...the best thing I can tell you is that the album is beautiful. Every song is as good as the next. This album overshadows everything the Beatles ever did without exception. This is a lot to claim but it just takes one listen to "That's Not Me" or "I just wasn't made for these times" and you feel like you're relating to Brian Wilson on a level that you just can't find anywhere else in music. You really feel as though you understand him and he understands you as he sings. Pet Sounds is something to be experienced. Expectation might cloud your first experience with the album but don't give up on it just let it go a few times and I promise you that you'll be hooked like I am. I'm a young Beach Boys fan (19) and this album made me appreciate a band that I never knew had anything interesting to offer me...little did I knew that Pet Sounds isn't the only thing they have to offer. The Good Vibrations Box Set should be the next thing you check out...for it has the infamous Smile tracks which I'm certain will blow you away like they did me...I hope that reading this inspires you to buy this album...its just too good to go without ever hearing.