Pet Sounds – The Beach Boys – What’s On The Table
Time for some music!
If you haven’t yet smiled today, we are pretty sure you will as soon as we start playing the first song off this record. For us “Pet Sounds” and The Beach Boys in general are the embodiment of “feel-good”, and we had a terrific time dissecting and talking about this legendary album.
In the video we mention Nelson Bragg’s music. He was the percussionist in Brian Wilson’s band, whose music you can check out here.
We thank you for watching and invite you to share your own thoughts about this record in the comment section below! Do you have a copy at home? Do you remember hearing it for the first time? Do you have any specific memories connected to The Beach Boys?
Feel free to share, we’re keen to read your anecdotes.
Stay groovy!
Mona & Lisa
lovely album very enjoyable very relaxing music
Superb Album! The Bass patterns by Carole Kay are just brilliant, particularly on the opening track. And to think Brian Wilson, who produced it, only had one good ear! Amazing!
I love that you love these old, brilliant and absolutely iconic records from some of the greatest bands to grace the face of the earth.
My dad had a version of the Greatest Hits album and I think I played it to death while a schoolboy. A friend loaned me some other albums at that time too.
It was quite some years later that I first encountered Pet Sounds and I agree with Paul about “God Only Knows”, although “In My Room” is pretty much up-there with GOK IMO.
To see Brian play (both on Oxford and Sage Gateshead at the time of the Smile album was an absolute privilage and I think I wept with joy when he played all of their hits – just one great song after another.
Your own version of GOK is truly outstanding and now I know why: watching you interact with this album just shows the joy, respect and awe that you hold for the Beach Boys and the interplay between them and the Beatles – the transatlanic vibes that you capture so wonderfully in your own work.
I just watched a documentary on YouTube called The Wrecking Crew about the studio musicians that worked on all these records. I purposely came to this WOTT to see if you knew about them. I should have known better. I knew a little about them but was blown away by all the records they played on. From Sinatra to Elvis to Simon and Garfunkel. A lot of the ones you cover. I can find the link and post it. It’s worth watching if you find the time.
https://youtu.be/-ZgBexrZvM0
Hi Mona and Lisa! I just joined the MLT Club today, so this is my first What’s On The Table video. I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on one of my favorite bands ever. My band in high school was a Beach Boys cover band and this sure brought back some great memories! Thank you for doing this, it was such fun!
Patrick
Hi Patrick, that must have been so much fun playing Beach Boys songs in your band in high school! I use to air guitar and romp around the room like Mike Love doing Fun, Fun, Fun listening to the Beach Boys in high school. I would have been one of your biggest fans if I were in your school! 👍 😁
Hi Jung,
I’m working on putting a new band together – we do have an opening for #1 fan! 😉 😂
First time I heard about Carol Kaye was in a TV program we have each year, since 1999, in the Netherlands about the TOP2000, best 2000 (pop) numbers (peoplae can vote). In that program they do also small documentaries about a specific song or person. One of the documentaries was about Carol Kaye https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZcgi7E4E1w
So strange that The Wrecking Crew musicians played on soo many songs, on Wikipedia is stated that Carol Kaye played on over 10.000 songs; Mona, Lisa you still have time.
Hello ladies, when we had our video chat we talked about the Star Wars movies as a future watch. Well I thought of a future listen that you should check out…Level Headed by the band Sweet. I’ve loved this album ever since it came out in 1977. The extended version of Love is like Oxygen is just amazing. So if you have the time look for it and give it a listen. Take care and stay always groovy. ❤
Well done girls ! You covered all the basic facts and legends about the making of this album and the effect it has to popular music ! Nothing more to add.
I love these videos. Yeah The Beach Boys are the iconic American band. Loved the story about John and Paul listening to the album. A lot of us were listening back then. Now I’m going to drag out my copy and listen again. Thanks, Mona and Lisa!
Teary. (Tired and nostalgic) I never heard of this album, but heard the music, of course. I always forget that “Sloop John B” was Beach Boys. I love “God Only Knows” too. I love your cover, but they have more voices.
Too bad I had to downsize. No more vinyl. 🙁
Pet Sounds- Yes very fine album.
I remember coming home from school and listening to it on cassette.
I believe that, Mona and Lisa’s cover of
God Only Knowsis better than the original !You girls make me laugh out loud! So funny!
I love Carol Kaye, I have her bass lessons, wish I could play half as good as her, or even a tenth!
My little story with the Beach Boys (the Mike Love iteration) was when I was working freelance in LA as a TD (Technical Director, a fancy name for button-pusher). I was responsible for pushing the video up to the big screens to the sides of the stage during concerts and events. I worked at all kinds of venues. One of them was at the Petersen’s Museum in LA (which has great cars) and we were never told who the artist would be. The day of, I found out it was a private charity show by the Beach Boys.
It amazed me during sound check how accurate the sound was, like playing the record. Since it was a small venue, they had lined up the guitar amps mic’d up behind the stage to have a perfect sound blend. I remember “Help Me Ronda” knocked me off my chair, it was so good.
After sound check, Bruce Johnston came back stage very graciously sat with me and chatted for about 10 or 15 minutes. Very nice and humble guy.
A little trivia, he wrote Barry Manilow’s “I Write The Songs“.
The WOTT series are FAB!
Tomas, wow! What an awesome photo with a wonderful Beach Boy! I envy your job, you get to meet some interesting people. Bruce Johnson is a talented song writer indeed in his own right, writing “I Write The Songs”. Another one he did I know of was “Disney Girls” on the Beach Boys Surfs Up album. Great song too.
https://youtu.be/FKxP9PeGUFM
I was born in California. It was 1963. I was 13 years old. I discovered girls in jr. high school and rock n’ roll with Surfin’ U.S.A. What more can I say? -other than I loved this W.O.T.T. Another strongly-shared connection between me and a pair of 27 year old twin sisters living many thousands of miles away. Go figure. Great job on this one!
A Bit behind here, but love this What’s on the Table! Again feels like family just sitting around and chatting about things we all love and that is Mona and Lisa and Music. Pet Sounds is a killer album for the Beach Boys, separated them from everyone else in my book back in 1966 even the Beatles. Brian Wilson is a genius and so much went into this album and that is why we talk about it today. I love how Mona and Lisa pull albums from back in the day when we all first heard this album and wow like revisiting such great times and the songs are so well done and the Wrecking Crew did so much for the great songs from the 60 and 70’s. Mona and Lisa I love your version of God Only Knows, sorry Brian Wilson but the twins do a better job with it, so thank you Brian Wilson for writing this gem but Mona and Lisa took it to another level. Keep it coming Mona and Lisa
love Bill and Maddie Isenberg Huge Fans from Pittsburgh Pa USA
Hi Bill. I couldn’t agree with you more, Mona and Lisa took God Only Knows to another level indeed. To be honest, God Only Knows over the years was not one of the top fave songs for me on Pet Sounds, but when I heard MLTs version with Mona and Lisa’s lovely vocals and harmonies and the sweet cheery Ukelele, the veil came off and I finally felt the magnificence and beauty of this song and could feel why it made Paul McCartney cry! At the 1:11 mark for example, listen to Mona and Lisa’s harmonies and vocal effects working off each other, so sweet and wonderful, genius. The singing is so incredibly expressive. This is why Mona and Lisa are so amazing, their talent is magic!
https://youtu.be/SdqMB1GEQAM
Great post Jung and yes the harmonies are spot on and yes it does bring tears to ones eyes and Rudi’s bass playing on this track is excellent. This is why I say their covers are better than some originals , another example? White Room, wow they again take it to another level and make it their own on this master piece. The drums by Mona is right on and the guitar work from Lisa makes me smile and it would make Eric Clapton smile as well.
Much as I love the Beatles, Pet Sounds is my second favourite album, after Revolver. Both albums are works of genius which I never tire of hearing. I’ve got a vinyl copy, a CD copy and the box set, which includes stereo and mono mixes, along with vocal only and instrumentation only tracks, and lots of outtakes. It really enables me to hear how Brian Wilson assembled the whole thing. In another era, I think he would have written symphonies! Mona & Lisa, your faces are a picture as you listen to the tracks!
As with Revolver, on first hearing I struggled to “get” it, as at the time of release they were both so different from anything which had gone before. And it was hard to work out what some of the instruments were, until I discovered that new sound were created by combining, in unison I think, the sounds of other instruments.
I saw the Beach Boys back when Carl Wilson was alive, and have been to several of Brian Wilson’s shows. I have to say that the latter recreate tracks from Pet Sounds the best. I also saw the Beach Boys reunited with Brian at the Royal Albert Hall in London, when they did an anniversary tour in 2012.
Here are a few fun facts:
1…Paul McCartney use to drive into London regularly, and on the two hour drives, he would listen to Sargent Peppers album on the way in, and Pet Sounds on the way out.
“The influence The Beatles had on the Beach Boys and back again took pop music into experimental territory. It forced all the artists involved to take huge risks to break new ground, and created a domino effect that influenced plenty of artists from the era. “I have a two-hour drive normally to London,” said Paul. “I played Sgt. Pepper on the way in, and then Pet Sounds on the way out, and both of them have more than held up.”
2..The song “You Won’t See Me” on Rubber Soul impressed Brian Wilson enough to adopt some of the effects from it, like the “organ drone” sound in Pet Sounds. You can hear it in the track “That’s Not Me” where the songs begins with an organ drone sound in the background.
“Wilson went into greater detail about “You Won’t See Me,” commenting on both the harmonies and even the instrumentation and certain “touches they were trying” that transformed the tunes into “almost art music.” He noted in particular of that song, “There’s an organ drone in there, a note that’s held down for the last third of the song or so.” That organ drone is something that only the keenest of ears would probably notice yet it’s this sort of layering that influenced Pet Sounds immensely — an LP that came out the following year.”
In Pet Sounds “That’s Not Me” for instance. Listen carefully to the opening line “I had to prove that I could make it alone now” and you’ll notice the mood-setting drone of an organ humming lowly in the background, a sound that guides the listener through those initial lyrics and into the song’s simple chorus. As for the vocal harmony work throughout Pet Sounds, the mix of incredible high notes with low ones — like The Beatles did on tracks such as “Girl” and “You Won’t See Me” — are definitely what makes The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” one of the greatest songs of the era.
3..”McCartney once said of Pet Sounds: “I played it to John so much that it would be difficult for him to escape the influence. If records had a director within a band, I sort of directed Pepper. And my influence was basically the Pet Sounds album.”
“You can hear that influence most strongly in songs like “She’s Leaving Home” and “With A Little Help From My Friends.” As McCartney notes, “Brian (Wilson) would be using notes that weren’t the obvious notes to use. And also putting melodies in the bass line.” You can hear that latter approach applied quite clearly in the McCartney-Lennon collaboration “Getting Better” where the full melody plays out in the track from the bass.”
Great stuff Jung!
Another fun fact to piggy back on all you shared above:
Brian started using the “Wrecking Crew” all the way back on the Surfer Girl Album in 1963. They are the unsung hidden heroes of the beautiful “thick” arrangements on the albums Beach Boys Today, Summer Days and of course Pet Sounds. Brian would hear exactly what he wanted in his ear and somehow got his ideas across to the professionals in the room. These sessions were wonderfully portrayed in “Love and Mercy”. It’s amazing to listen to the orchestration only videos on “You Tube” and hear how rich the music of these albums are and how they stand up so well on their own. Of course the BB harmonies on top of it all makes them masterpieces.
You had mentioned “Thats Not Me” ….a fun fact is that once Brian came to rely heavily on the Wrecking Crew he decided every album would contain one track of the BBs playing the instruments as well as singing. On Pet Sounds “Thats Not Me” is that track. On Summer Days “Girl Don’t Tell Me”, On All Summer Long “Carls Big Chance and so on.
I could talk about this all day lol…..
Hi Ed, thanks for sharing that. I will make it a point to see Love and Mercy, sounds great. Beach Boys Today is an awesome album (my fave after Pet Sounds), I think it would be the Beach Boys Rubber Soul as they started to change direction away from surfing and cars and the songs had a more serious subject matter. Songs like Kiss Me Baby, I’m So Young, Please Let Me Wonder, She Knows Me Too Well are so hauntingly beautiful, those harmonies are to die for. I love some of the isolated vocals and instrumentation videos on youtube of Beach Boys songs. I love the bass line in Good Vibrations for example, incredible! They had a legend do it too.
https://youtu.be/9UqNvMOdhGU
https://youtu.be/li7dNcSnc78
Thanks for being so generous with the Twins, Jung! I really love it when club members are generous with them. Those Beatles pens you gave them are FAB, I know well because I have one!
Thanks,
Tomás
Thanks Tomas! I remember a while back you posted a pic of your Beatles pen in the forum. I love the Beatles spirit colors!
Over the years since the MLT Club started, new people have come and gone, but I really love and appreciate the members here who have stayed and continue to show their loyal support for Mona and Lisa month after month, year after year. What a wonderful and unique community. Some members like yourself have been here from the start of the MLT Club, and some have joined along the way, but they are like MLT family and very special to me! There are too many to name, so I don’t dare try in case I miss one, but you know who you all are! You’re all real troopers! ????
Thanks Jung, and I agree! The MLT Club family is awesome. I always love all the caring support given!
I love the mutual respect and admiration Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney had for each other’s music. Their rivalry and desire to up their game respectively gave the world such great music.
https://youtu.be/TK51TYP7I5A
Paul is talking about “God Only Knows” which made him cry.
“I love that despite the rivalry, the fact that the two bands were pitted against each other on so many occasions, there was a deep respect between them. There’s kindness in this speech”
https://youtu.be/LYR327oEdY8
Very good choice ladies! I have always loved The Beach Boys ever since I was a kid. I use to have the double album Endless Summer and I played it all the time. And as a matter of fact I did get to see them live the summer of 83. It was such an awesome show!!
Endless Summer was my very first Beach Boys purchase. I still think it’s the ultimate good-time cruisin’ album.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0902/5612/products/beach_boys_endless_summer_vinyl_back_cover_1024x1024.JPG?v=1485833158
I remember that compilation album, saw it in many peoples collection. That compilation album went right up to #1 in the US album charts for the Beach Boys. That was pretty amazing for a greatest hits album to do that.
Thank you for another great episode of WOTT! I was ten years old when Pet Sounds was released, and I knew Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Sloop John B. and God Only Knows for years from hearing them on the radio and in greatest hits compilations, and I knew of the revered place Pet Sounds held as one of Brian Wilson’s masterpieces, but I didn’t hear the entire album until I purchased a remastered CD after seeing the film Love and Mercy in 2015. I highly recommend it for anyone who hasn’t seen it — it pretty brilliantly conveys how Brian Wilson’s creative process works and how he seems to pull sounds out of thin air. When I heard the full album, I was blown away by the textures and unusual instrumentation (love that bass harmonica on I Know There’s An Answer!) In 2016 I was able to see one of the shows in that same 50th Aniinversary Pet Sounds tour you saw, and was equally blown away by how that amazing band was able to recreate in a live setting all of those textures that I imagine took many hours of overdubbing in the studio. Brian and the band were fantastic.
I’ll second that recommendation of Love and Mercy. Paul Dano was a dead ringer for Brian, and clearly spent a lot of time working on his speech patterns and mannerisms to the point where I just about thought that I was watching archival footage of the real deal.
I didn’t get to see Brian’s Pet Sounds tour, but I went to watch a cover band doing something similar a couple of years later. When it was time for I Know There’s an Answer, the lead singer drew attention to the bass harmonica and said, “If you see a bass harmonica, you know it has to be either Green Acres or Pet Sounds.”
I enjoyed your looking back over the Pet Sounds album. I’ve owned several Beach Boys albums over the years, but not Pet Sounds. I was nice to hear snippets from several of the tunes. I got to see them in the mid 1990’s when they came with Chicago to our home town. It was a fabulous show. Thanks for bringing back some old great memories.
This is wonderful! My favorite rock and roll ladies talking about my all-time favorite album!! It doesn’t get any better!
First of all thank you Jung for so generously sending Mona and Lisa the album. It is a very nice gift of a true treasure, and we are now able to enjoy their thoughts about it.
Thank you, girls, for making my Saturday such a nice one. I thoroughly enjoyed your discussion on the album and was very impressed with your knowledge about it along with the stories that are associated with it, like the Bruce Johnston trip to London. Can you imagine bringing the album there, meeting up with Keith Moon and ending up having Lennon and McCartney hearing it and loving it. The Beatles/Beach Boy rivalry was a very strong one and I often think of what might have been if Brian had been able to finish and release Smile and not bowed out like he had to. What would the next Beatles release have been like? Would it still have been the White Album as we know it today? I don’t know. What then would Brian have been influenced to do as a follow up to that?
Over the years I have been on a mission to turn people on to two of my favorite things. One was always Pet Sounds, and I have yet to find anyone who has heard it and not appreciated and liked it. The second is the Mona Lisa Twins, and again I have not come across anyone who has heard you and not enjoyed and appreciated your catchy original songs and covers. Bravo Ladies!
On a closing note, I know I have told you that the video where I discovered you was “God Only Knows”. What a fantastic respectful cover where you simplify the very produced original and bring it down to a guitar, Ukulele and bass. Your vocals and harmonies are steller. This wonderful rendition has always left me hungry for another one- I could see you doing an amazing job on the second song of the album, “You Still Believe in Me”. You are so good you would make it all your own with your harmonies and production techniques.
Thank you again for all the joy you bring 🙂
Hi Ed! I couldn’t agree with you more about everything you said! MLTs cover of God Only knows does Brian’s masterpiece justice many times over. I always get goosebumps when I hear “You Still Believe In Me”, and I would line up right behind you to see MLTs version of this gem. ????????
What a Groovy Kickoff to a new season of ” WOTT” ….. I believe one of my 2 older brothers had this album, as I kibda recall hearing it being played at home once in awhile but certainly on the radio, I heard the Beach Boys moreso and love ” Wouldn’t It Be Nice ” ” God Only Knows” and definitely ” Sloop John B ” , and we did have a few ” K-Tel Records ” Compilations that my Mom bought that had some of these Beach Boys songs on them….lol…. They have played in my city in the past but never saw them live, as I either wasn’t old enough or not allowed to go or couldn’t afford to go ….. but I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing this and your perspectives on thus and Kudos to Jung for having sent you this, as he’s a great BB fan, good one Jung ????
Thanks Jacki! It sounds like your brothers had an awesome music collection, and great taste in music, as you do too! “Sloop John B” was the soundtrack to many travels for me, and saw Mike Love sing it live up close, so it’s always been special. Loved seeing Mona and Lisa listen and get into it in the WOTTS.
They do , but the oldest clearly is a Country Music dude with some Southern Rock mixed in there ( Dad was a Country music/ BlueGrass fan ) while my 2 nd oldest bro and is more about mainly Blues but digs Beatles, Led Zep, etc , he and I share more similar music tastes and Mom loved BigBand , Elvis, Country, Tom Jones, Bobby Vinton, Comme Francis, Dusty Springfield, etc, she was more open minded in her music tastes…lol….
K-Tel records! I remember those commercials on TV. There has to be older songs that I know from hearing them on those commercials first.
Jacki, I was introduced to a lot of kool music through my older brother, too. He bought me the Sgt Peppers album when we were kids. Older siblings are kool.
JP
I memorized some of those K-Tel commercials! To me, those arbitrarily connected three-second snippets were songs in their own right. And when I started listening to oldies radio, I was delighted to hear the rest of those songs that I knew only the briefest bits of.
Yes, and remember though I never ordered from them, Columbia Recirds/Cassette Tape Club !?
Ah, yes: twelve albums for a penny. I was never tempted, but only because I was too ignorant of current music to recognize as many as twelve of the available titles.
I benefited massively from having older siblings with lots of records. Beatles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Led Zeppelin, Stones, Jimi Hendricks, Ted Nugent……My brother took notice when I started to listen to Pet Sounds. I was starting to develop my own music taste.
Lol JP, Yeppers on that !!
Very cool indeed! Thank you Mona and Lisa!
Just received the April issue of Mojo magazine. It has special features on George Harrison and his songs which may be of interest to MLT Clubbers (as well as Mona and Lisa).
Love WOTT !Brian Wilson Creative Genius. Pet Sounds Masterpiece , Thank you for sharing. I’ll have to check out Nelson Bragg’s Music, I always learn something new here. and yes I’m smiling . always a nice start to the weekend.
I saw a video about the making of God Only Knows with the Wrecking crew and it was amazing how Brian had all this music just in his head, not on paper, and yet was able to get the musicians to bring it to life! (And what talented musicians they were.) I love the twin’s version so much! I knew Brian would be impressed. Wouldn’t it be nice if the girls did a version of Sloop John B? (sse what I did there?)
I remember way back when and the release of Good Vibrations (around the same time). I think it was a stand alone single and when I heard the song I thought, “Who is that group????” When I found out it was the Beach Boys, I thought “No way!! There are no cars or beach in the song!!” Then it marked a turning point.
I was late into buying a copy of Pet Sounds (probably in the 90s), and I only did so because Paul McCartney said in an interview years ago about how it inspired him for some of the Revolver tracks. You are right about the cover photo as it puts people off from buying it as they have no idea of the what the music will sound like. I remember Brian saying that once he heard Revolver (or maybe Sgt. Pepper) he felt he could do no better so maybe it also affected his mind somehow. Great to see you bopping along to the music and so amazing that Brian heard one of your covers of his songs. I especially love Caroline No, Sloop John B, God Only Knows and Wouldn’t it Be Nice (and Good Vibrations although not on the album). After hearing Rubber Soul Brian called in Tony Asher to help him with the lyrics to move away from standard Beach Boys song themes and before recording God Only Knows both Brian and Carl had prayer sessions so that they were totally ready to generate maximum love vibes and said the angels were watching over them when singing it. Brian also claims that this was the first commercial song to have God in the title!
Interesting behind the scenes conversations and banter
https://youtu.be/QBdPbXcAROs
Great review of a wonderful classic record!! I was lucky enough to see the Beach Boys twice over the years. I really enjoy these “What’s on the Table” videos. They bring back memories of me sitting in my bedroom listening to these records when I was a kid. I especially loved the Simon and Garfunkel Bridge Over Troubled Water video. I had forgotten how much I loved that record when I was younger.
I think you both hit the nail on the head!! I remember seeing the Beach Boys in Provo, Utah and still have the ticket stub (Oct. 24, 1980). I’m so glad you mentioned Paul McCartney’s love of ‘God Only Knows’. It is one of my all time favorites and the reason I found this amazing duo called The MonaLisa Twins. I’m also a big fan of the bad-ass bassist from the Wrecking Crew….Carol Kaye. Excellent job ladies!!
My family and I have many great memories having seen The Beach Boys about a dozen times over the years their tours would come through Boston. Mike Love pointed out our family dancing to I Get Around several times – they loved audience participation. We also saw Brian Wilson with his band playing Pet Sounds live – he wasn’t as clear with his speaking but definitely could still sing and played bass guitar.
I loved hanging out watching my favorite girls enjoy that wonderful music and I enjoyed your connections to seeing the battle between them and the Beatles. I heard Paul McCartney say that he played Pet Sounds for his kids and told them “This is how an album should sound.”
I’ve also heard that Paul wrote his favorite self composition “ Here There and Everywhere “ having been inspired by “God Only Knows”. In all honesty I love you girls’ covers of both those songs better than the originals. Your God Only Knows cover is so sweet and expressive and pure – I try to listen just to your angelic voices and the harmonies. And the ukulele gives such a lovely background.
Mona and Lisa, just can’t tell you how much I enjoy seeing you in any setting. My newest acronym is CWTF – Can’t Wait Till Friday for more MLT magic! You’re the best!
Oh my God!!! What an absolute groovy delight and surprise. It is so incredibly special for me to hear your take and reaction to this album and the Beach Boys as they are very dear to me for what they gave me as a young teenager; Bigger than life dreams of life and the future. I’ve seen them live a few times. In grade 10 or 11, I went to see the very first live concert in my life by myself, and it was the Beach Boys, Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnson, the full band. I experienced some wonderful fond memories seeking them out, going to see them on another occasion with a friend the next year taking buses and a ferry to see them at a rock festival in another city. They truly did and do make me “feel-good”!
As usual you delivered a top notch WOTT presentation of this album and history, that even myself, someone who has followed the Beach Boys all my life, is able to learn something new and gain new insight into Brian Wilson, like Pet Sounds instrumental track being considered for a James Bond soundtrack, God Only Knows was written in an hour, and insight into how Brian at a young age of 23 was so respected by the seasoned session musicians who worked on the album for Brian. Brian did a lot of the lead vocals on the album, and he is an amazing singer too. Kudos, great research and work on this, such a fun and informative WOTTs, you both always impress the heck out of me!
There is a funny story around the album cover photo. Mike Love and Dennis Wilson agitated those animals in the photo so much during the photo shoot, horsing around with the animals etc… the San Diego Zoo banned the band from the zoo!
Pet Sounds was my first real proper album I ever bought. I still have the original vinyl I got in the 70s. I bought some compilation greatest hits Beach Boys albums before, but this was the first actual studio album I ever bought, and I remember hearing the lesser known tracks like “That’s Not Me”, “I Know There’s An Answer”, “Here Today”, “You Still Believe In Me”, “I’m Waiting For The Day”, “Caroline No” etc….and getting absolutely captivated. I may have heard “Sloop John B”, my all time fave Beach Boys song for the first time on Pet Sounds. For the first time I appreciated the value of the album, and how the lesser known songs can be just as wonderful as the popular hits, and hence the start of my music appreciation journey. The first time I heard Orange, I couldn’t help but think of Pet Sounds and Sargent Peppers, truly artistic albums, the three of them, and I’m so looking forward to your new, 11th, album in the works! I know it’s going to be gggreat!
I’m glad to hear Brian Wilson got to hear your version of “God Only Knows”, and I am sure he felt your version with your harmonies was better than the bands, though he might not admit it. I agree, God Only Knows is one of the most beautiful songs, and remember how happy I was when I first discovered you and finding your wonderful gem cover of this song!
I loved your story of getting to see Brian Wilson live at the 50th Pet Sounds Anniversary show! Way to go getting into the venue, and you can crash my party anytime! Those lucky people.
Thank You so much for featuring Pet Sounds on your WOTTS, absolutely loved it.
Wishing you a very happy Valentines ????????, and all the very best with the video shoot!
Over the moon in Canada! ????????????❤
Jung
BTW, wouldn’t it be nice ???? to hear Brian’s latest reimagined version of God Only Knows on piano here. Like John Sebastian’s “…Explore The Spoonful Songbook” album, Brian Wilson recently eleased a new album where he reimagines many of his classic songs on piano, played by Brian. Though Brian is not a trained pianist, some wonderful heartfelt instrumentation I think.
https://youtu.be/O8qhfG5iXIc
Jung,
That was so eloquently stated. You expressed so many of the same feelings that I had growing up with their music. I also saw them when I was at the magical age of 17. Very cool that Mona and Lisa gave you props at the beginning.
Diana
Thanks Diana. Yeah me too, I grew up with their music, and in a way matured with it in my early adulthood the way their music progressed from the early 60s through the late 60s, though it was in the 70s/80s for me when it happened. I remember those sun and surf and car songs like Fun, Fun, Fun, Help Me Rhonda, and then through my teenage wishing for romance phase with songs like “Then I Kissed Her”. I felt so many emotions through their music, and then into the more complex emotions in Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations, Smile, Surfs Up albums etc….
When I first got into their music the world always felt brighter and everything shined more colorful than reality really was, which was something I needed at that time in my young life, and then later in life they continue to inspire me by the youthfulness and passion for life feel I still get from their music, and the way they keep doing their music, never ceasing to create. They made me feel so alive when I first heard them, and they still do that.
https://youtu.be/geHQ3eEpMDs
To be honest, the first time I heard Wouldn’t It Be Nice was about 5 years ago in The Big Bang Theory series.
Greetings
As a young kid of 10 years old in 1960 I was bowling every Saturday morning in a kids league….at some point maybe 12 13 14 I brought some Beach Boy sheet music to the bowling alley one Saturday morning…why I don’t know …I just remember doing it…it wasn’t long after that I was learning to play guitar and eventually some other kids and I got up a band…I remember we played Be True To Your School….Help Me Rhonda…California Girls….don’t really have anything to add to the Pet Sound discussion other than it really is a great album and the Beach Boys were a great group and Brian Wilson a genius songwriter….I guess I could add that my favorite 21st century band the MonaLisa Twins did a great rendition of God Only Knows on their Beatles and More vol 1…..Thank You girls for another fine WOTT.❤️for Mona????for Lisa
True story- one summer evening I was sitting at a traffic light with the roof open and all the windows down on the car and Wouldn’t It Be Nice came on my already loud car stereo. A nice looking lady pulled up on one side of me and a young couple pulled up on the other side of me. Over the music the lady said “I love this song” and the young couple asked me if I could turn it up louder so I did. We all sat there at the light singing “you know it’s gonna make it that much better when we can spend the night and stay together “. Than the light changed to green and we all pulled out smiling and singing. This was about 10 years ago. The power of a great song!
“What’s on the table” always turns out to be entertaining and educational for me. I thought this one was especially good!
1964- I saw the Beatles with my brother and his girlfriend. 1965- My first guitar and started down that road. May 1966 Pet Sounds came out and in August I saw the Beach Boys with a few other bands that no one has heard of like The Moonrakers and the Astronauts. The 60’s were totally groovy with all the Bands coming out from everywhere. I think I saw the Beach Boys 11 times through the years along with other bands like Fleetwood Mac, I think that concert was 1976!!! I have been blessed!! Thank you, Jung, for sending that to Mona and Lisa. One thing though I think Brian had more than just a panic attack, there was too much of a certain thing that people were swallowing that made some people go off the edge!!!! Brian Wilson has always been one of Rocks Greatest Legends though when it came to Rock. Wouldn’t it be nice to do it all over again? Stay Groovy!!!
Pet Sounds was one of the first original (i.e., non-compilation) albums I bought when I first got into 60’s music. As a link in the creative chain between Rubber Soul and Sgt. Pepper, it seemed to be a must-have item.
I long wondered whether the title of the album was supposed to be interpreted literally as “sounds made by pets”, or more poetically as “sounds functioning as pets”. The latter would have been really trippy, but from what I’ve read recently it was actually the former.
One mystery that I still haven’t solved is why Dennis is feeding an invisible goat in the cover photo. Maybe there’s a tiny goat behind the big white one?
Speaking of the album cover, here’s a few seconds of recently unearthed footage of the photo shoot. Notice the brief glimpse of Bruce, who was there but was contractually not allowed to appear in the photo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvJozZX8XJk
Hello Ladies,
OMG!! what an Iconic Album. So far ahead of its time when it came out, and to many degrees Is still ahead of today’s sound.
God Only Knows was number 1 in the UK for something like 16 weeks.
Dennis Wilson once said ” God Only Knows, is the most beautiful song I have ever heard.”
UNFORTUNATELY Carl and Dennis Wilson are no longer with us.
There were several takes for the beginning of God Only Knows.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice and Sloop John B are Iconic songs as well.
I have heard of Pet Sounds all my life and have seen the Beach Boys several times.
The first time was in the 70s when they were Touring With CHICAGO!
THE BEACH BOYS were the backing vocals on Chicago’s Wishing You Were Here.
A Fantastic Show covering almost 4 hours. Including a 45 minute Encore with Both Bands TOGETHER!!
Thanks Ladies for such an Awesome Whats On The Table
Best of Wishes to you and Your Amazing Team!
Rick
Your video reminded me of a bunch of great memories. When my wife and I started dating during high school in the mid 70’s I found out the Beach Boys were one of her favorite bands. I made a mix tape of her favorites songs which included several from Pet Sounds. We would drive to the metro park in spring and summer with the windows down and the tape blasting. We had a favorite spot in a field where we would park, set out a blanket, and listen to more beach boys while eating our sub sandwiches. One summer evening, maybe 1978, we were able to see the Beach Boys at Blossom Music Center (a unique outdoor amphitheater surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park) It was our first concert attended together. We had tickets for the lawn area, and had a fantastic time. To this day, we both have fond memories of that concert.
I found it interesting that Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney were born in the same year and a few days apart. Both being on almost opposite sides of the earth. Both continue in their adventures in music that inspires so many people. There are recordings by them both that will have continued inspiration to those yet to be born. Just like those who will discover The MonaLisa Twins for their first time.
The Beach Boys are always a pick me up, with their happy music. I don’t really have a favorite. Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and God Only Knows are all great tunes.
Thanks for sharing. This was great.
I love Mona’s puns. & in case you’ve missed my other comments, I love Lisa’s long red locks!
TGIF!
It’s so kool that you did a WOTT with Jung’s fave. I have never been a big Beach Boys fan, but I always turn the volume up when one of their’s plays on the radio.
Really enjoyed you sharing all of your knowledge and now we will have to grab a copy of Pet Sounds. I never noticed the pun until tonight – “pet” is a verb
God Only Know is one of those forever songs. It will be listened to forever.
We love your version of it. Bowie did a nice cover of it, too, but the MLT version is the preferable one.
Thanks for peaking our interest. We have to go listen to The Beach Boys Pet Sounds. LOL too funny.
Have fun filming this weekend.
JP & Marlo
I never tire of ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’. As a single, I think it achieved the most success of any track on the album, getting into the top 10. I still get a little chill from Hal Blaine’s dramatic gunshot drum hit that kicks off the vocals. He famously did the same thing on The Ronettes’ ‘Be My Baby’, Brian’s all-time favorite pop record. Maybe a little intentional homage there. Thanks for talking about this one.
Way to go Jung! The ladies are “playing your song”!
Loved your video today! I saw the Beach Boys with their original lineup back in the 70’s. They also played a concert at a school right by my house in the 80’s. I could hear them from my back yard.
An AWESOME choice and one of my favorite albums. Since the 1970’s, I have seen The Beach Boys more than any other group and can’t even count the number of times I have seen them in concert. In Philadelphia, they played several free concerts at a 4th of July celebration on a stage near our Museum of Art. I also met Mike Love when we sponsored an event for him at a record store I was working at. I may have mentioned it before, but aside from the Beatles, my favorite groups are ones that have family members singing in harmony.To mention a few, we have The Everly Brothers, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, and of course, The Mona Lisa Twins! You both are among good company, please keep doing what you are doing. God only knows where we’d be without you! Thanks for sharing…
Luv the fun you two have presenting these albums. I was slow in getting the “wouldn’t it be nice” joke. My sister was a fan of theirs, and would play them all the time – so I became a fan too. Brian is considered a genius. Shame his brothers died so young. Glen Campbell was part of the wrecking crew that played with them. A side note: Mike Love’s ex-wife and daughter lived in OKC, OK USA, and his ex-in-laws were good friends of our family. They told me he was very devoted to his daughter.
I saw The Beach Boys live in Washington DC at a 4th of July concert on the National Mall. I think they were very good, but it’s hard to remember. My friend brought what he called a “nuclear watermelon”, which had a core cut out from one end so the melon could be filled and marinated in vodka. Like I said, I don’t remember much!
Mona & Lisa you have the history ????%…spot on, from me being a supporter of The Wrecking Crew soundtrack albums, vinyl & CD my name listed in the liner notes and Executive producer on the Take 2 Soundtrack album. Eventually I got to meet Brian Wilson, getting autographed copy lead sheet of God Only Knows, Brian’s book, and a few other items. The adventures in music are special time in our life. To hear others and share.
Picture at the Pet Sounds concert tour where the entire album was performed along with the many Beach Boys songs.
Hi John. Wow what an awesome photo, must have been an incredible feeling to meet Brian in person. Thanks for sharing that.
Thank you, It was an awesome experience. It was an incredible opportunity.
Forgot – I too saw Brian’s 50th anniversary show for this album. Sadly his mind is mostly fried but it created some of the best music of all time. And remember he is mostly deaf in one ear and he still came up with these blends of instruments and voices. Unbelievable!
What a great Friday! The 2 cutest most adorable girls and my all time favorite album. Thank you Jung for sending it to them.
Sgt Pepper used to be my favorite album until I really started to listen to Pet Sounds about 15 years ago. Every time I hear it I hear something different I never heard before and it is solidly my favorite. Wouldn’t It Be Nice is such a great opening, God Only Knows is beautiful enough to sing in church, and Caroline No is wonderful. There isn’t a song below average on the whole thing.
I know they are hard to cover because of all the harmonies but I wish you did more of their songs.
The way you record reminds me a lot of this album in that you experiment with a lot of sounds. It is a great idea and keep up the great work.
Groovy Luv to you, and God Only Knows Wouldn’t It Be Nice if ….????
Hi Tim. Yeah when I see the behind the scenes studio photos of Mona, Lisa, and Papa Rudi in the studio in their elements creating music, I see the tradition they are carrying forward of what the Beatles and Beach Boys started in the studio experimenting with sounds and mixing tracks creating masterpieces.