The fact that Brian misheard Tony Asher's original title phrase "Carol, I Know" as "Caroline, No" and wrote the song around that chorus instead really is one of the most fascinating accidents in pop music
It's funny you mention that (I haven't watched the video yet, although it is in queue - I'm listening to Layla by Derek and the Dominoes at the moment 😆) - I heard the line "Caroline, you...." as "Carol I knew". Since it was christened "Caroline, No", I thought he was saying "Caroline, New". Whatever - it's Brian's trip, so........
I walked to the record store at fifteen years old to buy this album because Paul McCartney talked about it. I liked it, but didn't know it was the most important thing that ever happened in my life until a couple years later when my high school girlfriend asked me to stop playing it so much in the car. I didn't realize I had played it so much until she told me we had heard it hundreds of times. And I went to sleep with it every night. Side one one night, side two the next. I slowly realized I had become obsessed. (And now I know I'm on the autism spectrum). I can play the album now without playing it, just in my head, and hear every note (in mono, of course). Brian went through a lot, and he loved and understood me like no one else. You, too. I ended up spending a big part of my life in Southern California, and I got to meet him once and say "thanks"...with his one good ear, I know he hears that word a lot.
for someone not on the autism spectrum, brian has his finger on the pulse of the experience to a shocking degree with songs like IJWMFTT "they say i got brains but they ain't doin me no good"? like come on. it fits way too well.
@@abigaildevoe His 1960s diagnosis by today's understanding would be really interesting. A teenager sitting by the record player transcribing Four Freshman vocal parts hour after hour is not normal. Obsessive behavior ("Be My Baby", etc.) compulsive and impulsive behavior, manic mood swings, severe clinical depression, self-medicating...I think it's the depression that gave him the rich emotional palette. He more or less invented "happy/sad". And it all sure spoke to me- I discovered records like "Don't Worry Baby" when I was eight and was totally hooked.
Kind of the reason why I love the beach boys. I am also autistic and love music and want to make music that resonates with more than anyone could imagine from today's time. I highly relate to Brian as a composer because he uses his mind to put music to its riskiest, most challenging, and most jaw dropping worlds of sound.
“Whenever I make a genuine interpersonal connection, I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop” that might be the most relatable things I’ve ever heard someone say. Like I genuinely feel like that just tapped into my soul and I don’t feel as alone having heard that. That just completely changed my view of that song
Brian Wilson is another example of the fine line between genius and madness, a brilliant, beautiful songwriter, and indeed a genius and that’s not a term i throw around lightly. Smile is a wonderful lost album I’m glad finally came out
I agree totally. Plus, the SMILE album (when finally released) completely blew me away. I can't believe that masterpiece was never truly finished but what we do get is amazing.
When I was younger, like 30 years ago I always used to visit my local punk rock record shop which was owned by this hip hippie dude who caught my attention because he used to play Bowie in his shop while burning incense; it was quite a vibe. And after watching this short documentary about the making of Sgt. Pepper which referenced a lot of Pet Sounds info, I decided to give it a try. So when I was checking out to purchase it, he said something that stuck with me. He told me something along the lines of, "This album is a masterpiece. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't let your hip cool friends try to tell you different or clown on you. This album is a music essential no matter what anyone says ". I must admit, most of my friends at the time listened to metal so I was a bit shy & embarrassed to have this in my collection, but he totally won me over and in the end I realized it doesn't matter. The only person who's music matters is to yourself, nobody else.
The a cappella section of “You Still Believe In Me” makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck! It almost foreshadows “Our Prayer” which would be recorded in just a matter of months. Otherwise I can’t pick a favorite tune, there’s just too many that qualify!
I feel the same way. I made it to my mid twenties before I realized how groundbreaking they were. Like many still do, I just thought of them in terms of the early pop hits...which I love now just like I love the Beatles early tunes, but before I heard Brian's more experimental stuff, I was just dismissive. But now I'm a huge fan and seriously think of Brian as the Mozart of 20th century psychedelic rock.
I still cannot believe that I got to play "I Just Wasnt Made for These Times" with Brian Wilson in Echo In The Canyon the movie and with Neil Young and Jakob Dylan on the soundtrack... That song also happens to be the song I want played at my funeral......
1959-1961 I attended George Washington Elementary School in Hawthorne, California, exactly one mile west of the Wilson home. As I sat in class Brian was teaching his brothers and cousin how to sing harmonies in the garage. First through third grade, learning to read, joining the school choir in 1960 and we sang You'll Never Walk Alone.
This album has been a favorite of mine for around 50-ish years now. I was lucky enough to see Brian and his band perform the album two different times. . .and yes, the train still ended the live performance. I appreciate your really personal thoughts about this great music. You did a great job on an iconic album.
I like the way you take the cover artwork into account, as an important part of the experience ( as in the Blind Faith video). I never knew that God Only Knows was written in 45mins... that's jaw dropping.
before i started collecting records i didn't know how important the cover art truly was to the music experience. you just don't get the same effect in a tiny square on a screen as you do in your hands! i was just about blown back in my seat when i heard brian say that about "god only knows"
Pet Sounds was a huge revelation for me back in 1995. I had no clue Brian Wilson made this masterpiece with such moving songs. I was going through a divorce & Caroline No just resounded in my soul. Awesome video for this epic album.
I was born in '92 and grew up loving oldies and loving the beach boys. Rediscovering this album as an adult I was a grad student doing a lot of lonely lab work in the basements of university buildings, and the song that really grabbed me was ALSO Don't Talk. I appreciate you saying that so much, I don't think I've heard anyone I know really acknowledge that song before, let alone appreciate it.
Nice. “God Only Knows” is three minutes of perfection and one of my favorite pieces of music ever. And you’re right about that one little instrumental part in “Here Today”. Great. I realize this is sacrilege, but I never fully appreciated “Pet Sounds” until I heard the stereo version. As well as all the standalone vocal tracks that were part of the big Pet Sounds box that came out in the late ‘90s. It was a revelation. It is, of course, a classic album. It’s really too bad “Smile” can’t be reviewed since it was really never released. For decades it was the “unreleased masterpiece” even though the occasional track would come out. It was sort of like trying to hear “Sgt. Pepper” a track at a time. When “Brian Wilson Presents Smile” came out about 15 years ago, I was set to be disappointed after all the buildup…but I loved it. It was amazing. For me, it’s right up there with “Pet Sounds”. You can’t help but wonder what would have happened if it had come out in January ’67 as scheduled…
this is one of my favourite albums and an essential album on my list (along with Nilsson Schmilsson, which I hope will someday get covered on Vinyl Monday!)
i somehow haven't gotten into harry nilsson yet, huge oversight on my part! there's this photo of mike nesmith holding a copy of pandemonium shadow show, gotta find that album purely for the sake of the nez haha
@@abigaildevoe His voice has been mother’s milk for me since watching “The Point” as a child. And that soundtrack still holds up beautifully imo. If you, for whatever reason, don’t click with his music (for now), the “Lost Weekend” lore goes hard. 1974’s “Pussycats” produced by John Lennon, is a fascinating document of that time, and contains tracks where Harry’s usually songbird-like voice is completely blown out in the most pleasing way.
@@abigaildevoe Hey Abigail...now that I know you're a Nesmith fan I'll share with you that he used to buy music from me at a Carmel music store. I once mentioned that A Girl That I Knew Somewhere was a favorite Monkees song 'n he agreed, then told the whole background story behind it. When I said Head was their best work he also enthusiastically agreed. I was front row center for a free concert he played on Aug. 24, 2019 in Sand City. His two sons were in the band. It was the last concert I went to as covid shut down everything shortly thereafter. Henry Diltz must have taken a thousand photos. Little did any o' us know at the time that Mike would soon be joinin' the greater force...he actually played a concert in my home town as a duo with a bassist pre-Monkees at an elementary school. I didn't attend as I went to another school, but a friend who played guitar in my band did go, met Mike 'n got a signed photo because his father was the school principal!
Wow Abby...what an extensive overview of PS!!! Always been one of my favorites but after your shedding so much light into its production makes even that much more special!! Thanks for taking the time to elaborate on this truly iconic work of musical genius!!!
As someone who adored Pretty Odd when I was a teen who now adores Pet Sounds in adulthood, that comparison between the two and the band members was so REALLLLL
When I was younger (so much younger than today...or yesterday, for that matter), after the goodbyes were said and a relationship would end, there would be utter heartbreak, tears and feelings of alienation & disillusionment. "Pet Sounds" was always there - as a saving grace. Whenever there were thoughts of the world being cold and heartless; having feelings of self-doubt and believing that I wasn't made for these times, "Pet Sounds" would be there. After 36 minutes, I would be reassured -- taking comfort in knowing that if someone in this world could create THIS, then life is indeed beautiful! For me, this work of art is truly a lifesaving experience! Favorite track? Gotta be "God Only Knows". The song my wife and I danced to at our wedding...many years ago!
I have three faves on this one.. I love "Don't talk..." It'a shorter tune, but the arrangement is so gorgeous and lush. There's a beautiful key change in this song that gets me every time. I also adore "Caroline No". Again, a shorter song, but out of this world. I love that it's about a guy being sad about a girl he's known losing her innocence. The melody is so perfectly simple. And his pleading cry to her at the end is heartbreaking...my last favorite is "God only knows". I think the fact that he wrote this masterpiece in 45 minutes is off the charts to begin with. And him hand picking Carl to sing this one was a genius move. Such an angelic voice that's ideal for this song. And Again, of course, the arrangement knocks your socks right off your feet while listening, I mean they just fly right off your feet and hit the wall if you're not wearing shoes...the French horn at the top is just stupefying right off the bat. What a great idea! I love French horn. You're hooked within the first 5 seconds. And the tag at the end is electrifying...the perfection of where and how all the voices are placed and blended brings tears to my ears. It goes on for the perfect amount of time too....all of the other songs on this LP are A-1 steak sauce, so it's like swallowing glass to even have favorites. You did a fantastic job, as usual. It really is so nice to see adults of your age enjoying this music. My wife is a 5th grade teacher and brings in Beatle songs sometimes for them to hear. I love watching their faces during the songs. Sorry for writing 'War and Peace' here....🙄 Keep rockin'
I didn't hear this album until I was in my very early 20s (despite growing up with the singles on the oldies channel) and it very quickly became a favorite album of mine. I feel like the mono version also amplifies the inherent sadness of this record too. It's so beautiful and melancholy like a midwest winter. Whenever I put it on, I'm transported back to 1996, lying on my bed, ditching class at city college and watching snowflakes gently fall by my window. It's just so good. Thanks for covering this album. You do great work.
Hi Abby, I love that red stripped shirt!...last summer I got The Analogue Production pressing of Pet Sounds, its a gorgeous piece. You mention Exotica, I have a few CDs by Martin Denny, one of which features the Randy Van Horn singers who did the vocals on the Flintstones & Jetsons theme songs. I especially love Arthur Lyman's, Taboo, which has a great version of Misirlou. There is a great documentary about The Wrecking Crew on you tube that I highly recommend, they played for almost everyone in the 60's . The Theremin, yes! I have one of those. First time I heard a theremin in rock music was Captain Beefheart's song, Electricity and had to own one myself. My favorite songs on Pet Sounds are Wouldn't It Be Nice & God Only Knows. OK, bye for now...Stephen Verb
this album only really made sense to me a few days ago. i'd tried it out a while back, but dismissed it as "all sounding the same" and never really thought much of it afterwards. I'm not sure what made it click, but it felt like a revelation. in any case, your video confirmed my new-found admiration for this album, and you executed it perfectly
I feel this comment so much. Same thing with me: first listened a few songs (God Only Knows was love at first listen), then tried with the whole album but it didn't work well. Came back for like each day of the two next weeks till, one day, i realized: "I Love This". Now, it's safe to say it's my favorite album of all time (beyond any genre of music).
19:06 i actually went "WHAT!!" irl i never in a million years thought you would mention this album in the context of this video or anywhere on ur channel, let alone PULL OUT A VINYL OF IT!!! U GOT THE BB0 VINYL!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! instant sub thenk u very munch
i only listened to pet sounds because of the portlandia skit but i really loved it. impressive that wilson was so young, i can only imagine how he took it when he gave everything he had and it failed to meet its audience.
i don't think it's a stretch to say the initial US failure of pet sounds, then unraveling of smile, broke brian's heart. and you could argue both broke the beach boys
Beautiful analysis (and astoundingly on-target diagnosis of P!ATD, ha!) I love that you give Carl his props; I’m always really moved whenever I hear Brian talking about him. You can tell that he was proud of his brother. Talking about the train, obviously it’s a song that came out years later, but I do find myself thinking about the Paul Simon lyric: “Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance. Everybody thinks it’s true.”
i love how carl believed in brian, carl supported him the way only the more social younger sibling of the brainy awkward oldest child does. a very special bond for sure. and thanks for the props on the PATD comment! justice for ryan ross
I had never listened to the whole of Pet Sounds all the way through until you had it on Vinyl Monday. I went in expecting surfingcarsandgirls and was very pleasantly surprised to hear something else that was definitely The Beach Boys but different. And the exotica on it certainly sonically transported me over the hills and far away.
My sis went to see the BBs in the mid 60s...she did not like them in concert...she said they were too mild.....the audience all sat in folding chairs....no one got up and danced.....or acted like they were getting off on the music. I like "Les Baxter" music...its sensual. 😻
I was saddened , as anyone would, at the report of her tough developmental years, but maybe it contributed to her using her adult woman super powers for good.
Wow - watched a few of your videos now, but had to comment on this one - that was absolutely superb Abigail! My introduction to Pet Sounds was a BBC Arena programme for the 40th anniversary- and I *had* to have that album (note to you re the popularity of Pet Sounds in the UK - despite it being hugely popular on release - I have literally never seen a second hand copy in over 30 years of collecting vinyl - which says people never sell their copy. PS - originally released on Capitol in the UK, not Parlophone). Thankfully, my local library had the recently released remastered mono CD in that I could borrow... I think your analysis and comparison with DSOTM is really apt. Pet Sounds is like this beautiful piece of clockwork machinery- but one with a heart. So much of it makes me cry. But God Only Knows is the pinnacle. That opening couplet "I may not always love you But long as there are stars above you" - what an opening. Tony Asher deserves so much credit for the lyrics he worked on with Brian. The music is remarkable (reasons to listen in mono - recorded on 8 track, then bounced down to a single track to make space for the vocal track - so any 'stereo' mix will only ever be effectively electronically reprocessed stereo, which as we all know, is shit. Plus, Brian is deaf in one ear? So he can *only* mix into mono). Caroline No is such an amazing and moving way to finish that album, and Capitol we're downright rude to only put it out as a Brian Wilson single only...and you're so right about that train. Taking our hopes, fears and memories with it. Of course, the arguments with the record company and the setting up of Brother Records feed into the Smile project and I'm sure give context to the issues around.
You have to watch Steve Lewis’ Beach Boys Basement when he did a lockdown vid, dressed as each Beach Boy and acted out their history perfectly. Sounds odd, it’s pure joy. And 20 minutes of fun.
Great video!! This record means so much to me. I was lucky enough to do a meet and greet with Brian and Al before a show years ago, they were so gracious and kind.
Bell Biv, this one's out of the park. Inaccessible was the perfect word - everyone played the hitz and moved the needle .. simpler times. So cool that you have relationships with albums.
After decades of listening to this record I’ve only just realised that if I had to convince anyone of the beauty and majesty of mono this record would do it
"Pet Sounds" is my all-time favorite album. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" may be my favorite song on it but "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" hits home because it's my theme song. Every human emotion is on display on this album and, it you listen closely, it will exhaust you... and that is a high compliment. Great insights, Abigail, and I say that as someone who was alive when this record came out. A+
Wow - what an insightful, refreshingly cool review. You GET this better than any young person I have seen. I was a young teen musician in 1966, already entranced by what Brian was doing. I bought Pet Sounds the day it came out. I was at the store so early they had to go in the back to unbox it for me. I listened almost nonstop fo three days. It was (and remains) magical. Keep in mind that not only was the music scary good, but Brian was putting his raw emotions out there. NOBODY else did that. Brian could care less about being hip. He still doesn't. Even the Beatles didn't come close to this searing, heart wrenching introspection. Some recommendations: Friends, Love You, Surf's Up, Sunflower...I could go on. Especially Friends, late at night with the lights off. You just earned another subscriber.
wow thank you so much! sometimes it can feel like i'm missing the fundamental understanding that comes with experiencing these albums first-hand in their time. good to know i can still capture a fraction of it. glad you're enjoying the channel, welcome to this long strange trip!
That was a solid overview. It's great to see new generations discovering this album. I hope your arms didn't get tired holding up the record for the whole video! Will be checking out more of your reviews 😊
Thank you so much for doing this. My favorite album from my favorite band. Never get tired of it. I have a bootleg of all the studio sessions. Many takes of each track, both backing track sessions and vocal track sessions and it’s always a revelation to me. Just a quick footnote: I think you left out Bruce Johnston both on this album and on SMiLE. His voice is very prominent on one of the three parts at the end of “God Only Knows”, and I am pretty sure he’s in the mix on those songs that are not just Brian, but feature all of The Beach Boys.
It's my favorite album. If I had to identify my favorite moment in the concerts I have attended, it would be during the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds tour in 2000, when I got to see the instrumental duet between Jeffrey Foskett on banjo and Paul Von Mertens on bass harmonica in the song "I Know There's an Answer." The expression on Foskett's face was one of preternatural bliss.
Probably one of the best reviews of Pet Sounds I have heard. As someone who remembers the release of this record, may I suggest another reason the album didn't meet US expectations? When this album was released the whole pop music scene was in some chaos and transitioning to a new era of harder, edgier rock 'n' roll, with less reliance on"the song". Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Butterfield Blue Band, the 13th Floor Elevators and many others were moving to a sound (in 1966) that relied more on solos and instrumental prowess. The lush, beautiful harmonies of The Beatles and Beach Boys were supplanted by raucous and searing guitar work. I know when I first heard Pet Sounds, it was just too safe and didn't reflect the times (Vietnam war protests, etc). I have also learned that we often grow into the music.
Great heart felt video Abigail , i think you summed up the emotions of what most of us must have felt on the first listen of this epic record , i myself at this time was a fourteen year old teenager listening to everything that was around at the time , but this was from some other dimention , it just blew me away ,played it to death for the first week , like your first love it was an experience i shall never forget ,Majestic
I’ve been listening to the “smile sessions” on repeat over the last couple weeks … especially the song ‘surfs up’. I’m low-key obsessed with Brian Wilson’s songs right now. These 2 albums (Pet sounds/ smile) are among my favorites from any genre.
Many music folks feel that the PET SOUNDS album was really a Brian Wilson SOLO record! * With the other Beach Boys singing along* .The best of the ''wrecking crew'' played all the instruments pretty much. Its a great album for its time and its influence was enormous for 1966! Many of the songs are fantastic, some of the songs are OK. And sorry, The Fabs trumped The Beach dudes with Sgt. Pepper. But Wilson was genius for his day, and this was his masterpiece! p.s.- Brian got the ''thermin'' idea from watching it used on ''My Favorite Martian''.....LOL
I was a sound technician in Hollywood and I worked on the movie of the week titled "The Beach boys, and American family, " we tried to use most of the same locations and studios that they used it was very exciting to be part of the movie, incidentally we could not afford all the songs we wanted so we had to make do., very nice job with you report.
I bought my first copy on cassette under very strange circumstances. Ihad no idea this album existed. I just remembered we used to have the Good Vibrations single backed with Let's Go Away for Awhile, which I wasn't able to find anywhere. I'm not a big Beach Boys fan, but I like Pet Sounds and Smile. Anyway, I just searched all the cassettes in this store I was in and looked at all the track listings of all these Beach Boy tapes and, sure enough, Let's Go Away for Awhile was on Pet Sounds - at last, this song is back and will never leave my sight again. Pet Sounds is a great album, better than just about anything else they did before or since. I feel the same about Smile.
Favorite songs off "Pet Sounds." "You Still Believe In Me." Originally called "In My Childhood," it had bike bells and horn on it at the end. When they changed the lyrics, the bells and horns were left in.
A woman after my own heart 💕! Let's go elope 😂! Beach Boys have been my favorite band since I was ten; and I love "Pet Sounds" although for me, their masterpiece album is "Shut Down Vol II" the quintessential Rock N Roll album with the best BB vocals and songs ever. "Pet Sounds" was their transition from Rock N Roll to drug mellowed shopping 🛒🛍️ mall music, howbeit beautiful. I was blessed to see Brian and Al on the 50th anniversary tour of "Pet Sounds" at Asheville in 2016. It was sensory overload and the smell of the smoke wafting through the crowd really gave it a mid 60s feel. It's awesome to see a young lady who digs the Beach Boys like I do, and I like the period dress and makeup 💄, and you are very knowledgeable, beautiful, funny, and entertaining!
kicking myself forever for missing out on the one singular time shinjuku mad was pressed on vinyl. SO cool that blank banshee samples his old material!!
I'm going with "I'm Waiting for the Day"- just so exuberant and joyous !! I remember my first listening of the album- there was just so much there to take in, but surely didn't take too long for all of it to grow on me and leave a deep impression; What a great milestone of Pop music- vocally, instrumentally and creatively.. truly Brian's Masterpiece !!
Wonderful celebration of a classic and influential album. I have grown to love it but it's taken time. Apart from three songs, I knew it only by the title until the mid-90s when I bought the CD (mono). When I put that on I thrilled to those ones and pretty much let the others just play, thinking that a lot of them just ran together rather than jostled for attention. Then, I think I got it: it's a perfect leave-it-on record where you can drift in and out of the colours and textures and harmonies with the occasional marauder rising from the waves. Wilson's orchestration is a marvel and continues the thinking of any classical composer, thinking in emotions and aural shapes rather than jamming something until it works. I still think of this music as being Brian and the gang around a psychic piano that plays every sound he wants as he's thinking it and the vocal harmonies levitating the whole building. I later got the DVD-Audio with the 5.1 mix and loved that, too (the moment when that giant bass comes in during Sloop John B. throws me against the wall!). The train and dogs on Caroline No make me think of the small place where I grew up and the melancholy nostalgia, like the narrator of the song is feeling; the dogs just run around in circles while the trains take people and things out of there to somewhere else. I appreciate your share about growing up awkward and apart as it sends something hopeful out to anyone going through that to whom it would be a comfort. I made my own eccentricities at that age break through by insisting on them but not everyone could tell that story. Pet Sounds sits so perfectly in the timeline around Rubber Soul, Revolver, 5D, Aftermath, Face to Face, Sellout and so much more that if you removed it the bridge would collapse and wash away. Many thanks.
it's a great leave-it-on record, that quality comes from the lounge music (like exotica) brian was listening to leading up to pet sounds! it means you'll always notice something new as you drift in and out. took me months to hear that cough in "here today" the "caroline no" train brings back memories for me too: my college campus was a couple miles off the train tracks. thanks for the lovely comment
I remember it being one of those albums that took me quite a few listens to finally appreciate its beauty, but it is rightly hailed as a masterpiece. I like the cover art, it's naive charm fits the beach boys image very well and the white and yellow font on green background is really classy. Another brilliant review Abby!
it was the same for me too: i only listened to pet sounds for the first time last year and it took a few listens to start seeing its charm. the album art is a rare case of A+ typography, F for photography/design
Running the risk of being misunderstood by saying this, but: You are special! I mean… I don’t watch this kind of video… but here I am enjoying and learning things I should have known since I was a kid. I listened to some of it before and was not into it. Now… so many years along… I’m wanting to listen again, to hear what it contains that I was too dull to appreciate. Great work going just deep enough to be a good teacher for me! Love is everything, like creativity… no-one understands it, but it must do things to you, and you to it… Ooooor…. You don’t exist… Bam!!! Thanks for this very revealing description of a thing made when I was a Child and you were very far back in the line of souls waiting to be given a body for this world. 😊 You’ve been a great gift to me tonight! Edit: I’ve been a (Guitarist/bass/Drums/and pretend I can sing) guy for many decade, who has written many songs… and been in a few bands. So I don’t say these things with no frame of actual been there and kinda done that actual experience. ✨❤️✨
Saw Brian Wilson in concert last year still amazing after everything he's been through that he can still perform. I love this album easily one of the top 5 albums ever made. It touches me deep down every time I listen to it. I always make sure to play it on its release date and it never gets old. To sum it up in one word this album is timeless. If anyone wants to hear an interesting story about Pet Sounds and The Beatles go to RUclips and type in Bruce Johnston brings Pet Sounds to Lennon & McCartney in London.
When I first heard this album for the first time it blew me away I was familiar with their early work for years and then I heard pet Sounds and I said wow this album is amazing wouldn't be nice and god only knows are my favorite songs on the album and you still believe in me is up there to it took me forever to find it on vinyl my copy is a reissue with the original cover but sadly it's I'm steroids one day I'll find it in mono great video Abby can't wait for the next video
try to find pet sounds in mono if you can, it sounds great that way. but listen to both and see what you prefer! i've seen some hardcore stereo fans in this comments section
The Beach Boys' music has made footnotes in my life. When I think of 409 it evokes memories of my cousin Jimmy who was such a motorhead. I played God Only Knows when my girlfriend from college broke up with me. I thought of all the things that I should have done, but that's another song. Do it Again reminds me of the start of the summer. And Disney Girls, although not a Brian Wilson composition, is my wedding song. I thank the Beach Boys for being a part of the soundtrack of my life. As for Pet sounds it has to be God Only Knows.
Me the same! Though 1965 was also a good year for the Beach Boys: The little girl I once knew, Let him run wild, California girls, Good to my baby, In the back of my mind ...
2 weeks ago, in a horrible foreshadowing, I commented tongue in cheek on the Ram video asking you not to do the overrated Pet Sounds. You said I might want to look away on 3/20. I watched anyway. 😀It didn’t change my mind, but I learned things anyway. Obviously, when you have a strong, visceral reaction to some of the music and lyrics, it makes sense that you love it. Heck, I still tear up when I hear At Seventeen by Janis Ian for the thousandth time since I first heard it as a 15 year old boy in 1975. Anyway, great channel. Love the vibe, the clothes, the humor, the info, the single album concept. Congrats on your quick success from one of your many “old guy” subscribers.
Costume change! I found this album by reading the Rolling Stone Record Guide (blue, 2nd edition), circa 1983-4 and then finding it for $10 (expensive for a used record in 1984) at the local record store a block away from my high school. I wasn't entirely impressed at first - partially because of a giant gouge in the record - but after a short time, I started going out to J&R on Park Row to score the $4.99 versions - all missing a few tracks, but mostly better to listen to - of their earlier albums. My favorite thing is watching the 2000-whatever live solo Smile concert. I got to see Brian a few years earlier (2000?) along with Paul Simon at Jones Beach. I annoyed my friends by singing every song loudly. I love Brian. I just love him. Yeah, I got this from the Rolling Stone guide and I was suspicious of them even back then. Creem didn't have a book, though, so...
pet sounds is still expensive for a used record today - my copy was $40! keep annoying your friends by singing every song loudly, i’m “that friend” too
That Reprise Records reissue was considered to be the best pressing back in the day. The cut-out bins were chock-full of copies back in the late '70s. They fetch a pretty nice price today, still-sealed.
Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel is another concept album that didn't go anywhere from the same era. If you haven't done it yet it would fit in nicely with your current thread. And it's also a great album.
@abigaildevoe I noticed that You're a busy girl and we all appreciate the work you are putting in. Still, consider bringing Bookends back onto your radar. Simon was going to do the whole life cycle but could only eek out one side. Side 2 became a hodgepodge of singles. Really lopsided, so to speak. Nonetheless the album is loaded with gems 💎
fav channel ever, again so excited to have a utoober who rlly enjoys and cares about these types o records ~ PS i caught brian live last year and we locked eyes it was beautiful it means a lot to convey thru the ethereal in close proximity how much dood changed my life for the better forever i have an inexhaustible well of love and praise for this music and simply what it all means and how it feels in all its creative arrangements full of intertextual homage and colloquial evolutions idk gtg gob bless thx u
This is a good video about a great album. Miss Devoe does a very thorough and honest review of the album and the context that it was released in. Good Job Abigail Devoe! Well done.
Oh my dear. L.A. radio (!) played songs from Pet Sounds - maybe two or three - regularly in 1966 which was an amazing year for transcendent pop music. We knew that Wilson kid was up to something. Besides we had Good Vibrations all over the radio a little later. That song, as they say, "ruled the (air)waves!".
I used to have a mono pressing of Pet Sounds which I had to give it up cause I was moving to another house. I found it at a Salvation Army. Wish I still have that record. I have listened this album all the way through and this is one of the best albums I have ever listened.
I came upon *Pet Sounds* slowly. I knew it was well liked yet not a huge seller for the Boys. I went through a WB LP (not very good sounding), a Capitol LP, then the Capitol CD with copious liner notes that greatly boosted my appreciation. When I bought the stereo remix, that was truly magical especially on headphones. I thought the train with barking dogs in the title track was recorded on location someplace, but Brian actually put those sounds together in the studio. Perhaps he was recreating something that happened often at home? (Is there a train route in Hawthorne?) I don't mind the inclusion of "Sloop John B." Maybe most people accept it because "It's the beach Boys!" One of my favorite albums, *Now We Are Six* by Steeleye Span, is often criticized for including an "oldie" ("To Know Him is to Love Him") along with original material.
That's Not Me is the band and one Wrecking Crew member. Carl on Guitars, Brian on Bass and Organ, Dennis on Drums, Terry Melcher and Steve Korthof on Tambourines and Hal Blaine on a Wooden Percussion instrument. Possibly Ray Polhman on Bass too.
Great review of Pet Sounds. I can really tell how much you love this album and hold it in such high regards. I've always looked upon Caroline, No in a different light that of a father seeing his daughter growing up and making her own way in the world. The father feels sad because he is in a way losing the one he loves the most.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
what’s your favorite track on pet sounds? comment below!
God Only Knows 🙏
Caroline Knows
*No
Dont talk (put your head on my shoulder)
@@IndieRockerForever Thats a good song title...very Lou Reed
The fact that Brian misheard Tony Asher's original title phrase "Carol, I Know" as "Caroline, No" and wrote the song around that chorus instead really is one of the most fascinating accidents in pop music
It's funny you mention that (I haven't watched the video yet, although it is in queue - I'm listening to Layla by Derek and the Dominoes at the moment 😆) - I heard the line "Caroline, you...." as "Carol I knew". Since it was christened "Caroline, No", I thought he was saying "Caroline, New". Whatever - it's Brian's trip, so........
I walked to the record store at fifteen years old to buy this album because Paul McCartney talked about it. I liked it, but didn't know it was the most important thing that ever happened in my life until a couple years later when my high school girlfriend asked me to stop playing it so much in the car. I didn't realize I had played it so much until she told me we had heard it hundreds of times. And I went to sleep with it every night. Side one one night, side two the next. I slowly realized I had become obsessed. (And now I know I'm on the autism spectrum). I can play the album now without playing it, just in my head, and hear every note (in mono, of course). Brian went through a lot, and he loved and understood me like no one else. You, too. I ended up spending a big part of my life in Southern California, and I got to meet him once and say "thanks"...with his one good ear, I know he hears that word a lot.
for someone not on the autism spectrum, brian has his finger on the pulse of the experience to a shocking degree with songs like IJWMFTT
"they say i got brains but they ain't doin me no good"? like come on. it fits way too well.
@@abigaildevoe His 1960s diagnosis by today's understanding would be really interesting. A teenager sitting by the record player transcribing Four Freshman vocal parts hour after hour is not normal. Obsessive behavior ("Be My Baby", etc.) compulsive and impulsive behavior, manic mood swings, severe clinical depression, self-medicating...I think it's the depression that gave him the rich emotional palette. He more or less invented "happy/sad". And it all sure spoke to me- I discovered records like "Don't Worry Baby" when I was eight and was totally hooked.
Kind of the reason why I love the beach boys. I am also autistic and love music and want to make music that resonates with more than anyone could imagine from today's time. I highly relate to Brian as a composer because he uses his mind to put music to its riskiest, most challenging, and most jaw dropping worlds of sound.
That’s how pop stars used to get your head. Subtle and smart, not toxic and “shocking”
“Whenever I make a genuine interpersonal connection, I am always waiting for the other shoe to drop” that might be the most relatable things I’ve ever heard someone say. Like I genuinely feel like that just tapped into my soul and I don’t feel as alone having heard that. That just completely changed my view of that song
Brian Wilson is another example of the fine line between genius and madness, a brilliant, beautiful songwriter, and indeed a genius and that’s not a term i throw around lightly. Smile is a wonderful lost album I’m glad finally came out
i struggle calling anyone "genius" but if there's anyone that comes close, it's him. he's got something very special about him
I consider Zappa a genius too. Brian Wilson had a remarkable gift as an artist, there’s no doubt
I agree totally. Plus, the SMILE album (when finally released) completely blew me away. I can't believe that masterpiece was never truly finished but what we do get is amazing.
@@abigaildevoe have you seen the movie Love and Mercy about Brian? Its great
When I was younger, like 30 years ago I always used to visit my local punk rock record shop which was owned by this hip hippie dude who caught my attention because he used to play Bowie in his shop while burning incense; it was quite a vibe. And after watching this short documentary about the making of Sgt. Pepper which referenced a lot of Pet Sounds info, I decided to give it a try. So when I was checking out to purchase it, he said something that stuck with me. He told me something along the lines of, "This album is a masterpiece. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Don't let your hip cool friends try to tell you different or clown on you. This album is a music essential no matter what anyone says ". I must admit, most of my friends at the time listened to metal so I was a bit shy & embarrassed to have this in my collection, but he totally won me over and in the end I realized it doesn't matter. The only person who's music matters is to yourself, nobody else.
OMG!! “Brendan Urie is the Mike Love of PATD!” made me choke on my soda 🤣
The a cappella section of “You Still Believe In Me” makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck! It almost foreshadows “Our Prayer” which would be recorded in just a matter of months.
Otherwise I can’t pick a favorite tune, there’s just too many that qualify!
Pet sounds is one of those albums that I can point to and say “this is why I love music”. I can’t believe I had slept on The Beach Boys for so long.
It's never too late for quality, as you've found out
I feel the same way. I made it to my mid twenties before I realized how groundbreaking they were. Like many still do, I just thought of them in terms of the early pop hits...which I love now just like I love the Beatles early tunes, but before I heard Brian's more experimental stuff, I was just dismissive. But now I'm a huge fan and seriously think of Brian as the Mozart of 20th century psychedelic rock.
It's one of those albums that takes you awhile to 'get', but once you 'get' it, you love it!
Watching documentaries about it + the "Love&Mercy" biopic really helped me appreciate it more
I still cannot believe that I got to play "I Just Wasnt Made for These Times" with Brian Wilson in Echo In The Canyon the movie and with Neil Young and Jakob Dylan on the soundtrack... That song also happens to be the song I want played at my funeral......
that's truly so special ❤ you win coolest commenter yet again
Excellent summarization of what is, to me, the greatest pop/rock album ever recorded.
thank you, this album is SO hard to summarize so i'm glad you appreciate my try at it
@@abigaildevoe Absolutely the best! Great review as usual!😘
The Pet Sounds box set (and all of the BB's box sets) are must-hear.
pet sounds and smile sessions are the goats, but i loved sail on sailor too
@@saml302 Agree.
1959-1961 I attended George Washington Elementary School in Hawthorne, California, exactly one mile west of the Wilson home. As I sat in class Brian was teaching his brothers and cousin how to sing harmonies in the garage. First through third grade, learning to read, joining the school choir in 1960 and we sang You'll Never Walk Alone.
This album has been a favorite of mine for around 50-ish years now. I was lucky enough to see Brian and his band perform the album two different times. . .and yes, the train still ended the live performance. I appreciate your really personal thoughts about this great music. You did a great job on an iconic album.
I like the way you take the cover artwork into account, as an important part of the experience ( as in the Blind Faith video).
I never knew that God Only Knows was written in 45mins... that's jaw dropping.
before i started collecting records i didn't know how important the cover art truly was to the music experience. you just don't get the same effect in a tiny square on a screen as you do in your hands!
i was just about blown back in my seat when i heard brian say that about "god only knows"
Abigail, you are brilliant. Brian Wilson was incredible. He IS a pretty rare guy.
"Circle Sky".......hell YEAH !
Pet Sounds was a huge revelation for me back in 1995. I had no clue Brian Wilson made this masterpiece with such moving songs. I was going through a divorce & Caroline No just resounded in my soul. Awesome video for this epic album.
I was born in '92 and grew up loving oldies and loving the beach boys. Rediscovering this album as an adult I was a grad student doing a lot of lonely lab work in the basements of university buildings, and the song that really grabbed me was ALSO Don't Talk.
I appreciate you saying that so much, I don't think I've heard anyone I know really acknowledge that song before, let alone appreciate it.
Nice. “God Only Knows” is three minutes of perfection and one of my favorite pieces of music ever. And you’re right about that one little instrumental part in “Here Today”. Great. I realize this is sacrilege, but I never fully appreciated “Pet Sounds” until I heard the stereo version. As well as all the standalone vocal tracks that were part of the big Pet Sounds box that came out in the late ‘90s. It was a revelation. It is, of course, a classic album. It’s really too bad “Smile” can’t be reviewed since it was really never released. For decades it was the “unreleased masterpiece” even though the occasional track would come out. It was sort of like trying to hear “Sgt. Pepper” a track at a time. When “Brian Wilson Presents Smile” came out about 15 years ago, I was set to be disappointed after all the buildup…but I loved it. It was amazing. For me, it’s right up there with “Pet Sounds”. You can’t help but wonder what would have happened if it had come out in January ’67 as scheduled…
i can't imagine how different music history would've gone had a fully-formed smile and that jimi hendrix/miles davis jazz album come to be!
this is one of my favourite albums and an essential album on my list (along with Nilsson Schmilsson, which I hope will someday get covered on Vinyl Monday!)
Praise the Nilsson.
i somehow haven't gotten into harry nilsson yet, huge oversight on my part! there's this photo of mike nesmith holding a copy of pandemonium shadow show, gotta find that album purely for the sake of the nez haha
@@abigaildevoe His voice has been mother’s milk for me since watching “The Point” as a child. And that soundtrack still holds up beautifully imo. If you, for whatever reason, don’t click with his music (for now), the “Lost Weekend” lore goes hard. 1974’s “Pussycats” produced by John Lennon, is a fascinating document of that time, and contains tracks where Harry’s usually songbird-like voice is completely blown out in the most pleasing way.
@@glinteastwood oh there’s lore?? i’m in
@@abigaildevoe Hey Abigail...now that I know you're a Nesmith fan I'll share with you that he used to buy music from me at a Carmel music store. I once mentioned that A Girl That I Knew Somewhere was a favorite Monkees song 'n he agreed, then told the whole background story behind it. When I said Head was their best work he also enthusiastically agreed. I was front row center for a free concert he played on Aug. 24, 2019 in Sand City. His two sons were in the band. It was the last concert I went to as covid shut down everything shortly thereafter. Henry Diltz must have taken a thousand photos. Little did any o' us know at the time that Mike would soon be joinin' the greater force...he actually played a concert in my home town as a duo with a bassist pre-Monkees at an elementary school. I didn't attend as I went to another school, but a friend who played guitar in my band did go, met Mike 'n got a signed photo because his father was the school principal!
Wow Abby...what an extensive overview of PS!!! Always been one of my favorites but after your shedding so much light into its production makes even that much more special!! Thanks for taking the time to elaborate on this truly iconic work of musical genius!!!
As someone who adored Pretty Odd when I was a teen who now adores Pet Sounds in adulthood, that comparison between the two and the band members was so REALLLLL
When I was younger (so much younger than today...or yesterday, for that matter), after the goodbyes were said and a relationship would end, there would be utter heartbreak, tears and feelings of alienation & disillusionment. "Pet Sounds" was always there - as a saving grace. Whenever there were thoughts of the world being cold and heartless; having feelings of self-doubt and believing that I wasn't made for these times, "Pet Sounds" would be there. After 36 minutes, I would be reassured -- taking comfort in knowing that if someone in this world could create THIS, then life is indeed beautiful! For me, this work of art is truly a lifesaving experience!
Favorite track? Gotta be "God Only Knows". The song my wife and I danced to at our wedding...many years ago!
I have three faves on this one.. I love "Don't talk..." It'a shorter tune, but the arrangement is so gorgeous and lush. There's a beautiful key change in this song that gets me every time. I also adore "Caroline No". Again, a shorter song, but out of this world. I love that it's about a guy being sad about a girl he's known losing her innocence. The melody is so perfectly simple. And his pleading cry to her at the end is heartbreaking...my last favorite is "God only knows". I think the fact that he wrote this masterpiece in 45 minutes is off the charts to begin with. And him hand picking Carl to sing this one was a genius move. Such an angelic voice that's ideal for this song. And Again, of course, the arrangement knocks your socks right off your feet while listening, I mean they just fly right off your feet and hit the wall if you're not wearing shoes...the French horn at the top is just stupefying right off the bat. What a great idea! I love French horn. You're hooked within the first 5 seconds. And the tag at the end is electrifying...the perfection of where and how all the voices are placed and blended brings tears to my ears. It goes on for the perfect amount of time too....all of the other songs on this LP are A-1 steak sauce, so it's like swallowing glass to even have favorites. You did a fantastic job, as usual. It really is so nice to see adults of your age enjoying this music. My wife is a 5th grade teacher and brings in Beatle songs sometimes for them to hear. I love watching their faces during the songs. Sorry for writing 'War and Peace' here....🙄 Keep rockin'
Yes!! Been waiting for this one!!
oh good! i hope i could deliver
I didn't hear this album until I was in my very early 20s (despite growing up with the singles on the oldies channel) and it very quickly became a favorite album of mine. I feel like the mono version also amplifies the inherent sadness of this record too. It's so beautiful and melancholy like a midwest winter. Whenever I put it on, I'm transported back to 1996, lying on my bed, ditching class at city college and watching snowflakes gently fall by my window. It's just so good.
Thanks for covering this album. You do great work.
Hi Abby, I love that red stripped shirt!...last summer I got The Analogue Production pressing of Pet Sounds, its a gorgeous piece. You mention Exotica, I have a few CDs by Martin Denny, one of which features the Randy Van Horn singers who did the vocals on the Flintstones & Jetsons theme songs. I especially love Arthur Lyman's, Taboo, which has a great version of Misirlou. There is a great documentary about The Wrecking Crew on you tube that I highly recommend, they played for almost everyone in the 60's . The Theremin, yes! I have one of those. First time I heard a theremin in rock music was Captain Beefheart's song, Electricity and had to own one myself. My favorite songs on Pet Sounds are Wouldn't It Be Nice & God Only Knows. OK, bye for now...Stephen Verb
this album only really made sense to me a few days ago. i'd tried it out a while back, but dismissed it as "all sounding the same" and never really thought much of it afterwards. I'm not sure what made it click, but it felt like a revelation. in any case, your video confirmed my new-found admiration for this album, and you executed it perfectly
little update: its now in my top 5 albums of all time :D
I feel this comment so much. Same thing with me: first listened a few songs (God Only Knows was love at first listen), then tried with the whole album but it didn't work well. Came back for like each day of the two next weeks till, one day, i realized: "I Love This".
Now, it's safe to say it's my favorite album of all time (beyond any genre of music).
@@a20thcenturyboy32 i get what you mean. it's such an amazing album, and one of my favourites now as well.
19:06 i actually went "WHAT!!" irl i never in a million years thought you would mention this album in the context of this video or anywhere on ur channel, let alone PULL OUT A VINYL OF IT!!! U GOT THE BB0 VINYL!!!!!! WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! instant sub thenk u very munch
Pet Sounds took 2 years to grow on me before I finally loved it. A timeless masterpiece! Damn good review Abigail !
i only listened to pet sounds because of the portlandia skit but i really loved it. impressive that wilson was so young, i can only imagine how he took it when he gave everything he had and it failed to meet its audience.
i don't think it's a stretch to say the initial US failure of pet sounds, then unraveling of smile, broke brian's heart. and you could argue both broke the beach boys
Beautiful analysis (and astoundingly on-target diagnosis of P!ATD, ha!) I love that you give Carl his props; I’m always really moved whenever I hear Brian talking about him. You can tell that he was proud of his brother.
Talking about the train, obviously it’s a song that came out years later, but I do find myself thinking about the Paul Simon lyric: “Everybody loves the sound of a train in the distance. Everybody thinks it’s true.”
i love how carl believed in brian, carl supported him the way only the more social younger sibling of the brainy awkward oldest child does. a very special bond for sure.
and thanks for the props on the PATD comment! justice for ryan ross
you still believe in me never fails to make me tear up. such a special record. thank you for covering it!
I had never listened to the whole of Pet Sounds all the way through until you had it on Vinyl Monday. I went in expecting surfingcarsandgirls and was very pleasantly surprised to hear something else that was definitely The Beach Boys but different. And the exotica on it certainly sonically transported me over the hills and far away.
My sis went to see the BBs in the mid 60s...she did not like them in concert...she said they were too mild.....the audience all sat in folding chairs....no one got up and danced.....or acted like they were getting off on the music.
I like "Les Baxter" music...its sensual.
😻
Perfect, Abigail, perfect! Just as perfect as this album! Love what you do!
I was saddened , as anyone would, at the report of her tough developmental years, but maybe it contributed to her using her adult woman super powers for good.
thanks so much, glad you liked the video!
Wow - watched a few of your videos now, but had to comment on this one - that was absolutely superb Abigail!
My introduction to Pet Sounds was a BBC Arena programme for the 40th anniversary- and I *had* to have that album (note to you re the popularity of Pet Sounds in the UK - despite it being hugely popular on release - I have literally never seen a second hand copy in over 30 years of collecting vinyl - which says people never sell their copy. PS - originally released on Capitol in the UK, not Parlophone). Thankfully, my local library had the recently released remastered mono CD in that I could borrow...
I think your analysis and comparison with DSOTM is really apt. Pet Sounds is like this beautiful piece of clockwork machinery- but one with a heart.
So much of it makes me cry. But God Only Knows is the pinnacle. That opening couplet "I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you" - what an opening. Tony Asher deserves so much credit for the lyrics he worked on with Brian. The music is remarkable (reasons to listen in mono - recorded on 8 track, then bounced down to a single track to make space for the vocal track - so any 'stereo' mix will only ever be effectively electronically reprocessed stereo, which as we all know, is shit. Plus, Brian is deaf in one ear? So he can *only* mix into mono).
Caroline No is such an amazing and moving way to finish that album, and Capitol we're downright rude to only put it out as a Brian Wilson single only...and you're so right about that train. Taking our hopes, fears and memories with it.
Of course, the arguments with the record company and the setting up of Brother Records feed into the Smile project and I'm sure give context to the issues around.
You have to watch Steve Lewis’ Beach Boys Basement when he did a lockdown vid, dressed as each Beach Boy and acted out their history perfectly. Sounds odd, it’s pure joy. And 20 minutes of fun.
I'll have to check that out. Carl was a flawless second part singer, which makes him very interesting.
Great video!! This record means so much to me. I was lucky enough to do a meet and greet with Brian and Al before a show years ago, they were so gracious and kind.
Bell Biv, this one's out of the park. Inaccessible was the perfect word - everyone played the hitz and moved the needle .. simpler times. So cool that you have relationships with albums.
After decades of listening to this record I’ve only just realised that if I had to convince anyone of the beauty and majesty of mono this record would do it
i'd add odessey and oracle too: "this will be our year" is so much better with the horns on the mono mix
"Pet Sounds" is my all-time favorite album. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" may be my favorite song on it but "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" hits home because it's my theme song. Every human emotion is on display on this album and, it you listen closely, it will exhaust you... and that is a high compliment. Great insights, Abigail, and I say that as someone who was alive when this record came out. A+
It doesn’t get any better than “God Only Knows.” Thanks Abby!
Sloop John B was the big hit radio song. My favorite is you still believe in me; so beautiful.
Wow - what an insightful, refreshingly cool review. You GET this better than any young person I have seen. I was a young teen musician in 1966, already entranced by what Brian was doing. I bought Pet Sounds the day it came out. I was at the store so early they had to go in the back to unbox it for me. I listened almost nonstop fo three days. It was (and remains) magical. Keep in mind that not only was the music scary good, but Brian was putting his raw emotions out there. NOBODY else did that. Brian could care less about being hip. He still doesn't. Even the Beatles didn't come close to this searing, heart wrenching introspection. Some recommendations: Friends, Love You, Surf's Up, Sunflower...I could go on. Especially Friends, late at night with the lights off. You just earned another subscriber.
wow thank you so much! sometimes it can feel like i'm missing the fundamental understanding that comes with experiencing these albums first-hand in their time. good to know i can still capture a fraction of it. glad you're enjoying the channel, welcome to this long strange trip!
That was a solid overview. It's great to see new generations discovering this album. I hope your arms didn't get tired holding up the record for the whole video! Will be checking out more of your reviews 😊
The way that final trainwhistle says "I know it's over" makes me shiver.
Very nice review Abigail! I'd have to say my favorite is "God only knows". But that's like asking which child you love more . . .
Thank you so much for doing this. My favorite album from my favorite band. Never get tired of it. I have a bootleg of all the studio sessions. Many takes of each track, both backing track sessions and vocal track sessions and it’s always a revelation to me.
Just a quick footnote: I think you left out Bruce Johnston both on this album and on SMiLE. His voice is very prominent on one of the three parts at the end of “God Only Knows”, and I am pretty sure he’s in the mix on those songs that are not just Brian, but feature all of The Beach Boys.
It's my favorite album. If I had to identify my favorite moment in the concerts I have attended, it would be during the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds tour in 2000, when I got to see the instrumental duet between Jeffrey Foskett on banjo and Paul Von Mertens on bass harmonica in the song "I Know There's an Answer." The expression on Foskett's face was one of preternatural bliss.
Probably one of the best reviews of Pet Sounds I have heard. As someone who remembers the release of this record, may I suggest another reason the album didn't meet US expectations? When this album was released the whole pop music scene was in some chaos and transitioning to a new era of harder, edgier rock 'n' roll, with less reliance on"the song". Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Butterfield Blue Band, the 13th Floor Elevators and many others were moving to a sound (in 1966) that relied more on solos and instrumental prowess. The lush, beautiful harmonies of The Beatles and Beach Boys were supplanted by raucous and searing guitar work. I know when I first heard Pet Sounds, it was just too safe and didn't reflect the times (Vietnam war protests, etc). I have also learned that we often grow into the music.
i’m not sure how i missed that historical context, thank you for filling this in
Great heart felt video Abigail , i think you summed up the emotions of what most of us must have felt on the first listen of this epic record , i myself at this time was a fourteen year old teenager listening to everything that was around at the time , but this was from some other dimention , it just blew me away ,played it to death for the first week , like your first love it was an experience i shall never forget ,Majestic
I’ve been listening to the “smile sessions” on repeat over the last couple weeks … especially the song ‘surfs up’. I’m low-key obsessed with Brian Wilson’s songs right now.
These 2 albums (Pet sounds/ smile) are among my favorites from any genre.
1st day of ~Spring~🌞
pet sounds is such a spring album!
Many music folks feel that the PET SOUNDS album was really a Brian Wilson SOLO record! * With the other Beach Boys singing along* .The best of the ''wrecking crew'' played all the instruments pretty much. Its a great album for its time and its influence was enormous for 1966! Many of the songs are fantastic, some of the songs are OK. And sorry, The Fabs trumped The Beach dudes with Sgt. Pepper. But Wilson was genius for his day, and this was his masterpiece! p.s.- Brian got the ''thermin'' idea from watching it used on ''My Favorite Martian''.....LOL
I was a sound technician in Hollywood and I worked on the movie of the week titled "The Beach boys, and American family, " we tried to use most of the same locations and studios that they used it was very exciting to be part of the movie, incidentally we could not afford all the songs we wanted so we had to make do., very nice job with you report.
I bought my first copy on cassette under very strange circumstances. Ihad no idea this album existed. I just remembered we used to have the Good Vibrations single backed with Let's Go Away for Awhile, which I wasn't able to find anywhere. I'm not a big Beach Boys fan, but I like Pet Sounds and Smile. Anyway, I just searched all the cassettes in this store I was in and looked at all the track listings of all these Beach Boy tapes and, sure enough, Let's Go Away for Awhile was on Pet Sounds - at last, this song is back and will never leave my sight again. Pet Sounds is a great album, better than just about anything else they did before or since. I feel the same about Smile.
Favorite songs off "Pet Sounds." "You Still Believe In Me." Originally called "In My Childhood," it had bike bells and horn on it at the end. When they changed the lyrics, the bells and horns were left in.
You totally tickle my brain, Nobody has ever done any record reviews as you do, a million+ 👍!
A woman after my own heart 💕! Let's go elope 😂! Beach Boys have been my favorite band since I was ten; and I love "Pet Sounds" although for me, their masterpiece album is "Shut Down Vol II" the quintessential Rock N Roll album with the best BB vocals and songs ever.
"Pet Sounds" was their transition from Rock N Roll to drug mellowed shopping 🛒🛍️ mall music, howbeit beautiful.
I was blessed to see Brian and Al on the 50th anniversary tour of "Pet Sounds" at Asheville in 2016. It was sensory overload and the smell of the smoke wafting through the crowd really gave it a mid 60s feel.
It's awesome to see a young lady who digs the Beach Boys like I do, and I like the period dress and makeup 💄, and you are very knowledgeable, beautiful, funny, and entertaining!
Agree with your comments about Panic! I'll admit, I hear Sgt. Peppers on that album more than Pet Sounds.
Yay, Blank Banshee!
New Brunswick, Canada, Represent!
kicking myself forever for missing out on the one singular time shinjuku mad was pressed on vinyl. SO cool that blank banshee samples his old material!!
I'm going with "I'm Waiting for the Day"- just so exuberant and joyous !! I remember my first listening of the album- there was just so much there to take in, but surely didn't take too long for all of it to grow on me and leave a deep impression; What a great milestone of Pop music- vocally, instrumentally and creatively.. truly Brian's Masterpiece !!
I saw the album on your shelf last week...🌊 thats a wave 4 the Beach..
good eye!
Sloop John B reminds me of fishing with my Pop on Sydney Harbour as a little kid in the early to mid 80's😁
the song feels like a kid’s first fishing trip now that i think of it! what a sweet memory
22:19, I actually think the bit after that is even better IMO, especially the Mono version with the studio talking in the background.
Wonderful celebration of a classic and influential album. I have grown to love it but it's taken time. Apart from three songs, I knew it only by the title until the mid-90s when I bought the CD (mono). When I put that on I thrilled to those ones and pretty much let the others just play, thinking that a lot of them just ran together rather than jostled for attention. Then, I think I got it: it's a perfect leave-it-on record where you can drift in and out of the colours and textures and harmonies with the occasional marauder rising from the waves. Wilson's orchestration is a marvel and continues the thinking of any classical composer, thinking in emotions and aural shapes rather than jamming something until it works. I still think of this music as being Brian and the gang around a psychic piano that plays every sound he wants as he's thinking it and the vocal harmonies levitating the whole building. I later got the DVD-Audio with the 5.1 mix and loved that, too (the moment when that giant bass comes in during Sloop John B. throws me against the wall!). The train and dogs on Caroline No make me think of the small place where I grew up and the melancholy nostalgia, like the narrator of the song is feeling; the dogs just run around in circles while the trains take people and things out of there to somewhere else. I appreciate your share about growing up awkward and apart as it sends something hopeful out to anyone going through that to whom it would be a comfort. I made my own eccentricities at that age break through by insisting on them but not everyone could tell that story. Pet Sounds sits so perfectly in the timeline around Rubber Soul, Revolver, 5D, Aftermath, Face to Face, Sellout and so much more that if you removed it the bridge would collapse and wash away. Many thanks.
it's a great leave-it-on record, that quality comes from the lounge music (like exotica) brian was listening to leading up to pet sounds! it means you'll always notice something new as you drift in and out. took me months to hear that cough in "here today"
the "caroline no" train brings back memories for me too: my college campus was a couple miles off the train tracks. thanks for the lovely comment
Thank you Abigail.
Pet Sounds is a synergy of the wholesome and the subversive, like almost no other record I can think of.
Great review. Thanks Abi.🎉
I remember it being one of those albums that took me quite a few listens to finally appreciate its beauty, but it is rightly hailed as a masterpiece. I like the cover art, it's naive charm fits the beach boys image very well and the white and yellow font on green background is really classy. Another brilliant review Abby!
it was the same for me too: i only listened to pet sounds for the first time last year and it took a few listens to start seeing its charm. the album art is a rare case of A+ typography, F for photography/design
Been waiting a long time for this one Abby! My favorite album of all time, favorite band of all time
oh wow i hope i could do your favorite album justice! and apologies for the wait haha
@@abigaildevoe of course you did I didn’t have a doubt in my mind! Hey it’s okay it was worth the wait haha
Happy Spring!
Running the risk of being misunderstood by saying this, but: You are special! I mean… I don’t watch this kind of video… but here I am enjoying and learning things I should have known since I was a kid. I listened to some of it before and was not into it. Now… so many years along… I’m wanting to listen again, to hear what it contains that I was too dull to appreciate. Great work going just deep enough to be a good teacher for me!
Love is everything, like creativity… no-one understands it, but it must do things to you, and you to it… Ooooor…. You don’t exist… Bam!!!
Thanks for this very revealing description of a thing made when I was a Child and you were very far back in the line of souls waiting to be given a body for this world. 😊 You’ve been a great gift to me tonight!
Edit: I’ve been a (Guitarist/bass/Drums/and pretend I can sing) guy for many decade, who has written many songs… and been in a few bands. So I don’t say these things with no frame of actual been there and kinda done that actual experience.
✨❤️✨
Adore this album .. I just acquired it on vinyl recently too!
Saw Brian Wilson in concert last year still amazing after everything he's been through that he can still perform. I love this album easily one of the top 5 albums ever made. It touches me deep down every time I listen to it. I always make sure to play it on its release date and it never gets old. To sum it up in one word this album is timeless. If anyone wants to hear an interesting story about Pet Sounds and The Beatles go to RUclips and type in Bruce Johnston brings Pet Sounds to Lennon & McCartney in London.
It’s a timeless masterpiece , really BRIAN WILSON with the Wrecking Crew and the BEACH BOYS as a harmony group best album. THANKS, GREAT VIDEO!
Its all Brian Wilson
That's Not Me is the Band playing on it with Hal Blaine contributing to the Percussion.
All i can say right now is that I love you Abby and love what you do!😘💕💕💕🥰
Splendid!
When I first heard this album for the first time it blew me away I was familiar with their early work for years and then I heard pet Sounds and I said wow this album is amazing wouldn't be nice and god only knows are my favorite songs on the album and you still believe in me is up there to it took me forever to find it on vinyl my copy is a reissue with the original cover but sadly it's I'm steroids one day I'll find it in mono great video Abby can't wait for the next video
try to find pet sounds in mono if you can, it sounds great that way. but listen to both and see what you prefer! i've seen some hardcore stereo fans in this comments section
@@abigaildevoe the stero version is also good but it's missing the magic from the mono mix
The Beach Boys' music has made footnotes in my life. When I think of 409 it evokes memories of my cousin Jimmy who was such a motorhead. I played God Only Knows when my girlfriend from college broke up with me. I thought of all the things that I should have done, but that's another song. Do it Again reminds me of the start of the summer. And Disney Girls, although not a Brian Wilson composition, is my wedding song. I thank the Beach Boys for being a part of the soundtrack of my life. As for Pet sounds it has to be God Only Knows.
My favourite Beach Boys stuff is what they were doing from about 1966-1974.
Me the same! Though 1965 was also a good year for the Beach Boys: The little girl I once knew, Let him run wild, California girls, Good to my baby, In the back of my mind ...
Beautiful and right on. It’s what great music is all about, aurally and spiritually, and you nailed it. Kudos!
wow thank you so much!
2 weeks ago, in a horrible foreshadowing, I commented tongue in cheek on the Ram video asking you not to do the overrated Pet Sounds. You said I might want to look away on 3/20. I watched anyway. 😀It didn’t change my mind, but I learned things anyway. Obviously, when you have a strong, visceral reaction to some of the music and lyrics, it makes sense that you love it. Heck, I still tear up when I hear At Seventeen by Janis Ian for the thousandth time since I first heard it as a 15 year old boy in 1975. Anyway, great channel. Love the vibe, the clothes, the humor, the info, the single album concept. Congrats on your quick success from one of your many “old guy” subscribers.
Costume change!
I found this album by reading the Rolling Stone Record Guide (blue, 2nd edition), circa 1983-4 and then finding it for $10 (expensive for a used record in 1984) at the local record store a block away from my high school. I wasn't entirely impressed at first - partially because of a giant gouge in the record - but after a short time, I started going out to J&R on Park Row to score the $4.99 versions - all missing a few tracks, but mostly better to listen to - of their earlier albums.
My favorite thing is watching the 2000-whatever live solo Smile concert. I got to see Brian a few years earlier (2000?) along with Paul Simon at Jones Beach. I annoyed my friends by singing every song loudly. I love Brian. I just love him.
Yeah, I got this from the Rolling Stone guide and I was suspicious of them even back then. Creem didn't have a book, though, so...
pet sounds is still expensive for a used record today - my copy was $40! keep annoying your friends by singing every song loudly, i’m “that friend” too
@@abigaildevoe Yeah, I try to dedicate some time each week annoying someone, anyone.
That Reprise Records reissue was considered to be the best pressing back in the day. The cut-out bins were chock-full of copies back in the late '70s. They fetch a pretty nice price today, still-sealed.
They did a great job on the box set. Providing both the stereo and mono mixes. A copy of the mono mix travels with me.
Kudos to you for summarizing possibly the most important recording in Rock history
Bookends by Simon and Garfunkel is another concept album that didn't go anywhere from the same era. If you haven't done it yet it would fit in nicely with your current thread. And it's also a great album.
i almost covered bookends but switched to sounds of silence at the last minute!
@abigaildevoe I noticed that
You're a busy girl and we all appreciate the work you are putting in. Still, consider bringing Bookends back onto your radar. Simon was going to do the whole life cycle but could only eek out one side. Side 2 became a hodgepodge of singles. Really lopsided, so to speak. Nonetheless the album is loaded with gems 💎
fav channel ever, again so excited to have a utoober who rlly enjoys and cares about these types o records ~ PS i caught brian live last year and we locked eyes it was beautiful it means a lot to convey thru the ethereal in close proximity how much dood changed my life for the better forever i have an inexhaustible well of love and praise for this music and simply what it all means and how it feels in all its creative arrangements full of intertextual homage and colloquial evolutions idk gtg gob bless thx u
This is a good video about a great album. Miss Devoe does a very thorough and honest review of the album and the context that it was released in. Good Job Abigail Devoe! Well done.
Oh my dear. L.A. radio (!) played songs from Pet Sounds - maybe two or three - regularly in 1966 which was an amazing year for transcendent pop music. We knew that Wilson kid was up to something. Besides we had Good Vibrations all over the radio a little later. That song, as they say, "ruled the (air)waves!".
I used to have a mono pressing of Pet Sounds which I had to give it up cause I was moving to another house. I found it at a Salvation Army. Wish I still have that record. I have listened this album all the way through and this is one of the best albums I have ever listened.
Eagerly waiting for the Love - Forever Changes episode. It must be coming along the way..
can i just say abbi, I love your videos. they're so fun.
thank you! i try to keep things fun. i've found the vinyl community can be a horribly dull place
I came upon *Pet Sounds* slowly. I knew it was well liked yet not a huge seller for the Boys. I went through a WB LP (not very good sounding), a Capitol LP, then the Capitol CD with copious liner notes that greatly boosted my appreciation. When I bought the stereo remix, that was truly magical especially on headphones. I thought the train with barking dogs in the title track was recorded on location someplace, but Brian actually put those sounds together in the studio. Perhaps he was recreating something that happened often at home? (Is there a train route in Hawthorne?)
I don't mind the inclusion of "Sloop John B." Maybe most people accept it because "It's the beach Boys!" One of my favorite albums, *Now We Are Six* by Steeleye Span, is often criticized for including an "oldie" ("To Know Him is to Love Him") along with original material.
Wow! fantastic video, I learned a lot about Pet Sounds, and you made it fun, great video, I really gotta step up my game, thanks for sharing! Peace.
That's Not Me is the band and one Wrecking Crew member. Carl on Guitars, Brian on Bass and Organ, Dennis on Drums, Terry Melcher and Steve Korthof on Tambourines and Hal Blaine on a Wooden Percussion instrument. Possibly Ray Polhman on Bass too.
Great review of Pet Sounds. I can really tell how much you love this album and hold it in such high regards. I've always looked upon Caroline, No in a different light that of a father seeing his daughter growing up and making her own way in the world. The father feels sad because he is in a way losing the one he loves the most.