Beach Boys' Pet Sounds

In the early years of the Beach Boys careers, the band was portrayed as a 1960s all American group that sported a clean-cut image appealing to the youth of the times.  Their music had a syrupy commercial sound that attracted teenagers. Their lyrics spoke about the typical concerns of adolescents, such as relationships, having fun, hot rods, and summertime outdoors activities.  An example of how the Beach Boys portrayed their clean-cut image is seen when the band performs, in their mannerisms, and how they would answer questions shown in a 1964 video recording viewed on You Tube:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0dwjPz65R0.

Brian Wilson, the lead singer and a strong force behind the Beach Boys, is what made this group so dynamic and memorable.  He was fixated on making a recording sound perfect which lead to their success.  Even after their accomplishment with the song “Surfin”, the bands first single and hit record, Brian continued striving for perfection.  In his book Sonic Alchemy, writer David N. Howard, speaks about Brian’s work ethics when he states,

• “Disappointed by their meager royalties from Candix, Brian Wilson decided to book time in a studio, produce a professional-sounding demo, and make a deal with one of the major labels.  Soon the Beach Boys had secured a contract with Capitol Records on the strength of a new demo called “Surfin’ Safari.” 

Brain was determined to move forward planning the groups continued journey that he believed would lead to victorious success for the boys.

As the music of 1960s era kept evolving with musical groups such as the Beatles, Brian Wilson also wanted to take his craft to the next level.  The album Pet Sounds, was recorded and influenced by the Beatles album “Rubber Soul”.  Howard also mentions in his book Sonic Alchemy,

•   “With the late 1965 release of the Beatles’ near perfect Rubber Soul, pop’s stakes had been raised into the stratosphere.” 

Brian’s taste and style changed into more complex ensembles and recordings heard on arrangements such as “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” which is displayed on the “Behind The Sounds” video located on the following You Tube link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofByti7A4uM.

This style features various orchestrated instrumentation that included a woodwind sections, accordions, pianos, a brass sections, tympani, tambourine, celeste, string sounds, various basses, guitars, and drums.   In addition, the vocals sounded larger and similar to a choir sound with fuller harmonies.  The diverse mix of musician plus the age of the players and the style of music they represented set the band apart from the typical ordinary groups of the 1960s.

I always believed that the Beach Boys were a West Coast pop band with good harmonies and good songs.  However, after careful analysis of  Pet Sounds, my opinion changed. What Brian Wilson added to the band when he recorded this album showed his true genius and how important his contribution would be to the music industry.  What was most impressive about this album was Brian’s professional work ethic in the studio while working with other session musicians and team players, in addition to the variety of instruments he experimented with during the 1960s rock and roll age.