Known today as one of the most influential albums in music history, The Beach Boys’ revolutionary record Pet Sounds did not receive the same critical acclaim when it was first released on May 16, 1966, by Capitol Records. At the time, the eclectic avant-garde album featuring sounds of bicycle bells, passing trains, and drink cans was viewed by audiences – and band mates – as too strange. However, Pet Sounds did well in the UK, and influenced other artists and bands, such as The Beatles, to take on ambitious albums of their own.
Pet Sounds was truly the brainchild of Brian Wilson who produced, arranged, and composed most of the record. From January to April of 1966, Brian worked as album auteur crafting and recording the backing tracks while the other members of the band toured.
Pet Sounds is considered the first ever concept album – an album format that is widely popular today. A concept album is an album that features an overarching theme or story throughout.
The album opens with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, a hopeful and poppy track about wanting to get married and grow old with someone. By the end of the album Wilson sings about grieving a girl he once loved who has changed and moved on with “Caroline, No”. The evolving story of love and love lost is woven together through powerful orchestration and immersive sounds recorded in unconventional ways. A bottle was used to mimic the sound of horse hooves on “God Only Knows”. Bobby pins were used to pluck the strings of a piano on “You Still Believe in Me”.
Pet Sounds’ influence changed music production and the way we view “the album”. Wilson went against formula and used innovated recording practices to create a novel piece that continues to inspire musicians today. His brilliance and inventiveness have undoubtedly influenced the musical auteurism seen in the likes of Paul McCartney, Lauryn Hill, Kanye West and many others.