Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Reissue

When Capitol Records initially released Pet Sounds in the UK the label ran adverts in the music press like the one you can see on the right. At the time there were some fans who were confused by The Beach Boys’ 11th studio album – where were the stripped shirts and the surf -boards? In the intervening 50 years Pet Sounds has been acknowledged as a masterpiece, a record that has topped countless polls of the greatest albums ever made and is revered by musicians and fans as the pinnacle of Brian Wilson’s song writing, production and all round creative genius. Fifty years on it is to be reissued in all its glory with bonus material that will have many drooling with pleasure.

The influence that Pet Sounds has had, began even before it’s release outside the USA. On Monday, 16 May, 1966, Bruce Johnston, who was then the newest Beach Boy, arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport carrying a copy Pet Sounds that had come out in the USA that very day – well in advance of its UK release.

The following day, in his suite at the Waldorf Hotel, Bruce played Pet Sounds, in its entirety,for John Lennon and Paul McCartney – not once but twice. After the two Beatles left the Waldorf they went straight back to Paul’s house and there, inspired by Brian’s incredible music, they worked on the introduction to their song ‘Here, There and Everywhere’ that appeared on Revolver.

“Pet Sounds blew me out of the water. First of all, it was Brian’s writing. I love the album so much. I’ve just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life—I figure no one is educated musically ’til they’ve heard this album.” – Paul McCartney

Ironically, given the love and respect that exists around the world for this album, the 1966 US release failed to achieve the kind of success that had been anticipated or the level of sales achieved by the band’s earlier albums. Pet Sounds made No.10 in the US. In the UK it fared far better, making No.2 on the album charts, the most successful of the band’s albums to that point.

The 50th anniversary release includes both Brian’s original mono mix and the later stereo remaster that captures the depth and perfection of Brian’s arrangements. The two ‘session’ CDs give us amazing insight into Brian’s control of the many musicians who play much of the music that underpins the sublime vocal harmonies of The Beach Boys.

Pet Sounds features some of the greatest LA musicians of the period. There are guitarists as varied as, Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel, Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey. On keyboards there’s Larry Knetchel, drummers, Hal Blaine and Jim Gordon along with French Horns, violins, an electric Theremin, and all manner of percussion instruments, including Coca-Cola cans. Listening to Brian encouraging, demanding and cajoling the musicians on the session tapes is like a master class in record production.

And then there are the vocals that include Brian’s most poignant ever performance on the sublime, ‘Caroline No’, Mike Love on ‘Here Today’, as well as Carl Wilson’s heart-stopping tour de force – ‘God Only Knows’. The fourth CD features a capella versions of the songs on the album and this is where The Beach Boys collectively shine. The soaring harmonies of ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, the beautiful harmonic counterpoint of ‘I Know There’s An Answer’, and ‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’ are all surf-soul music

Following the release of the album, ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, ‘Sloop John B’ and ‘God Only Knows’ all became staples of The Beach Boys live shows and in more recent times, both, Brian and The Beach Boys touring band have featured songs from the album in concert and versions of Pet Sounds’s tracks performed live feature on disc 4 – all of these are previously unreleased.

On ‘God Only Knows’ it is just Carl, Brian and Bruce that are singing and on the acapella version, when they finish their vocal, a voice asks, “How was that? Was that cool?” It’s Bruce Johnston asking the question and it is the perfect coda for not just the song, but also the album, because Pet Sounds is arguably the coolest record of all time. This is the kind of record that makes life worth living, reaffirming the notion that pop music is the most admired art form in the world.

And make no mistake, Pet Sounds is art.

All editions of the 50th anniversary Pet Sounds will be released on 10 June and we have an exclusive offer in our store for the 4CD Super Deluxe Edition that includes a Beach Ball and Beach Bag, as well as an exclusive slip mat with the stereo and mono vinyl editions of the album. Just click the link below.

Pet Sounds (50th Anniversary Edition) will be available in several configurations, including a 4CD/Blu-ray Audio collectors edition presented in a hardbound book, featuring the remastered original album in stereo and mono, plus hi res stereo, mono, instrumental, and 5.1 surround mixes, session outtakes, alternate mixes, and previously unreleased live recordings; a 2CD and digital deluxe edition pairing the remastered album in stereo and mono with highlights from the collectors edition’s additional tracks; and remastered, 180-gram LP editions of the album in mono and stereo with faithfully replicated original artwork.

Track listings for the Pet Sounds 50th anniversary reissues

CD 1
Pet Sounds (Mono)
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B
8. God Only Knows
9. I Know There’s An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline No
Pet Sounds (Stereo)
14. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
15. You Still Believe In Me
16. That’s Not Me
17. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
18. I’m Waiting For The Day
19. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
20. Sloop John B
21. God Only Knows
22. I Know There’s An Answer
23. Here Today
24. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
25. Pet Sounds
26. Caroline No
Additional Material
27. Caroline No (Promotional Spot #2)
28. Don’t Talk. . . (Unused Background Vocals)
29. Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)
30. Caroline No (Promotional Spot #1)

CD 2
The Pet Sounds Sessions
1. Sloop John B (Highlights from Tracking Date)
2. Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track)
3. Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)
4. Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track)
5. Pet Sounds (Highlights from Tracking Date)
6. Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub)
7. Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Highlights from Tracking Date)
8. Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub)
9. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)
10. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track)
11. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track with Background Vocals)
12. You Still Believe In Me (Intro – Session)
13. You Still Believe In Me (Intro – Master Take)
14. You Still Believe In Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
15. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track)
16. Caroline No (Highlights from Tracking Date)
17. Caroline No (Stereo Backing Track)
18. Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights from Tracking Date)
19. Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)
20. I Know There’s An Answer (Vocal Session) [previously unreleased]
21. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian’s Instrumental Demo)
22. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)
23. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)
24. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Highlights from Tracking Date)
25. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)
26. That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
27. That’s Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)

CD 3
The Pet Sounds Sessions (continued)
1. Good Vibrations (Highlights from First Tracking Date)
2. Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
3. I’m Waiting For The Day (Highlights from Tracking Date)
4. I’m Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)
5. God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)
6. God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)
7. Here Today (Highlights from Tracking Date)
8. Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)
Alternate Versions
9. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mono Alternate Mix 1)
10. You Still Believe In Me (Mono Alternate Mix)
11. I’m Waiting For The Day (Mono Alternate Mix, Mike sings lead)
12. Sloop John B (Mono Alternate Mix, Carl sings first verse)
13. God Only Knows (Mono Alternate Mix, with sax solo)
14. I Know There’s An Answer (Alternate Mix) [previously unreleased]
15. Here Today (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead)
16. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Mono Alternate Mix)
17. Banana & Louie
18. Caroline No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix)
19. Dog Barking Session
20. God Only Knows (With A Cappella Tag)
21. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mono Alternate Mix 2)
22. Sloop John B (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead throughout)
23. God Only Knows (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead)
24. Caroline No (Original Speed, Mono Mix)

CD 4
Live Recordings [all previously unreleased]
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. Sloop John B
3. God Only Knows
Michigan State University, October 22, 1966
4. Good Vibrations
5. God Only Knows
6. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall, Washington DC, November 19, 1967
7. God Only Knows
Carnegie Hall, New York, November 23, 1972 (2nd Show)
8. God Only Knows
Jamaican World Music Festival, Montego Bay, Jamaica, November, 26, 1982
9. Sloop John B
Universal Studios, Universal City, California, May, 23, 1989
10. Caroline No
11. You Still Believe In Me
Paramount Theater, New York City, November 26, 1993
Stack-O-Vocals
12. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
13. You Still Believe In Me
14. That’s Not Me
15. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
16. I’m Waiting For The Day
17. Sloop John B
18. God Only Knows
19. I Know There’s An Answer
20. Here Today
21. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
22. Caroline No
Bonus Track
23. Good Vibrations (Master Track with Partial Vocal) (previously unreleased)

Blu-ray Pure Audio Disc
Pet Sounds:
5.1 Surround Sound: 96kHz/24-bit
Mono; Stereo; Stereo Instrumental (new to hi res): 192kHz/24-bit

1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B
8. God Only Knows
9. I Know There’s An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline No
Additional Material in 5.1 Surround and Stereo
14. Unreleased Backgrounds (Unused Intro for “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)”)
15. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Session Highlights)
16. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Alternative Mix without Lead Vocal)
17. God Only Knows (Session Highlights)
18. God Only Knows (Master Track Mix with A Cappella Tag)
19. Summer Means New Love
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Pet Sounds (50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
2CD

CD 1
Pet Sounds (Mono)
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B
8. God Only Knows
9. I Know There’s An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline No
Pet Sounds (Stereo)
14. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
15. You Still Believe In Me
16. That’s Not Me
17. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
18. I’m Waiting For The Day
19. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
20. Sloop John B
21. God Only Knows
22. I Know There’s An Answer
23. Here Today
24. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
25. Pet Sounds
26. Caroline No

CD 2
Live Recordings [all previously unreleased]
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. Sloop John B
3. God Only Knows
Michigan State University, October 22, 1966
4. Good Vibrations
5. God Only Knows
6. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall, Washington DC, November 19, 1967
7. God Only Knows
Carnegie Hall, New York, November 23, 1972 (2nd Show)
8. God Only Knows
Jamaican World Music Festival, Montego Bay, Jamaica, November, 26, 1982
9. Sloop John B
Universal Studios, Universal City, California, May, 23, 1989
10. Caroline No
11. You Still Believe In Me
Paramount Theater, New York City, November 26, 1993
Instrumentals
12. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
13. You Still Believe In Me
14. That’s Not Me
15. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
16. I’m Waiting For The Day
17. Let’s Go Away For A While
18. Sloop John B
19. God Only Knows
20. I Know There’s An Answer
21. Here Today
22. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
23. Pet Sounds
24. Caroline, No
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Mono Vinyl Reissue
1LP + download card

180-gram heavyweight black vinyl LP reissue of ‘Pet Sounds’ remastered in Mono. Includes download card for digital redemption of the audio.

Side A
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Mono (2:22)
2. You Still Believe In Me – Mono (2:29)
3. That’s Not Me – Mono (2:27)
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) – Mono (2:50)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day – Mono (3:03)
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile – Mono (2:18)
7. Sloop John B – Mono (2:55)
Side B
1. God Only Knows – Mono (2:49)
2. I Know There’s An Answer – Mono (3:07)
3. Here Today – Mono (2:52)
4. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times – Mono (3:10)
5. Pet Sounds – Mono (2:20)
6. Caroline, No – Mono (2:53)
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Stereo Vinyl Reissue
1LP + download card

180-gram heavyweight black vinyl LP reissue of ‘Pet Sounds’ remastered in Stereo. Includes download card for digital redemption of the audio.

Side A
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – Stereo (2:34)
2. You Still Believe In Me – Stereo (2:34)
3. That’s Not Me – Stereo (2:29)
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) – Stereo (2:57)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day – Stereo (3:05)
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile – Stereo (2:25)
7. Sloop John B – Stereo (3:00)
Side B
1. God Only Knows – Stereo (2:56)
2. I Know There’s An Answer – Stereo (3:16)
3. Here Today – Stereo (3:06)
4. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times – Stereo (3:22)
5. Pet Sounds – Stereo (2:38)
6. Caroline, No – Stereo (2:52)

Format: UK English