Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys) | Extended Play Lounge (Ep. 50)
Added 2023-08-15 23:53:28 +0000 UTCI'm pleased to present our 50th episode of the Extended Play Lounge. Your continuing support affords me the opportunity to make these reaction-style videos, and I remain very thankful.
This episode features Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. Believe it or not, I had only heard two songs from this album previously...and I'm sure you can guess the two songs. So, this was a pretty special listen. I know this album's importance in the history of recorded music and popular music. And, today was the day that I listened to it for the first time. It's brilliant...on reflection, almost like an Impressionist Pop recording...with swaths of colors and echoes and nothing coming close to harshness.
I very much enjoyed the album, and I hope you enjoy my listen-through. Cheers!
Comments
god only knows is also my favorite song from this album. In fact, Paul McCartney thinks it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded. He told Brian that he wished he could write a song that is as good as it.
Jonathan Egrie
2026-01-14 01:13:32 +0000 UTCWas only familiar with the 3 obvious ones from this album, so fascinating to hear the others. The arrangements are so interesting that I found myself frequently wishing that the songs were longer.
Nick
2023-08-22 10:39:46 +0000 UTCGod Only Knows is a top 10 favorite song for me. Carl Wilson's voice is almost angelic and his brother who wrote this was slowly loosing his mind from excess drug use and psychiatric issues. What does this say about me?
Stop Propaganda
2023-08-21 19:00:58 +0000 UTCYour "Eye of the Tiger" comment was spot on. There are sounds throughout this recording that were ground breaking and ahead of their time. I have heard the album but I am most familiar with the two well known songs plus Sloop John B. As a DD follower for about two years now, I feel that I am able to do more intentional listening and have a better understanding of what is happening musically. Thank you for that, Doug and thank you for this deep dive into an important album.
Thom P
2023-08-19 18:58:28 +0000 UTCThere's nothing like the "Wall of Sound". Such a major influence on production and especially Brian Wilson.
JSoph55
2023-08-18 18:03:39 +0000 UTCFor those who want to learn more about the history around this era of the Beach Boys and the making of this album, I recommend you check out: https://500songs.com/podcast/episode-142-god-only-knows-by-the-beach-boys/
BRIAN MILLER
2023-08-17 18:52:52 +0000 UTCFor a nice introduction to music sound production's history check out "soundbreaking:Stories from the Cutting Edge of Recorded Music."
HeadStart
2023-08-17 14:12:40 +0000 UTCKeith Emerson's plucked piano was four years after Brian Wilson's.
HeadStart
2023-08-17 13:54:29 +0000 UTC"Let's Go Away For Awhile" is the only Beach Boys that has ever made it to my personal favorites playlist. BUT, most of the album offers up some really interesting listening.
HeadStart
2023-08-17 13:46:19 +0000 UTCWilson's approach to bass guitar is pretty unusual too. There are a lot of inversions in places you wouldn't really expect...and certainly not typical of rock bass-playing at the time.
Jeff Norman
2023-08-17 04:47:06 +0000 UTCSurfs Up is my favorite all time profound recording. A masterpiece. Deep.
Barbara Davis
2023-08-16 23:26:09 +0000 UTCI went for the original mix (as best as I could find it on YouTube) this time.
R. Douglas Helvering
2023-08-16 21:34:52 +0000 UTCA true classic. "God Only Knows" is three minutes of perfection. It sounded like you had an interesting mix of mono and stereo versions of the songs (at least to my ears). As much as I liked the original mono version, the stereo version was a revelation to me. At this point it's difficult to hear this album with "1966 ears", but it was like nothing else out there at the time. And here's another vote for "Smile". The album released by Brian in 2004 should sit right up there with "Pet Sounds".
Martin Broten
2023-08-16 19:56:38 +0000 UTCGreat Way to have the 50th ELP.....again Thankx Doug,,,,,dk
Don K Mal 1
2023-08-16 17:10:54 +0000 UTCAlso, I agree that Sgt Pepper needs equal time ASAP, since those 2 albums are always a part of the same conversation.
Prog Rock Piano Bar
2023-08-16 11:49:47 +0000 UTCI've heard so much about this album, but never listened to it before. I took the opportunity to listen with Doug, hoping to hear (with Doug's help) beyond the surface layers and get into the harmonics of it. Unfortunately, all I got was 2 great songs (the ones we all know), one classic cover (surprised that Doug never heard it before) and a whole bunch of filler songs. I'll take the Beach Boys greatest hits and leave the album tracks to the fans. #dissentingopinion
Prog Rock Piano Bar
2023-08-16 11:46:39 +0000 UTCIf you want to delve into the genius of Brian Wilson, you should really react to "Smile," which is considered his masterpiece alongside "Pet Sounds." Unfortunately, it was never completely recorded by The Beach Boys. However, it was finally recorded in its entirety in 2004, and it's an amazing work.
Alon Groisman
2023-08-16 07:06:08 +0000 UTCYou hear those vocals, and you think "Beach Boys!" But there are no three-chord, twelve-bar songs to be found. Fascinating stuff, indeed. Thanks, as always, Doug!
Bill Brinkmoeller
2023-08-16 06:50:18 +0000 UTCThere's also a new remixed version that sounds great!
Allen
2023-08-16 06:24:28 +0000 UTCHow about doing "Sgt. Pepper" now? I know it's been heard by everyone in this community. In addition, it will be interesting to see how this seminal album sounds to you contrasted with the busier progressive music you've been absorbing these last 3 years. . .
Allen
2023-08-16 06:24:08 +0000 UTCA big surprise! Doug finally goes Pop! So us strange Prog Rock AND Pop adorers get a broader range to enjoy now! An incomplete list should include full original works of Beatles, Kinks, XTC, Split Enz, Squeeze, Oingo Boingo, Sparks, OMD, Ultravox, Michael Jackson, Hazel O'Connor, Toyah Wilcox, Madonna, Blondie, Damned (gothic pop...), 10cc, Boomtown Rats, Police, U2, Abba and and and which so far lay more or less wide outside Dear Doug 's Range! All of them and many more did create Masterpieces of Art of their own rights, which I could also have named, but also would have clouded my list of artists. Not always have musically great Pop works reached high chart positions. At least two of these bands carry the inofficial title by critcs "The Great Lost Pop Band"...
Anderson Davies
2023-08-16 05:56:01 +0000 UTCHappy 50th EPL! This one was *Golden*! Thanks!
Fort-Man
2023-08-16 02:32:16 +0000 UTCBrian made Pet Sounds at the perfect time, when Tiki/Lounge/Exotica music forms were in vogue. Also with The Beatles turning toward more sophisticated music and introspective lyrics, he saw it as a challenge, and wound up taking the world of pop music up a notch, if not two. 57 years later, Pet Sounds still holds up as a masterwork.
Bill Coonley
2023-08-16 01:05:16 +0000 UTCThe Smile session “Surf’s Up” recording Brian made is required listening, if you haven’t heard it. Still to me the most harmonically interesting pop song ever penned.
Gary Thobaben
2023-08-16 00:49:06 +0000 UTC"It's brilliant...on reflection, almost like an Impressionist Pop recording...with swaths of colors and echoes and nothing coming close to harshness." You hit it on the head. There's a pillowy softness to the whole thing. The instrumental backing can be dreamlike, diaphanous, shifting, but the lyrics, lead and backing vocals kept it rooted in emotion and sentiment that young people everywhere at the time could identify with. And so the instrumental background becomes a kaleidoscopic compliment on most of the tunes. It has the complexity and all the color of classical orchestration, but presented via a creative, experimental lens that was very much of its time. (Gotta say...."Let's Go Away for Awhile" is just a gorgeous work.) Thank you, Doug. Thank you very much. Worth the wait.
Peter Tutak
2023-08-16 00:22:36 +0000 UTC
