The Beach Boys have announced a new run of “audiophile pressings” of their ‘Pet Sounds’ album, to celebrate its 60th anniversary.
The record arrived back on May 16 1966, and went on to be regarded as both a firm fan favourite, as well as one of the greatest albums of all time.
To mark its upcoming 60th anniversary, the L_ will be celebrated with a series of releases on May 15 via Capitol/UMe – including two distinct premium all-analogue audiophile pressings.
The latter includes a Vinylphyle Edition, featuring the original album in both mono and stereo, and a Definitive Sound Series Audiophile Edition. A collectible Zoetrope vinyl edition of the album will also be available.
There will also be ‘The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights’, which compiles standout material from the 1997 Grammy-nominated box set, ‘The Pet Sounds Sessions’ – which captured the original 1965–66 recording sessions – as well as alternate takes, a cappellas, and tracking sessions.
Each format will come with new liner notes by longtime Beach Boys historian Howie Edelson, along with a detailed sessionography. The full 90-track box set will not yet be available for download and streaming.
Also included in the release is a three-track digital EP exploring their classic hit ‘Sloop John B’. This is done through an a cappella version that isolates the vocal harmonies of Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston. You can listen to it now, ahead of the box set release in May. Check it out above.
In a new description, it is emphasised that the new audiophile pressings present ‘Pet Sounds’ in the highest quality yet, and the stereo mix –originally overseen by Wilson and produced and engineered by Mark Linett in 1996 for ‘The Pet Sounds Sessions’ box set – is included alongside the original mono album cut from the original 1966 assembled master reel.
The double LP features a gatefold tip-on jacket and four-panel insert, alongside the aforementioned new liner notes by Howie Edelson, and the Definitive Sound Series (DSS) edition presents the record in its original mono configuration – capturing the recording’s intricate arrangements and vocal harmonies with remarkable clarity.
Limited to 6,000 units, each copy includes a certificate of authenticity documenting the mastering, plating, and pressing process. Check out the tracklist below, and visit here to pre-order all upcoming 60th anniversary releases.
‘Pet Sounds’ tracklist:
Side 1
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’
‘You Still Believe In Me’
‘That’s Not Me’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day’
‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile’
‘Sloop John B’
Side 2
‘God Only Knows’
‘I Know There’s An Answer’
‘Here Today’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’
‘Pet Sounds’
‘Caroline, No’
The ‘Pet Sounds’ Session Highlights Tracklist:
VINYL
Side One
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Vocals Only)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Vocals Only)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)’
‘Sloop John B. (Vocals Only)’
‘God Only Knows (Vocals Only)’
‘Here Today (Vocals Only)’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Vocals Only)’
Side Two
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track and Backing Vocals)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian Wilson’s Instrumental Demo)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead)’
‘Sloop John B. (Carl Sings First Verse)’
‘God Only Knows (Sax Solo, Alternate Version)’
‘Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)’
‘Here Today (Alternate Version)’
Side Three
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocal Snippet)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocals Only)’
‘That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)’
Side Four
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)*’
‘Caroline, No (Stereo Mix, Original Speed)’
‘God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Good Vibrations (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)’
*Track is included on both LP1 and LP2
CD
Disc One
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Vocals Only)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Vocals Only)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)’
‘Sloop John B. (Vocals Only)’
‘God Only Knows (Vocals Only)’
‘Here Today (Vocals Only)’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Vocals Only)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track and Backing Vocals)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian Wilson’s Instrumental Demo)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead)’
‘Sloop John B. (Carl Sings First Verse)’
‘God Only Knows (Sax Solo, Alternate Version)’
‘Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)’
‘Here Today (Alternate Version)’
Disc Two
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocal Snippet)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocals Only)’
‘That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)*’
‘Caroline, No (Stereo Mix, Original Speed)’
‘God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Good Vibrations (Highlights from Tracking Date)’
‘Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)’
*Track is included on both Disc 1 and Disc 2
The ‘Pet Sounds’ Sessions Digital Box Set:
Disc 1 – Stereo Mix + Sessions
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’
‘You Still Believe In Me’
‘That’s Not Me’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day’
‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile’
‘Sloop John B’
‘God Only Knows’
‘I Know There’s An Answer’
‘Here Today’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’
‘Pet Sounds’
‘Caroline, No’
‘Sloop John B (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Trombone Dixie (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Pet Sounds (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub)’
‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track With Background Vocals)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Session)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Master Take)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track)’
Disc 2 – Sessions Pt. 2
‘Caroline, No (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Caroline, No (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian’s Instrumental Demo)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘That’s Not Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘That’s Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Good Vibrations (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘God Only Knows (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)’
‘Here Today (Highlights From Tracking Date)’
‘Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)’
Disc 3 – Stack-O-Vocals
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’
‘You Still Believe In Me’
‘That’s Not Me’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day’
‘Sloop John B’
‘God Only Knows’
‘I Know There’s An Answer’
‘Here Today’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’
‘Caroline, No’
Disc 3 Continued – Alternate Versions
‘Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #1)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mix 3/3/66)’
‘You Still Believe In Me (Mix 2/16/66)’
‘Don’t Talk … (Vocal Snippet)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead) (Mix 3/12/66)’
‘Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse)’
‘God Only Knows (Sax Solo) (Mix 3/12/66)’
‘Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Version)’
‘Here Today (Alternate Version)’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Alternate Version)’
‘Banana & Louie’
‘Caroline, No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix)’
‘Dog Barking Session (Outtakes) (Mix 3/22/66)’
‘Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #2)’
‘God Only Knows (With A Capella Tag) (Mix 3/12/66)’
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Alternate Version)’
‘Sloop John B (Brian Sings Lead Throughout)’
‘God Only Knows (Brian Sings Lead) (Mix 3/22/66)’
‘Caroline, No (Original Speed, Mono Mix)’
Disc 4 – The Original Mono Mix, Re-mastered In 1996
‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’
‘You Still Believe In Me’
‘That’s Not Me’
‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)’
‘I’m Waiting For The Day’
‘Let’s Go Away For Awhile’
‘Sloop John B’
‘God Only Knows’
‘I Know There’s An Answer’
‘Here Today’
‘I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times’
‘Pet Sounds’
‘Caroline, No’
As well as the release for the 60th anniversary reissues of ‘Pet Sounds’, fans are also invited to attend the first-ever Beach Boys 5K & Wellness Day in Santa Monica on May 16. The event will be held at Third Street Promenade and feature live music, fitness experiences, and more. Visit here for more information.
In other Beach Boys news, the band shared in January that they would be releasing their lost experimental album ‘Adult/Child’ after almost 50 years.
This summer, they will also play a huge open-air show in London to celebrate 60 years of ‘Pet Sounds’.
Iconic frontman Brian Wilson died last June, aged 82. In an obituary, NME celebrated the singer as a “culture-defining innovator who represented pop music’s awakening”, adding that his death saw him “leaving behind a legacy of pop symphonies”.
More recently, Bruce Johnston departed the touring band after over six decades, but has confirmed that he will still be writing music. The singer joined back in 1965 after Wilson stepped away from touring duties. He has been a part of the group for 61 years, and is estimated to have performed around 6,000 live shows.
