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Album Description

Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys. Released on May 16, 1966, it initially met a lukewarm critical and commercial reception in the United States, but received immediate success abroad, where British publications declared it "the most progressive pop album ever". It charted at number two in the UK but number ten in the US, a significantly lower placement than the band's preceding albums. In later years, the album garnered enormous worldwide acclaim by critics and musicians alike, and is regarded as one of the most influential pieces in the history of popular music.

The album was produced and arranged by Brian Wilson, who also wrote and composed almost all of its music, with an unprecedented budget exceeding $70,000 (today over $510,000). Sessions were conducted several months after he had quit touring with the Beach Boys in order to focus his attention on writing and recording. Collaborating with lyricist Tony Asher, Wilson's symphonic arrangements wove elaborate layers of vocal harmonies, coupled with sound effects and unconventional instruments such as bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, Electro-Theremin, dog whistles, trains, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans and barking dogs, along with the more usual keyboards and guitars. Together, they comprised Wilson's "pet sounds", incorporating elements of jazz, exotica, classical, and the avant-garde. It was led by the singles "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (b/w "God Only Knows") and "Sloop John B", while Wilson made his solo debut with "Caroline, No", issued a few months earlier. Due to its highly personal, artistic nature, Pet Sounds is sometimes considered a Brian Wilson solo album in all but name.

 

Tracks

Side one

 1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (B. Wilson/Asher/Love) B. Wilson and Love 2:25

2. "You Still Believe in Me"   B. Wilson 2:31

3. "That's Not Me"   Love with B. Wilson 2:28

4. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)"   B. Wilson 2:53

5. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (B. Wilson/Love) B. Wilson 3:05

6. "Let's Go Away for Awhile" (B. Wilson) Instrumental 2:18

7. "Sloop John B" (trad. arr. B. Wilson) B. Wilson and Love 2:58

 

Side two

8. "God Only Knows"   C. Wilson 2:51

9. "I Know There's an Answer" (B. Wilson/Terry Sachen/Love) Love and Jardine with B. Wilson 3:09

10. "Here Today"   Love 2:54

11. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"   B. Wilson 3:12

12. "Pet Sounds" (B. Wilson) Instrumental 2:22

13. "Caroline, No"   B. Wilson 2:51 10. "Spanish Eyes"   Madonna, Leonard Madonna, Leonard 5:15

11. "Act of Contrition"   Madonna, Leonard Madonna, Leonard 2:19

 

Vinyl Grade:  NM or M-

Cover Grade:  E or VG++

 

Vinyl Grades

SS (STILL SEALED):  Sealed at factory and never opened. Disc is assumed to be undamaged and mint, but this cannot be proven until the album is actually opened and the disc examined.

M (MINT):  Perfection, no flaws, defects, marks or otherwise indications of being handled or played. Any scuffs, hairline scratches or other marks disqualify discs from this category. I do not use this grade, as even the act of inserting the disc or removing it from the paper sleeve may cause scuff marks on the vinyl.

NM or M- (NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS): This is highest grade that I will assign to opened, handled records. The vinyl is virtually flawless, bright and shiny. A very minor, barely visible scuff or two may be permitted, but no scratches. The disc should play with no audible noise. The label is bright, clean and unmarked.

E or VG++ (EXCELLENT or VERY GOOD ++): Disc plays near perfectly, but may have minor paper scuffs that do not interfere with the sound quality. There can possibly be a hairline scratch or two but nothing that is obvious or affects play. Vinyl is bright and shiny; label is clean and unmarked.

VG+ (VERY GOOD PLUS):  Some visible surface wear, very minor scratches and scuffs, but minimal impact on the sound quality. Vinyl will still have good luster; labels may have minor imperfections (small labels or initials, etc.) but otherwise clean.

VG (VERY GOOD):  Vinyl will have noticeable scratches or scuffs that cause minor surface noise, but do not overpower the music. There will be no skips. Vinyl may appear somewhat dull and grayish. Labels may have small tears, tape marks, larger writing, etc. but still easily legible. There may be wear or deformation of the spindle hole.

G (GOOD):  Well-played, dull, grayish vinyl with deeper scratches and wear causing distracting surface noise (hisses, pops, cracks and other nasties). The record will still play through without any skips. Labels may be significantly defaced or damaged.

F (FAIR):

P (POOR):  Unless the record is particularly rare, I would not try to sell a record in this condition. There will be major noise, surface damage, deep scratches, and skips. Attempting to listen to these discs will be painful. These discs are basically trash unless a collector desires one to fill a space in a collection until a better one comes along.

 

Cover Grades

SS (STILL SEALED):  Album is still in the factory-applied shrink-wrapping.

M (MINT):  Absolutely perfect; no corner dings, marks, tears, dents, impressions from the disc, or other flaws. Cover should appear as if a record has never been inside.

NM or M- (NEAR MINT or MINT MINUS):  Very minor signs of wear or cover impressions. Artwork is as close to perfection as possible.

E or VG++ (EXCELLENT or VERY GOOD ++):  Minor disc impression or slight corner creases, no wrinkles, puckers, seam splits or writing on the cover. Artwork is clean and unworn and there is no ink wear.

VG+ (VERY GOOD PLUS):  Cover is clean but may have minor writing or marks and may show slight wear. There may be just the start of ring wear, where the disc has created a raised area on the cover that resulted in the ink wearing off the paper. There may be slight discoloration or staining, minor seam wear, but no splits or tears. Corners may have small creases or fraying.

VG (VERY GOOD):  Covers are worn and used. Seams may be starting to split or may have been unobtrusively repaired with clear tape. (I use special archival-quality, non-yellowing, clear tape for all repairs.) There is moderate ringwear, but the artwork is still attractive. There may be yellowing or discoloration and there may be larger writing, labels, or marks. Corners may have damage or creases and there may be scratches or gouges that otherwise damage the artwork.

G (GOOD):  Several (but not all of the following flaws will apply: Seam splits, large marker writing, major seam splits, significant ring wear, damaged corners, tears, cuts, gouges, masking or duct tape seam repairs, or other flaws and damage. Again, probably only useful to fill a collection niche until something better can be found.

F (FAIR)

P (POOR):  Trash, useable only to keep the record off the floor.