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)’