REVIEW: Beach Boys, Pet Sounds Sessions (Capitol)
- Tim Kennedy
The Pet Sounds Sessions is a most superb presentation. Of course, it concerns the most celebrated product of one Mr. Brian Wilson
- and indeed, in many people's eyes, the greatest product of the U.S. recording industry. The box set contains four discs of sheer delight.In 1965, Brian Wilson was no longer accompanying his band on bass. Instead he was producing an album which probably only has the Beatles' Revolver for competition in the whole of recorded popular music.
If you have ever listened to Pet Sounds (like me) and absent-mindedly followed a subsection of the tracks on one of the songs - you will love listening to the run-throughs included here by the DOZEN. Instrumentals, part-vocals, alternate takes, it would be sad to waste time itemising the treasures here when all it takes is for you to play the music alone, just you and the music.
The pride of place is taken by a new stereo mix which I can not place above the original mono, but at the same time can not resist playing.
The original mono mix, that was remastered and released in 1990 is provided here as well - in case you don't already own it.
The 2 booklets are both huge and exhaustive, interviewing all the session musicians (the Beach Boys only sang on this masterwork - they were touring for most of the time taken to record it). The lineup consisted of the top sidemen in the business in 1965. These men and women had contributed to Phil Spector's greatest works and a host of others including from the world of jazz and classical music. Each track is explored. The history of the making of the album is investigated in minute detail.
On these CDs you hear Brian marshalling the players through their moves, halting them at times and then conveying how he wants it to sound. They patiently allow him to lead them often by the hand through the magical soundscapes that would never be equalled. Under normal circumstances, these hardened seen-it-all types would have railed at such treatment - but they were good enough (or maintained enough faith) to see that it would all be worth it.
Also included is a complete acapella version of the album which demonstrates the beauty of the vocal arrangements Brian constructed. It is eerie in a sense that the lost album Smile was intended at one point to be largely acapella and certain relics of that work such as "Our Prayer" find an echo here.
If you enjoyed the Beach Boys Good Vibrations box set then you will find this to be its perfect companion.
And as the man himself said - "listen, listen, listen".
