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The Beach Boys - The Pet Sounds Sessions (1966)

Track listing:
CD1
  1. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stereo Mix) 2:33
  2. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Mix) 2:36
  3. That's Not Me (Stereo Mix) 2:31
  4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Mix) 2:58
  5. I'm Waiting For The Day (Stereo Mix) 3:07
  6. Let's Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Mix) 2:24
  7. Sloop John B (Stereo Mix) 2:59
  8. God Only Knows (Stereo Mix) 2:55
  9. I Know There's An Answer (Stereo Mix) 3:18
  10. Here Today (Stereo Mix) 3:07
  11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stereo Mix) 3:21
  12. Pet Sounds (Stereo Mix) 2:38
  13. Caroline, No (Stereo Mix) 2:58
  14. Sloop John B (Highlights From Tracking Date) 1:05
  15. Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track) 3:18
  16. Trombone Dixie (Highlights From Tracking Date) 1:26
  17. Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track) 2:50
  18. Pet Sounds (Highlights From Tracking Date) 0:57
  19. Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub) 2:49
  20. Let's Go Away For Awhile (Highlights From Tracking Date) 2:20
  21. Let's Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub) 2:52
  22. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Highlights From Tracking Date) 7:20
  23. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track) 2:34
  24. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stereo Track With Background Vocals) 2:34
  25. You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Session) 1:39
  26. You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Master Take) 0:15
  27. You Still Believe In Me (Highlights From Tracking Date) 1:11
  28. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track) 2:37
CD2
  1. Caroline, No (Highlights From Tracking Date) 4:17
  2. Caroline, No (Stereo Backing Track) 2:53
  3. Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights From Tracking Date) 4:47
  4. Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track) 3:23
  5. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian's Instrumental Demo) 2:21
  6. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track) 3:11
  7. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub) 1:49
  8. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Highlights From Tracking Date) 2:59
  9. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track) 3:47
  10. That's Not Me (Highlights From Tracking Date) 1:52
  11. That's Not Me (Stereo Backing Track) 2:46
  12. Good Vibrations (Highlights From Tracking Date) 2:42
  13. Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track) 3:15
  14. I'm Waiting For The Day (Highlights From Tracking Date) 5:25
  15. I'm Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track) 3:14
  16. God Only Knows (Highlights From Tracking Date) 9:26
  17. God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track) 3:06
  18. Here Today (Highlights From Tracking Date) 6:37
  19. Here Today (Stereo Backing Track) 4:55
CD3
  1. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stack-O-Vocals) 2:37
  2. You Still Believe In Me (Stack-O-Vocals) 2:47
  3. That's Not Me (Stack-O-Vocals) 2:28
  4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stack-O-Vocals) 3:07
  5. I'm Waiting For The Day (Stack-O-Vocals) 3:02
  6. Sloop John B (Stack-O-Vocals) 3:10
  7. God Only Knows (Stack-O-Vocals) 2:50
  8. I Know There's An Answer (Stack-O-Vocals) 2:20
  9. Here Today (Stack-O-Vocals) 3:30
  10. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stack-O-Vocals) 3:23
  11. Caroline, No (Stack-O-Vocals) 1:54
  12. Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #1) 0:32
  13. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Alternate Version) 2:29
  14. You Still Believe In Me (Alternate Version) 2:23
  15. Don't Talk... (Vocal Snippet) 0:57
  16. I'm Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead) 3:02
  17. Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse) 3:05
  18. God Only Knows (Sax Solo) 2:49
  19. Hang On To Your Ego 3:13
  20. Here Today (Alternate Version) 3:07
  21. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Alternate Version) 3:11
  22. Banana & Louie 0:05
  23. Caroline, No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix) 2:24
  24. Dog Barking Session (Outtakes) 0:35
  25. Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #2) 0:28
  26. God Only Knows (With A Capella Tag) 2:56
  27. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Alternate Version) 2:28
  28. Sloop John B (Brian Sings Lead Throughout) 3:04
  29. God Only Knows (Brian Sings Lead) 2:43
  30. Caroline, No (Original Speed, Mono Mix) 3:03
CD4
  1. Wouldn't It Be Nice 2:25
  2. You Still Believe In Me 2:35
  3. That's Not Me 2:30
  4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) 2:54
  5. I'm Waiting For The Day 3:06
  6. Let's Go Away For Awhile 2:21
  7. Sloop John B. 3:00
  8. God Only Knows 2:53
  9. I Know There's An Answer 3:11
  10. Here Today 2:55
  11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times 3:15
  12. Pet Sounds 2:23
  13. Caroline No 2:53

Notes


There's little arguing that Pet Sounds is one of the greatest albums in rock & roll, and its cult, if anything, has only grown in the decades since its intial release. Part of the fascination with Pet Sounds lies in its detailed, multi-layered arrangements, in which all the parts blend together into a symphonic whole. The richness of the music is one of the reasons hardcore fans have desired a set like The Pet Sounds Sessions, a four-disc box that presents an abundance of working mixes, alternate takes, instrumental tracks, and rarities, as well as the first true stereo mix of the album. Certainly, a set this exacting is only of interest to serious fans, and even they might find the endless succession of work tracks tedious. Nevertheless, there's something fascinating about hearing the album broken down to its individual parts; after hearing horn lines, vocals, and percussion tracks out of their original context, the scope and originality of Brian Wilson's vision becomes all the more impressive. (Make no mistake about it, Pet Sounds is entirely Wilson's project, despite what Mike Love states in his self-serving liner notes.) The original mono mix of Pet Sounds (included here in a minature, cardboard record sleeve) remains the best way to appreciate Wilson's gifts, but for fans already convinced of his genius, The Pet Sounds Sessions is a fascinating, educational listen, even if it's not necessarily indispensable.