"No one is musically educated until they have heard The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds" - Paul McCartney
"If records had a director within a band, I sort of directed Pepper. And my influence was basically the Pet Sounds album." - Paul McCartney
Pretty heady stuff (putting aside the debatable claim from McCartney that he 'directed' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band). Regardless, I'm not sure anything I write can be more inspiring than those quotes from Paul. Briefly though, it must be said that there were clearly influences back and forth between The Beach Boys and The Beatles. Rubber Soul (inasmuch as it was more of a concept album and not just filler songs amongst singles) influenced Pet Sounds which influenced Sgt Pepper. McCartney also stated that the intro to "Here, There and Everywhere", from Revolver, was influenced by The Beach Boys. I think it's safe to say that the UK / California connection helped enrich each group's recording output. Would Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds have been as brilliant without the influence of the other group? They may have still been great, but perhaps in different ways. Or maybe the creators wouldn't have strived as hard or would not have realized all the possibilities without the influence of the other. As we listen to Pet Sounds we can certainly debate these ideas. But of course "Album Night" doesn't need to be a debate but can simply be a time to sit back and admire a great work of art!
So join me on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9pm EDT for "Album Night" and a listen to the 1966 classic, Pet Sounds.
I'll leave you with this last quote which may help you decide how to enjoy this album during "Album Night" (or maybe just for subsequent spins):
"When you listen to Pet Sounds, use ear phones in the dark and you can hear everything" - Brian Wilson
"If records had a director within a band, I sort of directed Pepper. And my influence was basically the Pet Sounds album." - Paul McCartney
Pretty heady stuff (putting aside the debatable claim from McCartney that he 'directed' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band). Regardless, I'm not sure anything I write can be more inspiring than those quotes from Paul. Briefly though, it must be said that there were clearly influences back and forth between The Beach Boys and The Beatles. Rubber Soul (inasmuch as it was more of a concept album and not just filler songs amongst singles) influenced Pet Sounds which influenced Sgt Pepper. McCartney also stated that the intro to "Here, There and Everywhere", from Revolver, was influenced by The Beach Boys. I think it's safe to say that the UK / California connection helped enrich each group's recording output. Would Sgt Pepper and Pet Sounds have been as brilliant without the influence of the other group? They may have still been great, but perhaps in different ways. Or maybe the creators wouldn't have strived as hard or would not have realized all the possibilities without the influence of the other. As we listen to Pet Sounds we can certainly debate these ideas. But of course "Album Night" doesn't need to be a debate but can simply be a time to sit back and admire a great work of art!
So join me on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9pm EDT for "Album Night" and a listen to the 1966 classic, Pet Sounds.
I'll leave you with this last quote which may help you decide how to enjoy this album during "Album Night" (or maybe just for subsequent spins):
"When you listen to Pet Sounds, use ear phones in the dark and you can hear everything" - Brian Wilson