VIDEO: The Beach Boys Look Back on Making ‘Pet Sounds’

Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

May 14th, 2021 1:00 PM

Since its release on May 16, 1966, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds continues to resonate with music lovers the world over and gain new fans as younger generations are introduced to the iconic album.

Sonically and melodically, it was a game-changer.  No other album has the feel of Pet Sounds, and no album certainly sounds quite like it either. It is the intersection of pop music and art, which is seemingly in low supply today.

Brian Wilson knew he had something special with this album, and in the mini-documentary below, you see Wilson, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine talk about the recording process and how these magical songs came together.

‘God Only Knows’ & 7 Other Iconic Tracks That Were B-Sides

• The Beach Boys – “God Only Knows”

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  It's hard to believe that one of the most beautiful, iconic songs in the Beach Boys' catalog was released as a B-Side.  (The A-Side is "Wouldn't It Be Nice.")  It would go on to be the first dance to countless newlywed couples and number 25 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

• Beatles – “Revolution”

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  Honestly, there could be a whole B-Side list just about The Beatles, but when it came time for pressing this bold classic to a 45, “Hey Jude” scored the A-Side.

• Queen – “We Will Rock You”

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  One of classic rock’s most recognizable songs, “We Will Rock You” was the B-Side to that other diddy from 1977’s 'News of the World,' “We Are The Champions.”
• Rolling Stones – “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”

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  As previously mentioned with the entry from the Beatles, there could be a B-Side list just about The Rolling Stones, too, so picking just one B-Side track from them was difficult, but we went with "You Can't Always Get What You Want," which was the B-Side to "Honky Tonk Women," because it continues to be a setlist mainstay decades later.

• Booker T & The MG’s  – “Green Onions”

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  One of the most influential instrumental tracks ever, "Green Onions" was the B-Side to "Behave Yourself" released in 1962 and has been including in a ridiculous amount of films and TV shows.

• The Righteous Brothers – “Unchained Melody”

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  Written by Alex North and Hy Zaret in 1955, the Righteous Brothers would release their version ten years later as the B-Side to “Hung on You.” As the classic story goes, when DJs weren't impressed with “Hung on You,” they checked out a B-Side, and “Unchained Melody” took off.
• Fleetwood Mac – “Silver Springs”

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  “Silver Springs” was supposed to end up on Fleetwood Mac’s masterpiece 'Rumours,' and the reasons why it didn’t depend on who you ask in the band.  While it ended up originally being the B-Side to “Go Your Own Way,” “Silver Springs” ended up on Fleetwood Mac’s 1997 live album 'The Dance' and was finally released as a proper single.

• David Bowie – “Suffragette City”

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  The B-Side to "Starman," "Suffragette City" was originally offered to Mott The Hoople.  They passed and opted to record "All The Young Dudes," which is easily one of the best win-win situations in classic rock history.  Wham bam, thank you ma'am, indeed!

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Author Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

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The Beach Boys