The Beach Boys‘ masterpiece Pet Sounds turns 60 this year, and to celebrate there are a few special releases on the way which will be out May 15.
First and foremost is The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights which culls the best of the Grammy-nominated 1997 CD box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, featuring 25 alternate takes, a cappellas, and tracking sessions, all of which are available here on vinyl for the first time. (There’s also a 2-CD set.) It comes with new liner notes by Beach Boys historian Howie Edelson, along with a detailed sessionography. It’s available in a few different vinyl variants.
Meanwhile, the full 90-track box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, will hit streaming services for the first time on May 15.
There is also a a VinylPhile Edition of Pet Sounds, a double-LP set featuring both the original mono mix on the first disc, and the 1996 stereo mix on the second. It was mastered at RTI on 180g black vinyl and cut from original mono and stereo analog tapes by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound.
There’s still more, a Zoetrope vinyl picture disc that is “animated” when it spins on your turntable.
Check out pictures and tracklists of the releases below.
Meanwhile, on Pet Sounds‘ actual 60th anniversary, May 16, there will be the first-ever Beach Boys 5K & Wellness Day: “The event will take place at the Third Street Promenade and feature live music, fitness experiences, and a community 5K run celebrating the legacy of Pet Sounds.”
Read our list of Beach Boys Albums Ranked Worst to Best.
THE PET SOUNDS SESSIONS HIGHLIGHTS TRACKLIST
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
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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 SESSIONS BOX SET DIGITAL TRACKLIST
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)
Disc 2 – Sessions Pt. 2
Caroline, No (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Caroline, No (Stereo Backing Track)
Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian’s Instrumental Demo)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Highlights From Tracking Date)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)
That’s Not Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)
That’s Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)
Good Vibrations (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Highlights From Tracking Date)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)
God Only Knows (Highlights From Tracking Date)
God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)
Here Today (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)
Disc 3 – Stack-O-Vocals
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
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
I Know There’s An Answer
Here Today
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Caroline, No
Disc 3 Continued – Alternate Versions
Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #1)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mix 3/3/66)
You Still Believe In Me (Mix 2/16/66)
Don’t Talk … (Vocal Snippet)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead) (Mix 3/12/66)
Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse)
God Only Knows (Sax Solo) (Mix 3/12/66)
Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Version)
Here Today (Alternate Version)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Alternate Version)
Banana & Louie
Caroline, No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix)
Dog Barking Session (Outtakes) (Mix 3/22/66)
Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #2)
God Only Knows (With A Capella Tag) (Mix 3/12/66)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Alternate Version)
Sloop John B (Brian Sings Lead Throughout)
God Only Knows (Brian Sings Lead) (Mix 3/22/66)
Caroline, No (Original Speed, Mono Mix)
Disc 4 – The Original Mono Mix, Re-mastered In 1996
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