The Beach Boys Album Brian Wilson Calls ‘a Religious Experience’
God only knows what fans would do without the Beach Boys. This band released several chart-topping hits, most in conjunction with Pet Sounds. Even for Beach Boys member Brian Wilson, this album was a āreligious experience.ā Hereās what he said about writing the 1966 collection.
The Beach Boys released songs including āGood Vibrationsā and āWouldnāt It Be Niceā
The Beach Boys surfed their way through the USA music scene. The group released hit songs including āGood Vibrations,ā āRock and Roll Music,ā and āDonāt Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder.)ā
While the lineup changed over the years, the Beach Boysā original members were Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson; their cousin Mike Love; and their friend Al Jardine. Brian Wilson was the primary composer of Pet Sounds.
Beach Boys member Brian Wilson said āPet Soundsā āspoke for itselfā
According to Brian Wilson, 1966 was a ābig yearā for the Beach Boys. It was the year the group released Pet Sounds.
āThe record spoke for itself, and it was a religious experience,ā Wilson said, according to Best Classic Bands. āCarl and I were into prayer. We held prayer sessions in our house on Laurel Way. āDear God. Please let us bring music to people.ā It happened. A cool trip. A lot of people say to me that Pet Sounds got them through high school or college.ā
Pet Sounds included fan-favorite tracks āWouldnāt It Be Nice,ā āGod Only Knows,ā and āThatās Not Me.ā Each song holds millions of Spotify plays today.
However, songs from other collections earned recognition at the Grammy Awards, including āGood Vibrationsā and āKokomo.ā
Did the Beach Boys write their own songs?
The Beach Boys members ā often Brian Wilson ā wrote their own songs, though they also worked with other writers. As a songwriter, Wilson shared his thoughts on musicās healing power.
āI think my music has helped people a little bit,ā Wilson said. āI think it is therapy for people. I think Marvin Gayeās music is very therapeutic. I think Diana Rossā music is very therapeutic, to name just a couple.ā
āNothing as good as [the Ronettesā] āBe My Baby,āā he said of therapeutic songwriting. āWe couldnāt produce records with that big sound. We had good engineers and good players, the Wrecking Crew. I had Phil Spectorās players.ā
Music by the Beach Boys, including the 50th anniversary version of Pet Sounds, is available on most major streaming platforms.