In 1965, while the rest of his band was on tour, Brian Wilson, a founding member of the Beach Boys, who died this week at age 82, challenged himself to stay home and create a masterpiece. The results of that challenge, Pet Sounds, has become one of the most revered and influential works of pop music.
“Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper never would have happened,” recalled longtime Beatles’ producer George Martin in Rolling Stone. “Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds.”
Paul McCartney agrees, saying, “I’ve often played Pet Sounds and cried.”
In 2017, I became infatuated with Pet Sounds, and I have to admit — that’s a little weird. I’m