When was Pet Sounds released by Capitol Records?
Capitol Records released Pet Sounds on the 16th of May 1966. The album debuted at number 106 on the Billboard charts with initial sales of 200,000 copies.
Questions about Pet Sounds
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who wrote the lyrics for Pet Sounds and when did they start collaborating?
Brian Wilson met lyricist Tony Asher in 1965 and began writing sessions within ten days of that meeting. Their collaboration lasted two to three weeks during early 1966 and often took place at Wilson's home on Laurel Way in Beverly Hills.
What instruments were used to create the sound of Pet Sounds?
The album featured ukulele, sleigh bells, accordion, French and English horns, timpani, vibraphone, tack piano, bass harmonica, güiro, bass clarinet, bongos, glockenspiel, banjo, bicycle horn, Coca-Cola cans, and Electro-Theremin. Tracks averaged around a dozen unique instruments ranging from six instruments on That's Not Me to over fifteen on God Only Knows.
How many recording sessions were held for Pet Sounds and where did they take place?
Recording for Pet Sounds primarily occurred between January 18 and the 13th of April 1966 across twenty-seven sessions. Most instrumental tracks were recorded at Western Studio 3 of United Western Recorders while Gold Star Studios hosted sessions for Good Vibrations backing tracks.
Why was Pet Sounds initially rejected by some Beach Boys members?
Mike Love received phone previews of tracks but other band members were not consulted during production until February 9 when they were presented with recordings that jarred with their expectations. Critiques among the band members focused on lyrics rather than music with additional concerns about replicating the complex arrangements in live performances.
When was Pet Sounds certified platinum and how many copies were sold?
Pet Sounds was certified platinum in the U.S. for over one million sales after being inducted into the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry in 2004. Total sales were estimated at 500,000 units before the album gained wider recognition through 1990s reissues.