It's a shame that Capitol didn't promote Pet Sounds like they should have. Obviously, Sgt Pepper is more legendary and sold far more, but that can easily be attributed to Capitol dropping the ball. They gave up on Pet Sounds before it had even been released.

In June 1965, The Byrds put out their first LP, an album of folk-rock with a cover photo of the band taken with a fish-eye lens. Six months later, The Beatles put out Rubber Soul, an album of folk-rock with a cover photo of the band taken with a fish-eye lens.

The Beatles have more instant appeal, but Pet Sounds and subsequent Smile sessions, have a ton more subtlety. They were really quite divergent when Brian stopped composing.

God bless Brian Wilson. My favorite music maker of all time

Ok...this video is chronologically weak...Beatles release Rubber Soul...Wilson wants to top it and does Pet Sounds...The Beatles also release Revolver which upped the ante and Wilson begins material for Smile...then McCartney visits Wilson at his home and as he's leaving plays She's Leaving Home to Wilson...and says "You'd better hurry up" ....and Wilson went to his sandbox....Smile never got released ...until recently

I must declare myself as one of the greatest Beatles' fans. Actually, Rubber Soul is my favourite record, but recently I completely fell in love with Pet Sounds. I can literally hear it every single day, along with Rubber Soul. One of these days I'll make the exercise of Today!-Help!-Summer Days and Summer Nights!- Rubber Soul-Pet Sounds-Revolver-Smile-Sgt.Pepper to go absolute mad. Brian, you'va changed my life just as John, Paul, George and Ringo! (without leaving apart Carl, Dennis, Alan, Mike and Bruce!)

Thing is that most people say Sgt. Pepper say it's better because they haven't really heard Per Sounds. It has to do with how a brain is wired individually.What I mean by that is everyone is unique and looks at thing differently so there is no absolute truth to which is really better. Music is something everyone can enjoy but some have different tastes.

Before 'Pet Sounds' the Beach Boys made (repeatedly) the artistic statement that the album was the new forum of extended creative space for pop music. If you listen to their album 'All Summer Long' which came out in 65' there's a 'cut' on side 2 where they're playing around in the recording studio (cracking jokes etc;). That to me was as transformative an artistic statement in Pop as John Cages 'silent symphony'. What that said (at least to me) was that all the sounds you hear on our albums, whether it's beautiful harmonies or us just joking around in the studio is ART and worthy of being recorded. THAT cut on 'All Summer Long' was the equivalent of Jackson Pollack's drip paintings. Again, at least to me.

Pet Sounds is to Rubber Soul as SMiLE would've been to both Revolver and Sgt.Pepper's had it been released.

brian said his mind was blown when he heard rubber soul

Fantastic collection of bits. Thanks for the hard work.

Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper, two of the best albums ever to grace this earth

Don't forget Lennon and Zappa did a concert together.

thanks for this interesting post with hard to find interviews!

I love how the two bands both influenced each other, that's why they both ended up so wonderful.

Breathed at that moment too. Great times. Was in 8th grade when the Beatles hit the shore of America. If sent to Hell and given one album choice to listen to for eternity would choose Pet Sounds over Pepper in a heartbeat. It's that good. Utterly timeless.

Imagine McCartney, Lennon, and Brian Wilson young and in a band together. Jesus I could only wish...

2+2+2+2= A perfect 10! Rubber Soul+Pet Sounds+Sgt Pepper+Smile= Perfection. Each record adds to the one before it and all together they are just perfect.

Love this,,,thank you.....I am a Beatles Fan, forever and ever...

I didn't watch the vid because it was shaping up to be pointless, as indeed were the views of so many people posting below. Every musician has been influenced by every preceding musician. There wouldn't have been a Mozart without a Bach. If you like lush arrangements and harmony, listen to Pet Sounds; if you want it a bit rougher listen to Sgt Pepper's. Both are works of genius. Don't demean them through comparison.

Cool documentary thanks for sharing

Is it just me, or does Brian here remind me of Bill Murray's character in Caddyshack?

I'm guessing everyone knows the Brian Wilson bit in the middle of "Back in the USSR".

The only connection I thought is ...are those pet sounds in Good Morning! ha ha ha

Brian Wilson is such a modest guy. COME ON BRIAN! you invented the self written/produced album years before with 'Beach Boys Today' 'All Summer Long' etc; The Beatles were like General Motors compared to Ferrari or Porche.

Pet Sounds and Revolver are two of the greatest albums ever recorded..Pet Sounds is just a masterpiece but it's just so hard to wrap my head around how someone can express themselves like that in musical form.

The subtle themes in pet sounds are staggering to me. I can't believe how simple and plainspoken the lyrics can sound at times, but hold so much depth and relevance its timeless. Sgt pepper although I love it dearly seems like a period piece which isn't bad. Its a masterpiece but in my opinion it only evokes the time period to me where as pet sounds deals with themes that are timeless

Pet Sounds is inspired by the quality of Rubber Soul, where as Sgt. Pepper is influenced by the sound / style of Pet Sounds. The difference is Pet Sounds wanted to be as good as, be better than / more ambitious than Rubber Soul, where was Sgt. Pepper wanted to sound like Pet Sounds. I think both succeeded wonderfully, easily the best baroque pop albums ever aside from Smile (referring to the 2011 Beach Boys version, not the bonus material/bootlegs/brian versions), which is just fucking wild.

Pet Sounds was made in response to Rubber Soul, and the unfinished until 2004 SMiLE album was made in response to Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. When Brian heard Magical Mystery Tour, he sort of gave up at competing with The Beatles.

Very VERY Interesting that I stumbled across this clip of the same exact topic i was just talking about, I had purchased the recent release of the 50th anniversary SPLHCB with bonus outtake disc and it is clear more than ever before that Brian Wilsons influence was in full audible proof on many cuts and really blew my mind, Wilson is a fucking Genius

Now that's absolutely true. They were the most successful musicians in the history of recorded sound. No argument there. In fact, I went to their very last concert at Candlestick Park here in San Francisco in 1966. They rolled into the park in an armored truck. ha ha I mean their last album wasn't THAT BAD, but they were concerned about getting out to 2nd base where their stage was set up.

Both are great albums and to me can't be compared because they are such unique styles. Someone already said it best. I wouldn't want to live in a world with out either one either. We are lucky to have both! Learn to appreciate which ever you find more inferior. You'll be glad you did.

Great! Thanks. Always wondered.

Both amazing albums!

Eleanor Rigby is a piece of reach for beauty and inspiration, Great McCartney

Can you imagine Brian Wilson on the Beatles? My god

McCartney worships Brian Wilson, and I don't blame him. He borrowed soooooo much of his act. I heard he begged Capitol Records to "please sign us so that we can be like my heroes The Beach Boys. Paul has such good taste.

@Jonee90210 You are correct - when I interviewed Brian, that was one of my questions, and he said it was indeed the U.S. version!

The "Rubber Soul" that Brian heard was the American version without "Drive my Car", "Nowhere Man" etc. The American version was more acoustic which actually made it better to some people.

Two great stellar albums of the 60's

Fascinating stuff :-)

Both are brilliant, does,nt have to be one or the other.

Please Google search: "The Triad: How Bob Dylan, The Beach Boys, and the Beatles Changed Popular Music" to see this video featured in my article. Thanks for putting this together!

Pet Sounds is great, but Sgt. Peppers is kinda on another level, it's one of the great musical works of all time

are without a doubt in that list of some of the most beautiful 'songs' of the latter half of the 20th century. And that I agree. BUT, msanm you can't compare a pop song writer to a composer. They are two different beasts. The songwriter writes little 3-4 minutes tunes for 1 instrument (guitar,piano) made up of two parts. The chorus,the Bridge, and that's it msnanm. The song Louie Louie was written in 5 minutes in a mens bathroom. No joke! Beethoven spent months working on his symphonies.

please upload part 2... thanks.

Don’t forget Paul McCartney stated that god only knows is his favorite song of all time and Pet Sounds had made him cry many times

Sgt. Peppers all the way!

Actually, I normally do 'comedy' or 'parody' videos. This is one of the few serious ones I've done. When researching this topic - I was surprised at the amount of footage that was out there related to the subject - as a lark I decided to put them all together and see if it flowed.

So Rubber Soul influenced Pet Sounds, Pet Sounds influenced Sgt. Pepper, they both influenced each other, stop arguing. The difference is that the Beatles had multiple classic albums, whereas Pet Sounds was the Beach Boys only real 'superb' album. Other 'good' albums, but nothing else came close IMO.

"John Lennon and Paul McCartney were lucky to have each other as collaborators, as well as a manager in Brian Epstein, and a producer in George Martin who both recognized the genius in John and Paul's songwriting and allowed them to grow and develop. Brian Wilson was on his own as a songwriter and producer."

Oh I don't know about that my friend. 'Like a Rolling Stone','Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands','Desolation Row' etc; are wonderful tunes. Obviously his lyrics are what set him apart,but those are also great melodies. Equal in 'my view' to anything Roger& Hart, or Cole Porter etc; Bobby wrote some great shit in that 3 year period of 64-66. The thing about Lennon and McCartney tho is that sooooooo much of their stuff is influenced by their producer George Martin. He really is co-author.

I so respect and admire George Martin, an extraordinary gentleman--a class act for sure! When I think of PS vs SP, two superlative albums, and quite different in character, I personally have always favored Pet Sounds. I can't imagine how many times I have listened to this album with complete pleasure through 44 years now!! It has sometimes made me cry for no apparent reason, at the least likely points, something I have never experienced with SP (wtpe of She's Leaving Home).

And Brian Wilson after hears Sargeant Pepper's, surrended.

I like a couple songs on pets sounds but I think you have to be a genius to like the rest of the album as it's too artsy and hard to sing and does not seem to put a thrill up your spine like other Beach boys songs

The album that arguably subsequently raised the pop songwriting bar was the revolutionary 'Eli and the Thirteenth Confession' (1968) by the Bronx child prodigy and genius Laura Nyro. And I bet you have never heard of it. Nyro is seismically influential - see Nyro youtube discussions by Todd Rundgren, Elton John/Elvis Costello, Alice Cooper. You will be pleasantly shocked. Nyro is Rock Hall of Fame, Songwriters Hall of Fame, considered an artists artist.

I still think the best album ever isThe Moody Blues - Days of Future Passed - 1967, the most overlooked album ever made. Check it.

Imagine some trippy crossover album that completely redefined the discourse of human existence

What font did you use for the intro

Actually Wolfgang was not known for his melodies. In fact he was pretty weak melodically. It's the absolute genius of his architecture. The structure of his music and the blending of instruments are at times a little hard to comprehend. And he did it repeatedly. Almost at whim. I tip my hat to McCartney's melodies. Their beautiful at times. Especially that classic beauty 'Why don't we do it on the Road'. Or better yet, that Christmas sing along hit 'Helter Skelter'. ha ha

Do you have Part 2?

@JFBosox33 Not kills, Feeds and loves it, like a mother. Brian never meant to kill the beatles. He respected them. He isn't a soccer supporter. He is a GENIUS.

Is there a part 2 or did I miss something?

When it comes to classical, Wilson is on another level. Classical music was a big influence growing up, as shown in most of Pet Sounds and even greater in the SMiLE sessions. Sgt Pepper's more memorable moments are when its doing rock n roll pop. When they're trying to be clever and classical with their chords and songwriting, to me, it sounds like they're consciously trying reach what was innate in Wilson's songwriting and musicianship, what they heard in Pet Sounds. Not to say which is better.

@PAULisDEADMANnumber9 Yes I agree. I also believe that the influence of Tony Asher helped Brian growing in that way.

Cool so cool

Pet Sounds & Sgt Pepper = apples & oranges

does anyone know what clip or concert video of brian playing is at 3:29?

@ComDisk16 thats why competition is sooo great! :)

@ragingbull2001 Yes. And as Descartes would say the cause is other from the consequences. Two great different masterpieces, two pearls of love. Strange how they make so many fans hate each other.

Listen to this guy, BW for 2 minutes.. No pretense . transparent . speaks from the heart writes that way also . He seems much more of humility than ego. I believe he is as real as his music

@PAULisDEADMANnumber9 I think so. I believe that Sgt. Pepper sounds more similar to pet sounds than pet sounds to rubber soul.

whats the song at 4:30?

What still intrigues me is how Brian would have reacted had he heard the 'real' Rubber Soul - the UK version - as the Beatles intended, not the hacked up 'folky' US release. Certainly there was more of an acousticy feel to the US version, which possibly contributed to the more mellow Pet Sounds. Might Pet Sounds have been a bit 'rockier' had Brian heard the UK version? We'll certainly never know, but I can't help but wonder.

because revolver was not what influenced brian wilson it was rubber soul which came out in dec. 65. Bw started working on pet sounds in mid 65.

@Seej1982 listening back to it it more than likely IS Jeff Bridges but twas weird how much it sounded like Spielberg!!!!

Thank you.

@earcandyfilms what is the difference anyways? :S

Don't worry Kyoko, Oh yoko!

America v England. I like both Beach Boys and Beatles.

@Jonee90210 What did the cover of the Capitol Rubber Soul look like?

@fasterthanbolt yeah, but i also think Brian Wilson took lyrical inspiration from Rubber Soul, in terms of personal songs, not just silly boy-meets-girl song format, instead a more introspective, emotional song format.

Hard to believe that you couldn't walk into a record store in Los Angeles in the 60's and get an import. Maybe imports didn't really happen til later. But if someone had told Brian that there was an even better Beatles album than Rubber Soul, he would have said, "Get me a copy." And if you handed him the UK version he would have flipped. I sure flipped the first time I heard the UK Revolver, and felt like I'd been cheated by Capitol all those years.

Two great lps and so was rubber soul!

To be more accurate, after the Beach Boys they became The Beatles. They modeled themselves after the Beach Boys. The B's in their name. Same record co. (Capitol Records) etc; they totally plaguerized the Beach Boys.

When you compete with the Beatles, you'll lose your mind. But I still love Brian Wilson.

why Brian never mention the Revolver album ? It's a lot more adventurous than Rubber Soul

@Greenames What do you mean man?

I don't think the two albums are that alike, I think they both went out and tried to do unique things. However, if you somehow manipulate the songs together..I bet it would sound awesome!

It was only heralded in England and Europe in 1966. But I really can't remember John Lennon praising it. It always seems to be quotes from Paul.

I love both bands. I honestly thinks it's stupid to claim either one is better than the other.

Its funny, because Pet Sounds ended up sounding a lot different than Rubber Soul. I guess we all get inspiration from somewhere.

@thewaronterror Nope...hard, cold FACT!

Wow rare to see brian playing a hofner 3:29

Dizzy miss Lizzy, Goodnight

Interesting.

Both Groups were brilliant......I suppose if Smile was released in its earliest form and the record company trusted And had Confidence in Brian it could have surpassed PS.....

Musically I can see why pet sounds is better....and to me personally it is. That being said I can also see why Sgt peppers meant more to the development and the historical impact of music and a generation not to mention the whole package (album cover, liner notes, concept idea etc). Musically= pet sounds Historically= Sgt peppers

@johnboymac2000 :-) I guess so

@Firebirrd85 Then listen to Smiley Smile.