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Post by Vale on Jan 7, 2019 4:39:23 GMT -5
The Pet Sounds Sessions is a 4-CD box set released in 1997 which compiles tracks from the Beach Boys' 11th studio album Pet Sounds (1966) and its 1965–66 recording sessions. The entire album is included in its original mono mix, as well as a specially-created digital stereo mix. The set also contains instrumental tracks, vocals-only tracks, alternate mixes, and edited highlights from the recording sessions for many of the album's songs, along with several tracks not included on the album. Source wikipedia Released November 4, 1997
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Post by Vale on Jan 7, 2019 5:00:05 GMT -5
Another great piece of Beach Boys history here. I like the stereo mix, but I think Pet Sounds should be heard in mono, better if with headphones. As a lover of studio sessions, I appreciate very much the released material but, if I can raise a criticism, I prefer the full session takes rather than session highlights, that's why the Unsurpassed Masters series remain unbeatable, imo.
9.
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Post by filledeplage on Jan 7, 2019 9:24:04 GMT -5
Another great piece of Beach Boys history here. I like the stereo mix, but I think Pet Sounds should be heard in mono, better if with headphones. As a lover of studio sessions, I appreciate very much the released material but, if I can raise a criticism, I prefer the full session takes rather than session highlights, that's why the Unsurpassed Masters series remain unbeatable, imo. 9. Enjoyed the hell out of that Pet Sounds Box set. 10. Love Trombone Dixie.  |
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Departed
Former Member
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2019 4:33:21 GMT -5
10
It's self explanatory
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Post by E on Jan 8, 2019 11:58:58 GMT -5
Revelatory. 10.
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Post by Jason (The Real Beach Boy) on Apr 2, 2019 7:51:32 GMT -5
10. Forget the stereo version; the session outtakes, backing tracks, a cappellas, and alternates are just manna from heaven. I guess the 50th Anniversary release of the album itself counts as an updated version of this, and the added material just makes a great release better.
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Post by gigantiskpyjamas on Jun 25, 2022 14:51:38 GMT -5
Stupid me sold this box set many years ago when I downsized my CD collection to make room for more records. For some reason I could never be bothered to read David Leaf’s ”Making of Pet Sounds” book. Is it worth repurchasing the set just to read that little book? Owning the actual music on CD is a big bonus too, of course.
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Post by jk on Jun 25, 2022 19:34:12 GMT -5
Stupid me sold this box set many years ago when I downsized my CD collection to make room for more records. For some reason I could never be bothered to read David Leaf’s ”Making of Pet Sounds” book. Is it worth repurchasing the set just to read that little book? Owning the actual music on CD is a big bonus too, of course. I haven't checked but I'm assuming you can read it all here: albumlinernotes.com/The_Making_of_Pet_Sounds.htmlThis is the fourth item in the green list on the left. Work your way down from there! |
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Post by gigantiskpyjamas on Jun 26, 2022 8:39:34 GMT -5
Stupid me sold this box set many years ago when I downsized my CD collection to make room for more records. For some reason I could never be bothered to read David Leaf’s ”Making of Pet Sounds” book. Is it worth repurchasing the set just to read that little book? Owning the actual music on CD is a big bonus too, of course. I haven't checked but I'm assuming you can read it all here: albumlinernotes.com/The_Making_of_Pet_Sounds.htmlThis is the fourth item in the green list on the left. Work your way down from there! Thanks! I’ve actually visited that site before but assumed it was merely excerpts from the book and not the entire thing! |
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Post by Awesoman on Feb 14, 2023 8:24:17 GMT -5
This box set cemented my appreciation for the album.
Fun story - way back in my college years when I was studying audio recording, one of our projects we were required to do was a voice over project detailing an album that was important to us. Of course I picked this album and went above and beyond the call of duty by using the components from this box set to make some pretty cool edits of the music (vocals only/track only, etc.). And to add a little dimension to the project I even flew in audio from multiple interviews from a variety of people including Paul McCartney, David Crosby, Tom Petty and the band members themselves (also to mask my completely wooden delivery in my VO 🤣). The project turned out really well and I got the highest grade among my peers for it. I still have that project somewhere and occasionally revisit it every once in awhile when I need a little inspiration.
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Post by boogieboarder on Feb 14, 2023 12:52:45 GMT -5
As a lover of studio sessions, I appreciate very much the released material but, if I can raise a criticism, I prefer the full session takes rather than session highlights, that's why the Unsurpassed Masters series remain unbeatable, imo. 9. I’m with Vale. After being spoiled with 8 CDs of Unsurpassed Masters, I was let down by this skimpy 3CD set plus a 4th rehash of the mono album I already had 3 times over. I say skimpy because, yes the stereo mix was great, but by the time you skip that, and the a cappella versions, and the completed backing track versions - there’s hardly any actual sessions left. I don’t really hear it as session tapes, especially knowing what the sessions were really like - given that they were previously bootlegged almost in their entirety. To add insult to injury, they released a 50th anniversary box set which was essentially the same thing but with an added CD of various live tracks - making it very expensive to complete your collection just to get the live disk - something to this day I have not done. In fact that one’s out of print on Amazon in the US, and they have one used copy for $299.00. (It also says it’s by Tom Petty, believe it or not). The original sessions box set is also out of print, and you can get one used copy for $99.99. I hope when I die, my relatives can get $300 each for all my box sets, rather than getting ripped off by a unscrupulous dealer, or worse yet, throwing them out like coasters. |
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Post by Awesoman on Feb 15, 2023 8:45:48 GMT -5
As a lover of studio sessions, I appreciate very much the released material but, if I can raise a criticism, I prefer the full session takes rather than session highlights, that's why the Unsurpassed Masters series remain unbeatable, imo. 9. I’m with Vale. After being spoiled with 8 CDs of Unsurpassed Masters, I was let down by this skimpy 3CD set plus a 4th rehash of the mono album I already had 3 times over. I say skimpy because, yes the stereo mix was great, but by the time you skip that, and the a cappella versions, and the completed backing track versions - there’s hardly any actual sessions left. I don’t really hear it as session tapes, especially knowing what the sessions were really like - given that they were previously bootlegged almost in their entirety. To add insult to injury, they released a 50th anniversary box set which was essentially the same thing but with an added CD of various live tracks - making it very expensive to complete your collection just to get the live disk - something to this day I have not done. In fact that one’s out of print on Amazon in the US, and they have one used copy for $299.00. (It also says it’s by Tom Petty, believe it or not). The original sessions box set is also out of print, and you can get one used copy for $99.99. I hope when I die, my relatives can get $300 each for all my box sets, rather than getting ripped off by a unscrupulous dealer, or worse yet, throwing them out like coasters. Agreed. I think they've exhausted this album enough to the point where the universal respect and acclaim this album has garnered has become a caricature of itself. Up until maybe the last 10 years or so you'd think that this album was the only thing that ever actually mattered that the band has done. They're really going to have to do something mind-blowingly special for the inevitable 60th anniversary release to warrant me purchasing it yet again. I'm glad however that the band's other albums are finally getting more attention and special treatment at least. |
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Post by radiokingdom on Mar 13, 2023 8:58:18 GMT -5
Agreed. I think they've exhausted this album enough to the point where the universal respect and acclaim this album has garnered has become a caricature of itself. Up until maybe the last 10 years or so you'd think that this album was the only thing that ever actually mattered that the band has done. They're really going to have to do something mind-blowingly special for the inevitable 60th anniversary release to warrant me purchasing it yet again. I'm glad however that the band's other albums are finally getting more attention and special treatment at least. When I first got heavily into the BBs, the intense Pet Sounds stuff was...well, overwhelming. When I got the 1992 box, I remember feeling confused that the other material was even included! I did get into it, slowly, but I had real trouble accepting a lot of the post-PS songs as "legit." Now I have a much bigger view of the BBs' work. And I still don't even know everything. I burned out on PS for a long time. When I started listening again recently to those tracks, I was really wowed. Agreed on the 60th anniversary set. Interactive vocal set so you can turn the vocal multitracks on or off at while while listening to the playback? |
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Post by Awesoman on Mar 14, 2023 8:05:12 GMT -5
Agreed. I think they've exhausted this album enough to the point where the universal respect and acclaim this album has garnered has become a caricature of itself. Up until maybe the last 10 years or so you'd think that this album was the only thing that ever actually mattered that the band has done. They're really going to have to do something mind-blowingly special for the inevitable 60th anniversary release to warrant me purchasing it yet again. I'm glad however that the band's other albums are finally getting more attention and special treatment at least. When I first got heavily into the BBs, the intense Pet Sounds stuff was...well, overwhelming. When I got the 1992 box, I remember feeling confused that the other material was even included! I did get into it, slowly, but I had real trouble accepting a lot of the post-PS songs as "legit." Now I have a much bigger view of the BBs' work. And I still don't even know everything. I burned out on PS for a long time. When I started listening again recently to those tracks, I was really wowed. Agreed on the 60th anniversary set. Interactive vocal set so you can turn the vocal multitracks on or off at while while listening to the playback? Oh yeah don't get me wrong; 𝑃𝑒𝑡 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 is a landmark album and deserves the acclaim it gets. It's also a fantastic vinyl experience. And while it definitely deserves to sit at the top, it's not the *only* noteworthy thing that the band has ever done. They've put out a handful of really fine albums including the more overlooked and underrated albums from the late 60's and early 70's. |
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Post by radiokingdom on Mar 14, 2023 13:19:06 GMT -5
Pesonally, @awesomman, I don't think Pet Sounds stands out as a listenable album quite as much as I did when I first got into the BBs. At that time, my thoughts were kind of colored by the then-current hype about Pet Sounds. Again, I love this album. But is it 100x the album that Wild Honey is? Or Today? Or Sunflower? I don't think so.
I guess what I mean to say is not that PS is not as good as I thought, but that a lot of their albums are a lot better than I assumed they were. Maybe everyone else on here already knew this and it was just my ignorance and sheep-like trotting after the opinions that were stated the loudest a couple decades ago...
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Post by Awesoman on Mar 15, 2023 6:16:20 GMT -5
Pesonally, @awesomman, I don't think Pet Sounds stands out as a listenable album quite as much as I did when I first got into the BBs. At that time, my thoughts were kind of colored by the then-current hype about Pet Sounds. Again, I love this album. But is it 100x the album that Wild Honey is? Or Today? Or Sunflower? I don't think so. I guess what I mean to say is not that PS is not as good as I thought, but that a lot of their albums are a lot better than I assumed they were. Maybe everyone else on here already knew this and it was just my ignorance and sheep-like trotting after the opinions that were stated the loudest a couple decades ago... I don't know; I think this is a case that several things can be true at once. In terms of production, taking risks in songwriting, the emotional impact the album as a whole brings, and the overall impact and influence this album has had on popular music, 𝑃𝑒𝑡 𝑆𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 is tops. But on the other hand, even some of the band's staunchest of fans will tell you it's not their favorite album from them. 🤷♂️ Sometimes the best album isn't required to be your favorite. |
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Post by radiokingdom on Mar 20, 2023 19:36:47 GMT -5
As a lover of studio sessions, I appreciate very much the released material but, if I can raise a criticism, I prefer the full session takes rather than session highlights, that's why the Unsurpassed Masters series remain unbeatable, imo. 9. I’m with Vale. After being spoiled with 8 CDs of Unsurpassed Masters, I was let down by this skimpy 3CD set plus a 4th rehash of the mono album I already had 3 times over. I say skimpy because, yes the stereo mix was great, but by the time you skip that, and the a cappella versions, and the completed backing track versions - there’s hardly any actual sessions left. I don’t really hear it as session tapes, especially knowing what the sessions were really like - given that they were previously bootlegged almost in their entirety. Considering I had and listened to the Unsurpassed Masters PS discs many years ago...I'm thinking I'm not going to chase this set down right now. I didn't really do much with or understand the multiple takes, and I don't think my increased age has improved my ability to learn from or enjoy the instrumental takes themselves. I love the vox-only disc...but it just doesn't sound like there's so much to recommend this set to me. |
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Post by Awesoman on Mar 24, 2023 8:29:18 GMT -5
Sometime in the 90's perhaps some months before this original box set came out, I was in a record shop in Ohio when I happened along what appeared to be a bootleg of a promotional disc of said forthcoming box set. I honestly think this was a bootleg copy of an official promotional disc given to various radio stations at the time as the packaging clearly wasn't from Capitol Records.
It contained both the official mono and stereo mixes of the album along with just a couple of bonus tracks that would also find their way onto the box set. The packaging was rather amateurish with a bewildering tag stating the album was mixed in "truophonic" sound (unless I'm misremembering). But in any case the mixes were legit and it was kind of cool to have this well before the official thing came out. And dare I state that it was the stereo mix that really opened me up to appreciating the album as I was never much of a big mono guy.
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childisfather
Grommet
Posts: 23
Likes: 18
Favorite Album: Pet Sounds
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Post by childisfather on Mar 27, 2023 15:28:06 GMT -5
I’m with Vale. After being spoiled with 8 CDs of Unsurpassed Masters, I was let down by this skimpy 3CD set plus a 4th rehash of the mono album I already had 3 times over. I say skimpy because, yes the stereo mix was great, but by the time you skip that, and the a cappella versions, and the completed backing track versions - there’s hardly any actual sessions left. I don’t really hear it as session tapes, especially knowing what the sessions were really like - given that they were previously bootlegged almost in their entirety. Considering I had and listened to the Unsurpassed Masters PS discs many years ago...I'm thinking I'm not going to chase this set down right now. I didn't really do much with or understand the multiple takes, and I don't think my increased age has improved my ability to learn from or enjoy the instrumental takes themselves. I love the vox-only disc...but it just doesn't sound like there's so much to recommend this set to me. Yes I'd definitely say it's worth it if you get it for a good deal, but apart from that there is very little for completists apart from it being an official box set. I'm particularly fascinated with the alternate mixes, especially WIBN, since some you can't find on the bootlegs. |
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Post by jk on Mar 28, 2023 3:57:32 GMT -5
I used to swear by this box set (I'm one of the 10/10 brigade) but now the mono+stereo+"Ego" twofer is all I need in the Pet Sounds department (the stereo take serving merely as an X-ray view into the definitive mono version).
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