The music and image of the Beach Boys prior to recording their most noted album Pet Sounds was focused on surfing and life in California. They focus on the lighter side of things. None this however would be possible without the help and contributions of band mate Brian Wilson. He was not only a band mate to member brothers Denis and Carl Wilson along with cousin Mike Love and friend Alan Jardine, he was also their principal arranger, producer and writer. With his talents they arguably became the sound of the 1960’s. When writing Pet Sounds, Brian influenced to record by came after his climatic breakdown aboard and plane that eventually lead him to resign from touring and focus on studio work. There he was fueled to him and an advertising agent named Tony Asher to a cohesive album about the a love “starting in innocence” starting with “Wouldn’t it be Nice” all the way to “Caroline No” which is a more desolate song about a man who had a love he now longer knows because she has changed from so much. Two songs that I can say stick out for me are I’m waiting for the day and Let’s go away for a way for a while. I’m waiting for the day was song back in that time was a song in that time, like everything on the album, heard before. Its subject matter wasn’t a topic discussed. Even with that said it had an upbeatness about that contracted from parts in the song that conveyed concerned emotion about a girl done wrong in a previous relationship. In Let’s go a away for a while the thing that I like about it is just instrumental. They music is thus able to express the let’s get away emotion of the song. I also like how the drum parts in the beginning song because it gives the feeling of someone knocking on a door so the person (listen) can go on this get away with the song.
I completely agree with you Taylor, without Brian Wilson The Beach Boys would have never been successful. His dedication and drive was unheard of among most upcoming musicians of that day. He worked long hours and never lacked creativity. With everything that he did, he always attempted to break the barriers of the sound that was out. I also think that it was a brilliant decision for him to stop touring. It gave him more time to dedicate to his writing and producing craft. I feel that when we give ourselves too much to do we sometimes hinder the greatness that is on the inside of us. And touring around America would have come in the way of the amazing songs that he wrote.
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