On June 10th, The Beach Boys will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their seminal album Pet Sounds with a brand new reissue. Coming from Universal Music, the massive four-CD/Blu-ray collectors package will contain the record remastered in mono and stereo, instrumental and 5.1 surround mixes, live recordings, and never before released outtakes and alternative mixes. Today, they’ve shared one such rare mix: a previously unheard version of “I Know There’s an Answer”.
(Watch: Masterpiece Reviews: “The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds”)
The classic and internally controversial ode to finding yourself (perhaps with the aid of LSD) has always been one of the trippier entries in the Beach Boys’ extensive catalog, and this early take only highlights that. The playful piano sits much higher in the mix, it’s carnival trot clearer than ever over the groaning horns. Lyrically, there’s not the change one heard between the original “Hang on to Your Ego” version shared on the 1990 reissue and the final Pet Sounds take, but there are vocal differences. A playful purr is present after the first line, and the group’s trademark harmonies extend through the background of the chorus.
This early mix provides an interesting glimpse at how the landmark music on this 1966 classic album came to be, while demonstrating how big a change a few little tweaks can make. Take a listen above, and find the complete Pet Sounds (50th Anniverasary Edition) tracklist below. Pre-orders are going on here.
CD 1: Pet Sounds (Mono)
01. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
02. You Still Believe In Me
03. That’s Not Me
04. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
05. I’m Waiting For The Day
06. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
07. Sloop John B
08. God Only Knows
09. I Know There’s An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline No
Pet Sounds (Stereo)
14. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
15. You Still Believe In Me
16. That’s Not Me
17. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
18. I’m Waiting For The Day
19. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
20. Sloop John B
21. God Only Knows
22. I Know There’s An Answer
23. Here Today
24. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
25. Pet Sounds
26. Caroline No
Additional Material
27. Caroline No (Promotional Spot #2)
28. Don’t Talk. . . (Unused Background Vocals)
29. Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)
30. Caroline No (Promotional Spot #1)
CD 2: The Pet Sounds Sessions
01. Sloop John B (Highlights from Tracking Date)
02. Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track)
03. Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)
04. Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track)
05. Pet Sounds (Highlights from Tracking Date)
06. Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub)
07. Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Highlights from Tracking Date)
08. Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub)
09. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)
10. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track)
11. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track with Background Vocals)
12. You Still Believe In Me (Intro – Session)
13. You Still Believe In Me (Intro – Master Take)
14. You Still Believe In Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
15. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track)
16. Caroline No (Highlights from Tracking Date)
17. Caroline No (Stereo Backing Track)
18. Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights from Tracking Date)
19. Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)
20. I Know There’s An Answer (Vocal Session) [previously unreleased]
21. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian’s Instrumental Demo)
22. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)
23. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)
24. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Highlights from Tracking Date)
25. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)
26. That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
27. That’s Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)
CD 3: The Pet Sounds Sessions (continued)
01. Good Vibrations (Highlights from First Tracking Date)
02. Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
03. I’m Waiting For The Day (Highlights from Tracking Date)
04. I’m Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)
05. God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)
06. God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)
07. Here Today (Highlights from Tracking Date)
08. Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)
Alternate Versions
09. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mono Alternate Mix 1)
10. You Still Believe In Me (Mono Alternate Mix)
11. I’m Waiting For The Day (Mono Alternate Mix, Mike sings lead)
12. Sloop John B (Mono Alternate Mix, Carl sings first verse)
13. God Only Knows (Mono Alternate Mix, with sax solo)
14. I Know There’s An Answer (Alternate Mix) [previously unreleased]
15. Here Today (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead)
16. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Mono Alternate Mix)
17. Banana & Louie
18. Caroline No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix)
19. Dog Barking Session
20. God Only Knows (With A Cappella Tag)
21. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mono Alternate Mix 2)
22. Sloop John B (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead throughout)
23. God Only Knows (Mono Alternate Mix, Brian sings lead)
24. Caroline No (Original Speed, Mono Mix)
CD 4: Live Recordings
01. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
02. Sloop John B
03. God Only Knows
Michigan State University, October 22, 1966
04. Good Vibrations
05. God Only Knows
06. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Daughters of the American Revolution Constitution Hall, Washington DC, November 19, 1967
07. God Only Knows
Carnegie Hall, New York, November 23, 1972 (2nd Show)
08. God Only Knows
Jamaican World Music Festival, Montego Bay, Jamaica, November, 26, 1982
09. Sloop John B
Universal Studios, Universal City, California, May, 23, 1989
10. Caroline No
11. You Still Believe In Me
Paramount Theater, New York City, November 26, 1993
Stack-O-Vocals
12. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
13. You Still Believe In Me
14. That’s Not Me
15. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
16. I’m Waiting For The Day
17. Sloop John B
18. God Only Knows
19. I Know There’s An Answer
20. Here Today
21. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
22. Caroline No
Bonus Track
23. Good Vibrations (Master Track with Partial Vocal) (previously unreleased)
Blu-ray Pure Audio Disc
01. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
02. You Still Believe In Me
03. That’s Not Me
04. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
05. I’m Waiting For The Day
06. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
07. Sloop John B
08. God Only Knows
09. I Know There’s An Answer
10. Here Today
11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
12. Pet Sounds
13. Caroline No
Additional Material in 5.1 Surround and Stereo
14. Unreleased Backgrounds (Unused Intro for Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder))
15. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Session Highlights)
16. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Alternative Mix without Lead Vocal)
17. God Only Knows (Session Highlights)
18. God Only Knows (Master Track Mix with A Cappella Tag)
19. Summer Means New Love