The Pet Sounds Sessions
| The Pet Sounds Sessions | ||||
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| Box set by The Beach Boys | ||||
| Released | November 4, 1997 | |||
| Recorded | July 1965–April 1966 | |||
| Length | 256:20 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Producer | Brian Wilson (original recordings) | |||
| Compiler | David Leaf, Mark Linett, Brian Wilson | |||
| The Beach Boys chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Pet Sounds Sessions | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Austin Chronicle | |
| The Guardian | |
| MusicHound | 4/5 |
| Q | |
| Wall of Sound | 70/100 |
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.
The box set was nominated for "Best Historical Album" at the Grammy Awards of 1999. In 2011, it was followed by The Smile Sessions, a similar compilation devoted to the recording of the Beach Boys' unfinished Smile project.
Original producer Brian Wilson writes in the liner notes to The Pet Sounds Sessions: "It was a heart and soul album; I worked very, very hard on it. The thing is, I’m glad we’re doing this new Pet Sounds reissue because the Pet Sounds box set is going to be very revealing to the public as to just what sort of music makers we really are. ... When we were making Pet Sounds we were absolutely positive we were cutting a milestone record. Carl [Wilson] and I knew for sure we were into something heavier than hell, and we just went with it."
Compiler David Leaf explains the purpose of the new compilation: "The first three CDs of this box set are designed to give you a sense of how Brian and the studio musicians cut the tracks [from Pet Sounds] and also to give you a unique glimpse into the harmonic magic of the Beach Boys singing." He adds: "It is not hyperbole to say that for every pop and rock group that followed in the Beach Boys wake, Pet Sounds became an audio benchmark. ... Since that time, nothing has really changed."
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