Original Mono program (tracks 1-13) repeats in Stereo on tracks 15-27.
Original Recordings Produced by Brian Wilson
Stereo Mixes Produced and Engineered by Mark Linett (at Your Place Or Mine Recording Studios, Glendale, CA, Jan - Feb 1996)
Under the Supervision of Brian Wilson
Bonus Track Mixed by Larry Walsh, Mark Linett at Capitol Mastering, Hollywood, CA, 1987.
Remastered by Joe Gastwirt at Oceanview Digital Mastering, Los Angeles, CA, 2000 using the HDCD process
Audio Supervision by Mark Linett
Liner Notes by David Leaf
Art Direction: Tommy Steele
Art Supervision: Sam Gay, Darren Wong
Photo Research: Brad Benedict
Sessionography: Russ Wapensky
Executive Producers: Paul Atkinson, Cheryl Pawelski
Although The Beach Boys made a handful of excellent singles in the 1960s, they never belonged to my favorite bands, probably because they were too much pop and not enough rock for me when I was a teenager. Nevertheless I agree with the consensus that Pet Sounds is some kind of a timeless masterpiece, as a whole possibly superior to each Beatles album. This may even be an unfair comparison when you look at the crack studio musicians involved in the making of Pet Sounds, all listed on the sessionography of this lush CD (HDCD) reissue, with the original mono version and the newly mixed (approved by Brian Wilson) stereo version of the album. The Beach Boys as a band may be an illusion (instrumental contributions by Dennis Wilson on drums and Carl Wilson on guitar are on just one track, by Brian Wilson on organ and piano respectively on only two tracks of Pet Sounds), and I doubt that all band members are on each vocal track, so in a way they are not preferable to The Monkees. Brian Wilson, however, who composed all the music, selected all instruments, made all arrangements, mixed all instrumental backing tracks, sang most of the lead vocals, taught his bandmates their vocal parts, mixed and produced the final product, is a true genius without doubt, at least he was it then, in 1966.
Quoting Sir George Martin, producer of The Beatles, from the booklet: "If there is one person that I have to select as a living genius of pop music, I would choose Brian Wilson."