CLASSIC TUNES
A half-century ago Monday, two of the most beloved rock albums of all time were released.
WHO
The Beach Boys were the biggest California-style surfingand-car music act in the U.S., famous for hits like “Surfin’ U.S.A.” “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around” and “California Girls.” The leader, songwriter and producer — Brian Wilson — was pushing the boundaries of mainstream pop music with inventive melodies and vocal arrangements.
RECORDED
While the Beach Boys toured the world, Wilson stayed at home to work on new songs, telling his wife he wanted to make the greatest rock album ever made. He called in an advertising writer who had impressed him at a party — Tony Asher — to help flesh out lyrics, which Wilson often struggled with. “Sloop John B.” was recorded in 1965, but most of the work on “Pet Sounds” was done in late 1965 through April 1966. Like all of Wilson’s work at the time, “Pet Sounds” was released in mono: Wilson is deaf in his right ear.
WHO IS ON IT
Wilson used an enormous array of Los Angeles-based session musicians to record the backing tracks. Glen Campbell — who had been offered and declined a job as a full-time touring Beach Boy — played 12-string guitar. Carol Kaye (bass) and Hal Blaine (drums) were regulars at Wilson’s sessions. Paul Tanner — a former member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra who created an electronic instrument that produced a weird, otherworldly sound — was brought in to play a solo on “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times.”
SINGLES
Caroline, No (Credited only to Brian Wilson) Released: March 7, 1966 Peaked: No. 32 Sloop John B Released: March 21, 1966 Peaked: No. 3 Wouldn’t It Be Nice /God Only Knows Released: July 18, 1966 Peaked: No. 8
COVER ART
The band feeds goats in the children’s petting section at the San Diego Zoo. The photographer was George Jerman, who was also a respected jazz record produer. Absent was Bruce Johnston, who had been a Beach Boy for more than a year but whose contractural obligations meant he couldn’t appear on the front cover.
HOW IT SOLD
“Pet Sounds” peaked at No. 10 on Billboard’s album chart — a bit lower than most Beach Boys albums. Billboard named it the 43rd best-selling album of 1966 but — for reasons lost to time — Capitol Records never submitted the necessary paperwork for it to be certified gold, which should have happened in 1967. It was officially granted both gold and platinum status in 2000.
COVER ART
Photographer Jerry Schatzberg shot Dylan in what was, at the time, the meat-packing district of New York. Several of Schatzberg’s pictures were sharp and in focus, but Dylan preferred this one. Dylan would wear this same coat on the cover of his next two albums. Schatzberg went on to direct the movies “The Seduction of Joe Tynan” and “Honeysuckle Rose.”
HOW IT SOLD
“Blonde on Blonde” reached No. 9 in Billboard’s album charts and was certified gold in August 1967. Billboard named it the No. 73 highestselling album of 1966
WHO
Bob Dylan was a singer and songwriter who leaped to fame in the 1960s with protest-friendly folk songs like “Blowin’ in the Wind” and “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” In 1965, Dylan broke out of the folk music mold and entered mainstream pop with electric guitar compositions like “Don’t Look Back,” “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” “Mr. Tambourine Man” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”
RECORDED
While Dylan and his stage band found live audiences receptive — for the most part — to his change of musical style, he reportedly found the transition difficult in the recording studio. In frustration, Dylan began recording in Nashville and then brought in trusted sidemen Robbie Robertson and Al Kooper to complete a new album. The bulk of “Blonde on Blonde” was recorded in February and March 1966. While putting the final touches in April, it became clear to Dylan that he had more material than would fit on a conventional album. Therefore, “Blonde on Blonde” became one of rock music’s first double-disc sets.
WHO IS ON IT
Kooper had impressed Dylan with his organ playing the year before on “Like a Rolling Stone.” The strange part: Kooper had never played organ before: he was a guitarist who made up the song’s distinctive riff on the spot. Dylan kept Kooper on as sort of a musical director. In addition, Dylan used legendary country musicians Charlie McCoy on guitar and harmonica and Kenny Buttrey on drums. Another session guitarist, Joe South, would go on to write “Games People Play” and “Rose Garden.”
SINGLES
One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later) Released: Feb. 14, 1966 Peaked: No. 119 Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 Released: April 1966 Peaked: No. 2 I Want You Released: June 10, 1966 Peaked: No. 20 Just Like a Woman Released: August 1966 Peaked: No. 33 LeopardSkin PillBox Hat Released: March 1967 Peaked: No. 81