Brian Wilson's orchestral pop masterpiece, a fragile, intricate song-cycle of longing that reshaped what a pop album could be. Endlessly influential, not least on the Beatles. One of the greatest records ever made. Released in 1966, it's an early landmark for The Beach Boys.
On vinyl: Original pressings are collector's territory now, so most listeners reach for a well-reviewed reissue.
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- God Only Knows on Best Songs of the 1960s, Best 1960s Rock Songs
We don't reproduce full tracklists — only the songs from this record we've featured in our best-of lists.
More from The Beach Boys — where to go next
If you have Pet Sounds, these are the The Beach Boys records worth reaching for next.
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1
Pet Sounds1966 · you're viewing this oneStart here
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2
Sunflower1970 · RockDeep cut
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3
Surf's Up1971 · RockDeep cut