well, these here days I listen to 'Pet Sounds' more. A lot more. So, you'd think I'd pick 'Pet Sounds' That would be reasonable. Well, you're way ahead of me, I'm not reasonable.

'Sgt Pepper' for too many reasons to list.

It sounds stupid but I really think it changed what 'albums' were. (albums! that's what we called 'em kids!) Pet Sounds is a very fine record which I can almost constantly enjoy. Sgt Pepper is a yardstick for other albums, even to this day. (well, in certain circles)

It was made, very carefully, to be listened to from beginning to end. Now, even though maybe a lot of people don't listen to it that way, it really changed what record albums could be expected to do.
On a really good day, it can still make me go "wow!"

I'm a simple man.

Digger is correct about Pepper changing things... Even though the quality of the two albums is a different debate, the impact and influence of Pepper was off the chart compared to ANY album in perhaps any musical genre... It was a phenomenon in Western culture...

I just also happen to think it's a better sounding album as well...


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Legend has it (with some facts to back it up) that when Brian Wilson heard Sgt. Pepper he basically "lost it"... He listened to it for hours on end, day after day... He thought it was the greatest pop rock masterpiece ever created and he didn't feel he could top it,,, and he never did...

I don't want to come off as saying "Pet Sounds" is bad,, I think it's very good... It just ain't on the level of Sgt. Pepper in my opinion...


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I really don't think that it would have taken much by that point.

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Yeah, I here ya... That is why I used the word "legend"... Next to the Beatles and Pink Floyd, I have read and seen more about the Beach Boys than any other artist and I even met Brian Wilson once (a bad experience as he was in the Landy days at the time)... But, my point is, I have seen conflicting stories about Brian's breakdown... One thing for sure, he admits that Pepper "freaked him out"... He felt it was beyond his talent... I think he had the talent to create a piece as good as Pepper, but he just never did...


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The residuale effect of having his father telling how worthless he and his music was for Brian's whole life to that point. On top of which add the effects of his heavy drug use by that point.

"Pet Sounds" was not a great commercial success when it came out...I don't think it cracked the top ten. "Pepper" was, of course, a phenomenal commercial success. In Wilson's fragile mind he did consider that the Beatles had topped him artistically and commercially...but of course in the former area he was not the best judge, having been brow-beaten by Mike Love for years and slipping into real mental illness. Also, I want to point out that Wilson wrote,arranged and produced "Pet Sounds' entirely on his own in addition to singing most of the harmony and lead vocals...and booking the session players.

..not to mention selling his entire catalogue of songs for a measly $700,000 with the explanation that they were just "surf songs that wouldn't be worth anything in ten years."

I realize this is a totally subjective area, but if you put the songs/tracks on each album against each other one at a time there is just no comparison. I think the reason Pepper is winning has alot to do with the mystique of the Beatles and the historical significance of Pepper(which is undeniable) rather than the sheer quality of the songs. Hey, I'm a huge Beatles fan, but Pepper is not even my favorite Beatles album.

So, let's take this a step further and go into a deeper analysis between these two albums... First off, I feel each has only one clear masterpiece level song (God Only Knows and A Day in The Life)... At the next level, Pet Sounds has a few near masterpieces (Would'n't It Be Nice, Let's Go Away For Awhile, Caroline No)... I feel Pepper has a few as well (title track, Lucy, Lovely Rita)... After these, Pet Sounds has a few more very good songs (sloop john b, title track) while Pepper has a slew of very good songs left...

I won't include the Hang Onto Your Ego selection, because that was an outtake track (far better lyrically then the original in my opinion) although I like Frank Black's version better...

I have read some people bashing Good Morning Good Morning around the internet... I find it to be one of Ringo's greatest moments...

I also understand how some might not like Within You Without You.. I personally find it to be a gem... The Indian percussion instruments are so full and unique sounding (I find them every bit as heavy as a good hard rock song when at high volume... But, I think you need a hand on the volume control during that song because the singing portions are better suited for a lower volume in my opinion)... Overall, I really love that tune and it was in a perfect spot to lead of side two of the LP...

My bottom line is, there are just too many average songs on Pet Sounds, and Pepper seems to mix it up a bit more (in style)... I find Pepper more fun and more solid from beginning to end...


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