Beach Boys Sessionography Project

[WillJC]

As some of you may already know, the research team I'm part of including John Brode, Joshilyn Hoisington, and Craig Slowinski have been developing a website to start disseminating our work and correct outdated information. Ahead of the 60th anniversary, we're beginning with a series of making-of essays and recording breakdowns for Pet Sounds and its outtakes, working through one song at a time. Below the essay section is a lump of information laying out each step of the production chronology, the tracks on tape, and all of the known session dates.

Wouldn't It Be Nice has just been published, You Still Believe in Me is close to being done, and That's Not Me is quite far along. After the rest, the plan is to flesh out the site and start working through other time periods. Joshilyn and John (I helped, slightly) are also developing a complete, note-accurate Pet Sounds arrangement scoring project that'll start to be distributed in the coming days. This is a real labour of love for us, cramming in every exhaustive detail that we could ever imagine wanting to know ourselves, and I'm very excited about finally getting something substantial out there after working together for the past five years. I hope it's an enjoyable read, if you're interested in this sort of thing, and I'll keep coming back with updates as they're posted to the site.

Homepage: beachboyssessions.com/

Wouldn't It Be Nice: beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/wouldnt-it-be-nice/

(A huge thank you to Austin Heller, who offered to design the site and has been running around making adjustments like a madman for the past few days to get this ready to go.)

[Julia]

Absolutely insane level of detail. This is a very sorely needed resource especially when it comes to SMiLE. I look forward to your progress!

[BJL]

So excited about this project!!!!

[JK]

A milestone in Beach Boys scholarship, whose future is clearly in very good hands!

[All Summer Long]

I love this!!  Is there any way that you all could consider adding tabs for the guitar and bass parts for future uploads of the sheet music to the official sites?

Thanks!!

P. S. A small preamble explaining how you all got involved in this project could be helpful and interesting as well, if you'd ever consider adding that.  I know c-man and Joshilyn have been working on these things for years, but less (I think) is known about how the rest of you worked your way into such an awesome and lucky group.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Amazing. Thank you!!

[WillJC]

I love this!!  Is there any way that you all could consider adding tabs for the guitar and bass parts for future uploads of the sheet music to the official sites?

Thanks!!

P. S. A small preamble explaining how you all got involved in this project could be helpful and interesting as well, if you'd ever consider adding that.  I know c-man and Joshilyn have been working on these things for years, but less (I think) is known about how the rest of you worked your way into such an awesome and lucky group.

There'll be About and Glossary pages added to the site in time along with other things, we're just starting to get it rolling small. I think Joshilyn is considering a way to make midi versions of the scores available but probably wouldn't do guitar or bass tabs.

[WillJC]

You Still Believe in Me: https://beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/you-still-believe-in-me/

That's Not Me: https://beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/thats-not-me/

[WillJC]

Don't Talk (Put Your Browser on Our Website): https://beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/dont-talk-put-your-head-on-my-shoulder/

[BJL]

Don't Talk (Put Your Browser on Our Website): https://beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/dont-talk-put-your-head-on-my-shoulder/

There's something so deeply satisfying about reading these essays, they're really so beautifully done!

What stood out to most, reading this, and thinking about the Smile conversations we've all been having, is just how much the consummate professional Brian was. There's nothing childlike or savant about these sessions, just a person in a clearly defined professional field working hard to stand at the top of that profession.

[WillJC]

Don't Talk (Put Your Browser on Our Website): https://beachboyssessions.com/pet-sounds/dont-talk-put-your-head-on-my-shoulder/

There's something so deeply satisfying about reading these essays, they're really so beautifully done!

What stood out to most, reading this, and thinking about the Smile conversations we've all been having, is just how much the consummate professional Brian was. There's nothing childlike or savant about these sessions, just a person in a clearly defined professional field working hard to stand at the top of that profession.

Thank you! And absolutely, he was a diligent, thoughtful guy who just happened to internalise a lot of his process. Usually, there's a logical through line to every musical decision he made, and part of the joy of pulling apart his work so closely is to understand why and how each of those cogs turned.