The Smiley Smile Message Board

OK, we know Mike Love purports to have come up with the album title for Pet Sounds...so how does that relate to the TRACK called Pet Sounds? Did he name that also? Didn't that have lyrics at one point, which were never used?

I guess I'm wondering how much of a feat it was to come up with that title if a song by that name already existed.

Sorry if this has already been addressed elsewhere, but I sure haven't read about it.

Thanks!

I read an interview with Brian where he said that Pet Sounds was P.S. for Phil Spector.
I think the "pet" in the title also refers to the type of pet that you go steady with and not the type you buy at the pet store.

The track "Pet Sounds" was formerly entitled "Run James Run". This was written as a James Bond type movie track. No lyrics were ever written that I am aware of. I'm sure Brian just renamed it for the album after Mike came up with the album title.

I have heard of this interview, but never actually read it. Where can it be found? Mike says the title refers to Brian's hearing; hearing sounds a certain way. Also, hearing the music and harmonies and such in his head.

OK, I thought the meaning of the title was that "pet" was synonymous with "favorite." As in, "these are my pet sounds."

But I like your theories too.

And yes, I forgot about Run James Run. Maybe it was Let's Go Away for A While that had the unreleased lyrics?

Pet Sounds.... was that the album where they all took acid at the zoo? goats farting in Al's face and stuff?

Yes, you are correct. LGAFA did have lyrics written for it, but I don't think vocals were ever recorded.

I always thought it woulda been cool if Quincy Jones could have stuck "Pet Sounds" somewhere in the first Austin Powers movie.  Afterall, he used (and abused, IMO) the Wondermints in there.   

Have they ever been released?

I've heard of "Let's Go Away for Awhile" originally having vocals but not "PS".  Could there be a mix up there?

I think you mispelled ghosts

I read that Mike Love hated what Brian played him as demos and at one point said "Who's gonna hear this sh*t? The ears of a dog?" And Brian took that phrase and twisted it into the 'Pet Sounds' title.

^ yeah, i read that in the Rolling Stone Top 500 albums article. There are way too many stories for this album title methinks.

I mostly believe the story that says the album was named because this sound was their 'pet sound' - as this is the story most circulated by the band members.

Brian said in an interview in 1966 that Mike came up with the title of the album.

A variation on the classic chicken & egg, which came first, the album cover or the album title?

I think the title came first and then there was the idea to photograph the cover at a petting zoo.

When i first heard the album, I had no idea about the 'Run James Run' history but my first thought on hearing the track 'Pet Sounds' was....."Heck, that could have gone into a James Bond film" So Brian clearly got the vibe right even if it was never selected.

"The Old Man And The Baby", or "Let's Go Away For Awhile (And Then We'll Have World Peace)". Which one had lyrics, you think?