Ok thanks. It's strange, there's a lot of references all across the web to Brian using a 545. Even the wikipedia article for Pet Sounds says he uses a 545, but cites The Pet Sounds Sessions liner notes where Chuck says he uses a 535!

Apparently Brian "famously" used a shure 545 for his vocals on Pet Sounds. I tried to find the source on this, and found the interview with Chuck Britz on the Pet Sounds Sessions liner notes, but he simply says Brian used a "5-35".

This can be seen here: http://albumlinernotes.com/Chuck_Britz.html

So my question is, is this interview the only evidence that Brian used a 545? Are there other sources or pictures? Because the 535 was another mic by shure that was discontinued in 1967, though it was omni-directional which means it wouldn't be "very directional" as Chuck states.

Or do the liner notes on this website have a misprint, and the actual printed word that came with the pet sounds sessions says he 5-45 rather than 5-35?

There is unfortunately not a lot written about the music itself. Only three that I know of:

* Add Some Music To Your Day : Analyzing and Enjoying the Music of the Beach Boys (1998)
* Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: the Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius (2007)
* Good Vibrations: Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys in Critical Perspective (2016)

The Pet Sounds 33 1/3 book is more like a generic biography, while the Smile book dissects BW's motivations and cultural stature circa 1966. Neither are musically focused.

Here is David Toop's Nov 2011 Smile essay: pt. 1 pt. 2

Thanks a lot my friend, this is exactly the kind of post I was hoping for. I knew about the 33 1/3 books but yeah, the blurbs seemed very much not about the music specifically. I will check out the books you've recommended for sure, thanks again.

Thanks, I'm checking this out now and it's very very good stuff! Thanks a lot. Here's a link for anyone interested: http://albumlinernotes.com/Pet_Sounds_Box_Set.html

Is there similar stuff for Smile? I'm also keen for other recommendations on Pet Sounds besides these liner notes if anyone else has any recommendations.

I mean more about the compositional aspects and recording/production techniques used and how they were revolutionary for their time. I'm not really interested in the more biographical side of things (Mike Love being a jerk and general inner conflict within the band about their new direction, Brian freaking out that a fire broke out in another building while recording the elements/everyone wearing fireman helmets etc etc, that kinda stuff). Though of course I expect these things would intercept in literature about these albums.

I really want to read a book or 2 (not short articles or listicles) about these albums from an artistic standpoint. Cases for what Brian was doing that elevated the work above his contemporaries, unique recording methods he used, how he started a movement of artists/bands being their own producers in the studio etc. These are facts that I commonly read about Brian Wilson but don't really know the specifics.

I know that many books must have been written at least about Pet Sounds given how famous and influential it was, but am hoping real fans on a Beach Boys forum might be able to help me towards the direction of what the best books are on the matter.

I was surprised when checking my last.fm the other day that TWGMTR is my 4th most played Beach Boys album behind Smile, Pet Sounds and Today!. It's hard for me to properly formulate an opinion on it because what I love on it I think is some of the best stuff they've ever done, specifically From There to Back Again, but I hardly ever listen to anything in-between the first 2 and last 3 tracks.

That Lucky Old Sun I have had a harder time getting into. Though I love the version of Can't Wait Too Long on here, probably more than any other version I've heard even though it's very brief.