Mark L. says the best MONO version is the 40th Anniversary CD+DVD combo. I don't have it to offer up an opinion.

I've read that too.  I have to kindly disagree with him.  I believe I have read that the 40th Anniversary CD uses the 1988 copy he had worked on in lieu of the original CD release.  I has, in my opinion, entirely too much use of no-noise and uses the same re-mixed intro's spliced onto specific songs (WIBN and GOK, for sure).

His minimalist approach to the 2001 two-fer MONO and the DVD-A 24/96 PCM MONO are where it's at.

My personal feelings:

DCC Gold is best.

Greenline Japan second.

The DVD-A was too "in my face".

p.s. I'm not a Hoffmanite. I just think he did a really nice job with this one.

Fair enough, I still own mine so that's saying something I guess.

My goal here is to try and gauge opinions regarding what you feel to be the best sounding MONO version of "Pet Sounds" on cd.  It seemed only natural that this board have a discussion about this topic because of the stature the album holds and the fact that there are SO MANY cd releases of this single Beach Boys title, especially in the compact disc era.

I have been a member of the SH forum for nearly 6 years and not too long ago did a similar thread over there.  The sentiment there is that the Hoffman mastered discs are the end all/be all.  And it's hard to argue otherwise (in public) on that message board. 

Part of my reason for wanting to start this thread is because I recently purchased the DVD-A of "Pet Sounds", released in 2003.  To my ears, the 24/96 PCM mono is the best the album has ever sounded.  The most natural, flat, transfer I could hope for.  I have dithered the 24 bit files to 16 bit for cd burning purposes (for the car) and it sounds so natural.  The next closest I would have to say is the 2001 two-fer. 

There has long been a lot of information (and mis-information) about the mastering of "Pet Sounds" on cd and (hopefully) this thread will also bring some of that to light.  For example, there is a misconception on certain afore mentioned forums that all cd's of this album mastered by Mark Linett are no-noised to death and contain re-mixed song intro's.  Naturally, to someone wanting to have the closest thing to what it sounded like when Brian finished mixing in 1966, this would be disconcerting.

To the absolute best of my knowledge, the following cd's mastered by Linett contain the original, unaltered mono mix: (1997) Pet Sounds Sessions (Disc 4) , (2001) Capitol two-fer & (2003) 24/96 PCM from the DVD-A.  1) Tape his is ever present on all three releases, 2) There are definitely no re-mixed intro's present and this is illustrated in the afore mentioned tape hiss, no splices can be heard.

That said, both the 1990 Capitol release and the 2006 40th Anniversary release use the copy that Linett made in 1988, per his own liner notes.  There are definitely re-mixed intro's on at least 2, maybe 3 songs.  As well as quite of bit of No-Noise used.  These are not ideal, in my opinion, if you are seeking out the cleanest and best way to hear PS on cd.

The Hoffman discs have their own problems, in my opinion.  The 1993 DCC, while sounding very warm, does have a very low-end heavy sound that clearly (from what Linett and I believe BW himself have said) is not present on the master tape.  I have always understood that Hoffman mastered this disc with tube amps to warm up the sound.  Maybe that answers why it doesn't sound "natural" to my ears.  Not to mention that I have always noticed that the DCC disc has a slight lead in that should not be there on "Don't Talk".  Drives me crazy.  The 2009 AF disc has drop out issues going.  I've only heard the disc once, enough to know I didn't want to own it - ahem. 

Anyway, I'm kind of starting digress, I really can't wait to get into a good discussion about this.  I would like to learn as much I can about the masterings too, I'm sure I don't have 100% of my facts straight because they are pulled from multiple years of reading posts by people with built in biases.

It's a pipe dream I know, but I would really appreciate a 2nd U.S. Singles Collection going from 1965-1969.

Christ Jesus, you couldn't just leave this post over on Hoffman and be done with it?

I'll put it like this to you:  Sunflower and Surf's Up are both masterpieces.  If you don't get that, then it is probable you are listening with "dead ears, mate", as Russell Crowe would say.

Are you aware how many songs the group cut just from Sunflower just to narrow it down to what it was released as?  You're coming in here firing on a band that was operating nearly at the height of their powers, and saying you know better than them what songs should have appeared and whatnot.

Look I don't mean to be harsh, but it's supremely lazy to quote a couple of Wiki links and then post your own special little track line-up of whatever albums you just know you could have sequenced better than the band and their label.  No one is going to agree with your choices anyway, so why bother?

Yikes.   Posts like are why a lot people just lurk on message boards and never post.

[OUT OF CONTROL]

Quotes AND underlined AND bolded AND italicized?

You are "OUT OF CONTROL", BUD.

Don't let it affect you so badly.  Sorry, it's just my OCD coming through.

You guys have opened my eyes a little bit to the charms of Surf's Up.  Sorry for posting, didn't mean to start a contentious thread.

Bump

[Sunflower]

From Wikipedia:

"Sunflower"

Sunflower is the sixteenth studio album by American rock group The Beach Boys, their first on Reprise Records. The album achieved number 151 on the US albums chart during a four week stay, becoming the lowest charting Beach Boys album until 1978's M.I.U. Album equalled it. It reached #29 in the UK.
The album's critical reputation has grown since its original appearance. In 2003, the album was ranked number 380 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[1] Sunflower is now paired on CD with Surf's Up. In 2009, it was re-released on LP by Capitol Records.

"Surf's Up"

Surf's Up is the seventeenth studio album by The Beach Boys, released in 1971. The album was released that August to more public anticipation than the Beach Boys had had for several years. The album title is taken from the song with the same title written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks for the abandoned 1966–1967 Beach Boys Smile sessions.

Perhaps this isn't a popular point of view but I have long felt that both of these records are probably the Beach Boys best post-"Pet Sounds"/"SMiLE" output.  Unfortunately neither album is without fault.  There are songs that are, for lack of a better term, filler. 

However there is so much A+ material on both albums that its a shame they cannot be combined into one 12 or 13 song masterwork.  Think of it as a way to create the Beach Boys fabled "Landlocked" album and re-write history.  The general public basically ignored these albums, as many of you know, but by combining the top shelf material here, you have the chance to remedy that.  This is all hypothetical of course and just for fun, so treat it as such, please.

My re-worked "Sunflower"/"Surf's Up" would be entitled "Landlocked" and would unfold as follows:

1. Slip on Through
2. This Whole World
3. Long Promised Road
4. Add Some Music To Your Day
5. Disney Girls (1957)
6. Forever

--

1. Feel Flows
2. All I Wanna Do
3. Cool, Cool Water
4. A Day in the Life of a Tree
5. Til I Die
6. Surf's Up (1971)

I hate come off like I'm begging, but I'm kind of desperate to get a copy of this BBC program.  I have the one for Pink Floyd (produced in 2011) and would simply love to have one for Brian Wilson, too.  My 2 favorite artists ever.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dhg79

Anyone that would be willing to up it for me, I would be so very grateful.

Longtime lurker, first time poster, so forgive me if this has been covered before.

http://www.dreammoviecast.com/dream-movie-casting/brian-wilson-untitlled-biopic-casting

Posted at March 26, 2012 by Marty Mason 0 Comments Although the Brain Wilson biopic (by the independent River Road Entertainment production company) was announced last summer, The Drummer was first to cast their lead. As we recently reported, Beach Boy Dennis Wilson will be played by Aaron Eckhart.

This re-found interest in the group’s unique history and divergent personalities compels us to suggest our own ideas for who should be cast as Brian Wilson.

It’s been said that they will likely go the I’m Not There route, with “…Pohlad and Wells considering multiple actors to play Wilson at different stages in his life.” Multiple casting means more fun.

Though producers are dragging their feet, the internet is buzzing with suggestions coming from film buffs to music fans alike.  We enjoyed COS’s casting suggestion, so decided to showcase the physical similarities between actor/comedian Zach Galifianakis and musical genius Brian Wilson. Our pick for a younger Wilson would be Michael Angarano, from Gentlemen Broncos fame who’s resemblance is undeniable.

Below the fold are some imagined posters. Wouldn’t it be nice?

The casting choices mentioned here are interesting.  However, I thinkt he one that I find most compelling is Luke Wilson.  He would likely have to add/subtract weight for various periods of Brian's life but I think he is an A+ actor and could definitely pull off Brian's warmth and kindness.  Probably more than most Hollywood actors.