Sloop John B.

THE BEACH BOYS Released Their Masterpiece LP ‘PET SOUNDS’ Today 60 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

Significant longplayers from yesteryear

16 May 2026

Surf pop icons THE BEACH BOYS released their masterpiece album PET SOUNDS (their only one to my ears) today, 60 years ago, on 16 May 1966. It was their 11th longplayer.

Seeking to expand Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound technique and surpass The Beatles’ Rubber Soul LP, Brian Wilson‘s (1942-2025) orchestrations blended pop, jazz, exotica, classical, and avant-garde elements, combining rock instrumentation with layered vocal harmonies, found sounds, and instruments not normally associated with rock.

It was his album and no one else’s. Also, the first one with several sessions
musicians, on the other hand, the harmonies were pure Beach Boys.

Heralding popular music’s recognition as an art form, Wilson’s accomplishments as
a producer and composer helped initiate an era of unprecedented creative autonomy
for label-signed acts. He contributed to the development of many music genres and movements.

It peaked at #10 in the US, and #2 in the UK.

AllMusic wrote in retrospect: “Massively influential upon its release (although it was
a relatively low seller compared to their previous LPs), it immediately vaulted the band
into the top level of rock innovators among the intelligentsia, especially in Britain,
where it was a much bigger hit”.

TUTV: Timeless pop music, lousy album cover.

SINGLES

ALBUM


.
Instagram – All Albums

THE BEACH BOYS Released Their Fabulous Hit ‘SLOOP JOHN B’ Today 60 Years Ago

Posted on by JL

20 March 2026

Californian surf-pop icons THE BEACH BOYS released one of their
top drawer hit singles with SLOOP JOHN B today 60 years ago.

It peaked at #2 in the UK, at #3 in the US.
Topped the charts in New Zealand, South Africa
and several European countries.

The song is a cover of a Bahamian folk tune from
Nassau, published in 1916 as “The John B. Sails”.

It was also covered by other artists besides The Beach Boys.

Al Jardine (guitarist/co-vocalist and songwriter) said years ago: “Brian was at the piano.
I sat down and showed him the chord pattern for ‘Sloop John B.’ He wasn’t into folk music. But
I didn’t give up. I figured if I gave it to him in the right light, he might end up believing in it.
So I modified the chord changes so it would be a little more interesting.

I put some minor changes in there, and it stretched out the possibilities from a vocal point
of view. The very next day, I got a phone call to come down to the studio. Brian played the song
for me, and I was blown away. The time to complete the track took him less than 24 hours.”

Short Bio – Discography

MOJO (British Music Monthly) – New Issue With Two Different Covers: BRIAN WILSON And SUEDE

Posted on by JL

20 July 2025

This month, MOJO has 2 different cover stars.

Brian Wilson: the Beach Boys maestro mourned and
celebrated in a lavish and insight-strewn package.

Suede: the resurrection of Britain’s ’90s pop heroes explored in depth,
with a free CD of fascinating Suede rarities to delight superfans and
engage the Suede-curious.

New single

Also in the issue: Sly Stone, CMAT, Paul Weller, John Fogerty; Jeff Tweedy;
Paul Jones; Mickey Newbury; Martin Stephenson; The Fugs; Radiohead
and more.

You can purchase a copy and let it be sent to your home address. Info here.