10 Genuine Reactions That Made Songs Better

Talking about Pet Sounds, the recording of The Beach Boys' classic album was a long and painstaking affair. The whole process took its toll on songwriter, and composer, Brian Wilson. In his quest for perfection he would constantly re-record the vocals and instruments. A little bit of Wilson's direction in the studio can be heard on this song.

On the original mono release numerous voices can be heard during the instrumental break. At first there is a conversation between two voices talking about cameras. Then Brian Wilson is heard saying “Top, please”. This order was him instructing an engineer to rewind the tape to the beginning, so the band could attempt another take on the vocals. None of this was meant to be on the final recording, but it gives a little insight into what the mood was like in the studio at the time.

For the stereo remix, released in 1996, Brian Wilson would have the voices erased from the track. Luckily, the original mono mix is still available, and listeners can compare whether the track sounds better with or without the background noise.