20 Exquisitely-Produced Songs That MUST Be Played Loud As Hell
16. The Beach Boys "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZBKFoeDKJo Is it possible to be upset while listening to "Wouldn't It Be Nice"? By all accounts, it shouldn't be. This lively track, the commencement to the Beach Boys' ambitious 1967 album "Pet Sounds," is the epitome of everything that made the band great: the gorgeous vocal harmonies, the sunny melodies, the lush musical arrangements, all tied together by Brian Wilson's foot-tapping production. In fact, it was the production on "Pet Sounds" that inspired the Beatles to go for broke and on "Sgt. Pepper." Music pundits will debate until the end of time on which album is better, but "Sgt. Pepper" certainly has no song as cheerfully uplifting as "Wouldn't It Be Nice." Whenever this song comes on, be it at a wedding or on a boozy boat cruise, there's little choice but to turn up the volume and sing along.
Craig is a Chicago-based freelance writer who like to talk incessantly about music on AbsolutePunk.net. He also does writing for marketing companies to "pay the bills," but his true passion lies with the pop culture sphere.