New Wax Wednesday

Wouldn’t it be nice if The Beach Boys were to somehow celebrate the upcoming 60th anniversary of one of the most important album releases of the 20th century, May 1966’s Pet Sounds? Oh, wait — they will be doing just that with a few different analog-oriented, vinyl-centric releases to come via Capitol/UMe on May 15, 2026.

Here’s what to expect. First up, the 2LP Vinylphyle edition of Pet Sounds is being pressed at RTI on 180g black vinyl, and it was cut from the original mono and stereo analog tapes by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound. The stereo mix, originally overseen by Brian Wilson and produced and engineered by Mark Linett in 1996 for the November 1997-released The Pet Sounds Sessions 4CD box set on Capitol, is included alongside the original mono album cut from the original 1966 assembled master reel — as in, you get the mono version on LP1, and the stereo mix on LP2.

The Vinylphyle Pet Sounds release will have an initial pressing of 3,000 copies, and it features a gatefold tip-on jacket and a four-panel insert with new liner notes by longtime Beach Boys historian Howie Edelson.

Next up, Interscope/Capitol’s Definitive Sound Series (DSS) edition presents Pet Sounds in its original mono configuration using the One Step process, which — as we’ve discussed in each of our previous, recent reviews of other DSS releases — eliminates multiple steps in the plating process. In this case, this One-Stepper is said to deliver the recording’s intricate arrangements and vocal harmonies with “remarkable clarity.” Pressed at RTI on Neotech VR900 D2 180g vinyl, the AAA DSS mono version of Pet Sounds was cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from rarely used circa-1972 original analog tapes.

Limited to 6,000 individually numbered copies, the DSS 180g 1LP Pet Sounds draws from the early-1970s Brother Records pressing, long revered for its sound quality. Each copy of this DSS release includes a certificate of authenticity documenting the mastering, plating, and pressing process.

In addition to those two original-tracklisting rerelease offerings, The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights 2LP set compiles additional, select standout material from the aforementioned 1997 The Pet Sounds Sessions box set, which documented the core album’s legendary 1965-66 recording sessions.

This new collection features 25 alternate takes, a cappella versions, and tracking sessions that are all making their authorized vinyl debuts. Available in multiple 2LP configurations — including standard black vinyl and a limited-edition splatter color variant (the latter of which is seen above) — each edition includes liner notes by Howie Edelson, along with a detailed “sessionography.” (Ah, now there’s a word after my own archivalistic-compiler’s heart!)

All these Pet Sounds reissues are available at The Beach Boys’ official site store here, including the 2LP Vinylphyle edition (SRP: $54.98); Zoetrope 1LP ($37.98; seen above); The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights 2LP set on both white/green splatter vinyl ($49.98) and 2LP black vinyl ($37.98); and the 1LP DSS edition ($100). For a penny less at $99.99, the DSS edition can also be ordered from Music Direct here, and/or via the MD link graphic that appears ahead of the tracklisting section below. (Completists like yours truly can also seek out the 2CD version of the Highlights release for $19.98 at the band’s official site store.)

Ahead of all those physical releases, The Beach Boys have just dropped a three-track digital EP exploring their classic hit, “Sloop John B,” which includes a stunning a cappella version that isolates the vocal harmonies of Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston, along with an alternative take featuring Carl in place of Brian on lead. (The EP is capped off with the song’s stereo mix.) If you’ve never experienced these fascinating “Sloop John B” building blocks, check them out via their official YouTube clips now. First, here’s the “Carl Sings First Verse” version.

Next, here’s the “Stack-O-Vocals” option.

The Music of Pet Sounds unquestionably rates all the way up to the top of our ratings meter as a pure, unadulterated 11. Naturally, I can’t give a Sound rating to any of these Pet Sounds 60 offerings until I get the LPs in hand and in-ear, but previous editions have scored between 10 and 11 on our rigid scale, so we’re expecting quite good things from what’s to come, to say the least.

I had the absolute privilege of interviewing Brian Wilson a few times over the years, and here’s a taste of what he told me about his aspirations for Pet Sounds during our March 2015 phone interview: “I only have one good ear, so I only hear mono anyway. My goal is to try to make the listener know and feel what I sound like — and I know in my head, in my brain, how to do it. Mono was very important. I like what Phil Spector did in mono, and a lot of different artists like the Beatles. The Beatles inspired me. They didn’t influence me, but Rubber Soul inspired me to make a great album.” (Footnote 1)

There will also be some additional PS60 tie-ins. Commencing during the official anniversary week in May, The Beach Boys’ YouTube channel will air a (their words) “special listening experience” in collaboration with the San Diego Zoo, the location where the iconic Pet Sounds cover was famously photographed in 1966. Subscribe today to stay updated on all the festivities.

On the day of the Pet Sounds album’s actual 60th anniversary — Saturday, May 16 — fans and fitness enthusiasts are invited to Santa Monica, California, for the first-ever Beach Boys 5K & Wellness Day. The event will take place at the Third Street Promenade, and it will feature live music, fitness experiences, and a community 5K run celebrating the legacy of Pet Sounds. For more information on this event, go here.

Until mid-May rolls around, we’ll all just be waiting for the day to spin the wonders of Pet Sounds anew.

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Author bio: Mike Mettler is the editor of Analog Planet in addition to being the Sound Chaser columnist and contributing music editor to one of our other sister sites, Stereophile, in addition to being the regular Vinyl Icons column scribe (and occasional Opinion columnist) for Hi-Fi News and author of numerous box set liner notes. Plus, he’s quite partial to vintage 1967 Mustang fastbacks, but that’s yet another story for a different time and place.

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Footnote 1: For my tribute to Brian Wilson over on our sister site Stereophile, go here, for “Sound Chaser #1: Brian’s Songs,” which posted on September 4, 2025. (Wilson passed away at age 82 on June 11, 2025.)

THE BEACH BOYS
PET SOUNDS: DSS EDITION
180g 1LP (Capitol/UMe)

Side 1
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B

Side 2
1. God Only Knows
2. I Know There’s An Answer
3. Here Today
4. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
5. Pet Sounds
6. Caroline, No

THE BEACH BOYS
PET SOUNDS: VINYLPHYLE EDITION
180g 2LP (Capitol/UMe)

LP1, Side 1: Mono
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B

LP1, Side 2: Mono
1. God Only Knows
2. I Know There’s An Answer
3. Here Today
4. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
5. Pet Sounds
6. Caroline, No

LP2, Side 1: Stereo
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That’s Not Me
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I’m Waiting For The Day
6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
7. Sloop John B

LP2, Side 2: Stereo
1. God Only Knows
2. I Know There’s An Answer
3. Here Today
4. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
5. Pet Sounds
6. Caroline, No

THE BEACH BOYS
THE PET SOUNDS SESSIONS HIGHLIGHTS
2LP (Capitol/UMe)

LP1, Side 1
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Vocals Only)
2. You Still Believe In Me (Vocals Only)
3. I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)
4. Sloop John B. (Vocals Only)
5. God Only Knows (Vocals Only)
6. Here Today (Vocals Only)
7. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Vocals Only)

LP1, Side 2
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track and Backing Vocals)
2. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian Wilson’s Instrumental Demo)
3. I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead)
4. Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse)
5. God Only Knows (Sax Solo, Alternate Version)
6. Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)
7. Here Today (Alternate Version)

LP2, Side 3
1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)
2. Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)
3. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocal Snippet)
4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocals Only)
5. That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
6. Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)

LP2, Side 4
1. I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)*
2. Caroline, No (Stereo Mix, Original Speed)
3. God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)
4. Good Vibrations (Highlights from Tracking Date)
5. Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)

*Track is included on both LP1 and LP2