The Beach Boys formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961 — the Wilson brothers, cousin Mike Love, and Al Jardine — and grew from surf hits into one of the most influential acts in popular music under Brian Wilson's direction. Pet Sounds (1966) is where nearly everyone starts, and for good reason. Browse The Beach Boys vinyl, CDs, and reissues at Wax Trax Records.
The Beach Boys formed in Hawthorne, California in 1961. The original lineup centered on the three Wilson brothers - Brian (1942-2025), Dennis (1944-1983), and Carl (1946-1998) - alongside their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, with David Marks an early member. Brian Wilson emerged as the band's principal songwriter, arranger, and producer, and the group became one of the defining American bands of the 1960s. Carl Wilson died of cancer in 1998, Dennis Wilson drowned in 1983, and Brian Wilson died in 2025.
The Beach Boys are renowned for their intricate vocal harmonies and, in their mature period, for Brian Wilson's ambitious studio production. Their early surf rock and pop gave way to sophisticated, emotionally complex work that drew on Phil Spector's Wall of Sound and pushed the boundaries of pop arrangement. Pet Sounds is widely cited as one of the most influential albums in popular music history.
Pet Sounds has been issued in mono and stereo, in box sets, and in numerous anniversary and audiophile editions. The long-unfinished Smile project was released in reconstructed form as Brian Wilson Presents Smile (2004) and as The Smile Sessions (2011). Original Capitol mono pressings command collector interest.
Listeners new to The Beach Boys almost always start with Pet Sounds (1966). For related listening, see and .
