Pet Sounds, the eleventh studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys was initially met with a lukewarm critical and commercial response in the United States, peaking at number 10 in the Billboard 200, a significantly lower placement than the band’s preceding albums. In the United Kingdom, the album was hailed by its music press and was an immediate commercial success, peaking at number 2 in the UK Top 40 Albums Chart and remaining among the top ten positions for six months. Pet Sounds has subsequently gathered worldwide acclaim from critics and musicians alike, and is widely considered to be one of the most influential albums in music history.
God Only Knows” has become one of the most beloved in the band’s canon, famously praised by Paul McCartney as the greatest song ever written. Its classic status is even more remarkable considering that it all came together in less than an hour.
Brian Wilson always had a special place in his list of songs for “Let’s Go Away For a While,” labeling it “the most satisfying piece of music I have ever made.” But he also claims it’s missing a major component: lyrics.
