Behind The Sounds: God Only Knows Part 1

A video detailing the creative process behind "God Only Knows" from The Beach Boys' 1966 Album "Pet Sounds".

[@stevenkirsner]

My cousin Alan Robinson was the French Horn player who played on the opening of this song!

[@prodaidyn]

your cousin is an icon for that

[@katielynneastoria]

cool indeed!

[@swisstrader]

Very cool!

[@Harriet-Jesamine]

That is definitely Outtasight! 👍

[@gerryschultz5974]

Alan and I were sweethearts at the time. He called me from the studio and asked me to bring him some old wooden organ pipes. He told me to look for the box of them in the closet and...hurry! I drove down to Hollywood and went in with the box. I don't think they used them that night, but I was awestruck. After a while I had to go home and to bed because I was a school teacher and had to get up early the next morning. My darling Alan introduced me to so many music greats our years together, of course, including his brother, Gayle Robinson, also a fantastic French horn player.

[@guitarguywill4157]

To think that Brian was just 23 at this point.. and Carl who sang the lead is just 19. Quite incredible.

[@totalmassretain6199]

One of the best songs ever written. Period.

[@StanKindly]

..and to think it didn't go straight to number 1. In fact the album didn't sell that well at the time in the US. It did great in England but there is a good chance that Brian didn't know it - labels back then generally didn't want the Artists to know overseas sales, for a variety of reasons.

[@BehindTheSounds]

@@StanKindly Pet Sounds had a 39 week run on the Billboard Top 100. During that time, it was in the Top 40 for 21 weeks and in the Top 20 for 12 weeks (Peaking at #10). This was in a year when Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass and soundtracks to Broadway Musicals were at the top of the charts and teen/youth oriented albums were not holding high chart positions for very long. It had actually reached gold record status by 1967 but the Beach Boys were in litigation with Capitol at that point and that was suppressed. Basically, looking at the chart positions, sales figures and taking everything in context: Pet Sounds sold fine. Part of the reason why it perhaps didn't sell as well in the U.S. as it could and should have was that Capitol A&R did not support the album and essentially sabotaged its release by releasing a Greatest Hits compilation only two months after the release of Pet Sounds: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_of_the_Beach_Boys

[@nedrobinson7490]

@@BehindTheSounds record label execs ruining the art. Lol What’s new? Thankfully, we don’t need those dickheads to release good music into the world anymore. That’s one place where society has certainly improved for the BETTER in the years since 1966

[@PeterBondeVillain]

Image the pressure of having all of these world-class musicians in the same room and having to instruct them all individually on how their parts went. To say Brian is a genius is putting it mildly!

[@jameshensel6778]

Despite Brian's amazing genius he still had room to listen to suggestions and without hesitation incorporate them into the song. To those he trusted, like the guys at Wrecking Crew, he listened and and took the advice without ego. Brian was just searching for perfection in his song.

[@philliesfan1971]

+Jim Hensel And the one gal.

[@k1j2f30]

I just can't imagine what it would be like to have this kind of music coming from your mind. So simple yet so complicated and detailed and having everything coming together in complete perfection without endless rehearsal. It must have been so difficult to try to get the musicians and singers, mere mortals, to play the music the way Brian heard it in his head. I think this is what Brian had to deal with endlessly in rehearsals. Also he had to listen to so many musicians and critics wanting to make changes they thought would make it better. That would drive anyone, especially a perfectionist like Brian, to tears and worse. He never acted like he was above anyone even the ones that put him down. I think he was much stronger than anyone gave him credit for. Brian Wilson had vision and musically, he was pure genius,. Just close your eyes and listen (preferably with headphones on and the volume cranked) to the full version of this song. Pure genius!

[@MrLikeke]

+k1j2f30 I often have full length movies in brilliant color with the rich tones of symphonic soundtracks running in my head. But to get them out is the hard part. So I learned to write well. People have said I should write books or scripts. But you know, even my best efforts are unsatisfactory in capturing what I intend. So I am resigned to keep them in my head rather than to be bastardized in the transcribing. To our great fortune Brian Wilson is a master in introducing his thoughts to the world.

[@Eeohippus]

I would literally sell my soul to have been a fly on the wall during all of these sessions. There is nothing more that I love than watching someone who really loves their craft and is really great at it. Brian sounds so alive and happy in these recordings and so in his eliment. I saw Brian in concert in October and he looked and sounded fabulous, but I'm still in love with this young, beautiful, talented California boy. Bless him...

[@simonlarson7230]

A kid genius, let loose in an LA studio with the world's greatest session musicians ...

[@brilliantatbreakfast]

Listening to all the pieces being put together you realize just how gorgeous this song is.

[@thomthum2000]

It's just amazing to hear the process of this music. So many musicians nowadays get so lazy with protools and they just slap anything on without a care in the world. It seemed like Brian had to move mountains to make his music a reality.

[@bluebird28tl]

God only knows what life would be without Pet Sounds. Thank you Brian and all.

[@gabe2968]

This is the greatest song humanity has ever created. Nearly 60 years and it's still yet to be beaten

[@bobdesmond8970]

Brian Wilson is a musical genius.

[@CapAnson12345]

I could listen to this for hours on end. In fact I have.

[@MrNurserob]

Using the pick reverb sound on the bass guitar almost in place of a drum- incredible. All these little pieces without which the song wouldn’t be the same. Definitely a fail safe favorite song… newer ones come and fade, but for millions of people, when God Only Knows comes on, it does something to the chemistry in the brain.

[@tigermatty]

Around the 6.30 mark where Brian hears the snare fill is such a beautiful moment. He instinctively knows that’s the sound.

[@feliciaromero1646]

Perfectly arranged. Absolutely gorgeous. Evokes longing, sadness. Carl’s voice is so sweet.

[@coffeehigh420]

its like i was able to be a fly on the wall listening to these recordings ~~~~ unreal!!!!

[@machia-mw1lm]

Brilliance, hard to believe that this level of complexity can sound so natural. Beautiful flow.

[@alchemyst2000]

Just saw the Love and Mercy movie based on this period of the Brian and the Beach Boys..pretty mind blowing..great movie

[@StanleyButton]

alchemyst2000 I really want to see that film but it's playing nowhere I'm at.

[@BehindTheSounds]

Stanley Button It unfortunately had a very limited release, but it's going to be on Blu Ray/DVD in about a month and is well worth watching. www.amazon.com/Love-Mercy-Blu-ray-Digital-HD/dp/B01127XNHQ

[@StanleyButton]

***** Thanks for the heads up! I'll definitely buy it when it comes out on Blu-Ray.

[@AlexLandress]

+alchemyst2000 Just watched it last night. I had no idea about The Beach Boys history. It was an amazing movie.

[@StanleyButton]

Alex Landress I know right! I bought it for Blu-ray the moment it come out. Did not regret it. Favorite film of the year!

[@yourtiowally]

Haven't read all the comments. But the "clip-clop" is Hal Blaine playing the bottoms of a set of plastic juice bottles. Proving once again: There is no end to the use of duct tape.

[@eileenwojton6672]

The best love song ever.

[@smaze1782]

For me, this is the greatest song of a time. Just incredible. So moving and heart felt.

[@guitarreman]

Brian had a vision. And he created on the fly. He knew what he wanted but didnt convey thst using musical terms. It was...go to that part....hey horns are sagging. He didnt mention bar number or mention rhythms of notes. His genius was in being able to relay his desires in common language.

[@richardkirk5098]

Very impressive. Wilson was a real artist on so many levels.

[@karllieck9064]

Children of today: This is making real music.Brian, you blow us away with your talent and untiring commitment to excellence. Thank you.

[@moritzternien8744]

"God Ony Knows" indeed presents only his genius! He's my idol too, because he is a phenomenal producer too!

[@mohammedmaher9697]

Pet Sounds is the greatest album ever recorded.

[@PorcelainLeigh]

SO great this process was recorded, especially going back MANY years.

[@tensaichigo2]

Fascinating look at the origin of a great song

[@antonioskyrunner127]

Man what an incredible masterpiece, I love this song, Pet Sounds indeed.

[@jawoody9745]

("Short")? "Yeah Brian. As in staccato!" I love the one-note slap-back delay on Ray's bass guitar. That is the master-touch of Brian Wilson - always over and under-doing it and making it very special for everyone who is listening.

[@user-yg1rh3og2q]

I realize I'm stating the obvious but Pet Sounds was basically entirely created by Brian. Pure and gifted genius. There are beautiful songs that you can listen to a couple of times and then you move on to another because you get tired of hearing it. I can listen to this song all day, every day. Another is "In My Life" by the Beatles.

[@zequekestrada6012]

This is such a cool thing to see. I wish there was more of this. I love Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

[@charlesfosterkane8034]

Brian Wilson used the best manufactured instruments a real producer has: his ears filtered through his heart. :) Be damned you audio meter :)

[@softclay4thought]

So much better than showing how sausage is made.

[@paulcasey6759]

I like the establishing shot of late-night traffic on the boulevard. Brian called all these ace session guys out in the middle of the night. Anyone else would have been met with an earnest and heartfelt entreaty to be left alone G-DAMMIT, no doubt.

[@ideniseb]

American music legends at work and thank you for sharing this with us because we don't get to hear it every day!

[@elenij3781]

Pure genius.

[@johnallen2771]

I have to admit that the Beach Boys was my first album I bought. Strange since for years I thought it was the Beatles first album, but then I remembered Surfin USA, I think it was called. I was so cool in Ohio where I was from. I got to go to California to visit my big sister and got a skateboard and some really nice clothes which I took back. Nobody knew what to think as I skated around my little town. Everybody thought I was an idiot. But I was in Huntington Beach and everybody there wore surfing clothes and rode skateboards.

[@sandragonnerman7522]

John Allen Go John!!! I was in Sacramento doing the same thing! Love your post. Live well and enjoy!

[@johnallen2771]

Good

[@MrLikeke]

+John Allen Your comment reminds me of something. We lived in Hawaii and had gone to Chicago to visit my mom's sister. I was walking home with my cousins after their school had let out. A crossing guard looked at me wearing T shirt and shorts and of course no shoes. She asked were are my school books? What's my teacher's name? and 20 other questions. She tried to keep me until the police arrived because she thought I was a truant or something. Like, duh! I'm tan and wearing my normal every day 'ensemble', do I look like I'm from here? Talk about people not knowing what to think!

[@pibly7784]

Seeing footage of this is awesome.

[@BehindTheSounds]

This isn't "footage" and the pics here are not from the actual session...but ok.

[@AbWischBar]

Thanks for creating these - you just appreciate a song so much more, when you can witness its creation and follow the tiny details that were so essential to get right.

[@StanKindly]

Brian and Tony Asher both said the song took about 30 minutes to write. Talk about a Mind Meld!

[@marcodavoli4334]

The most amazing thing for that time is completely innovative use of tape echo and reverb to plate the only technologies available at that time apart from some compressor and condensed microphones

[@youtubeviewer7030]

a masterpeice in the making

[@jamesanderson348]

Brilliant. My fave Beach Boys song. It holds up well after all these years. Oh to have been a fly on the wall when this was made.

[@T.Ramby11]

You can really hear the Gershwin influence, especially when the horns play by themselves during the bridge.

[@LeeNottingham]

So good to hear musicians working together 'by ear' . I can understand that this may have been a frustrating process for some of the more classically trained musicians that were, perhaps not used to a guy speaking in "bam badda bam bam bam" terms but...at the end of the day, music MUST come from the heart and we can all see that, in this song he accomplished what he 'heard' in his own mind. Its a great track that is full of emotion. That emotion doesnt just come from him, it comes from all those that worked on the track. The song is the sum of all its parts, thats why it works so well. Its a piece of musical history......and I like it!!!

[@Sunny105121]

I love this clip. Thank you so much for posting.

[@deckard43]

love the Wrecking Crew!

[@gregdahlen4375]

deckard43 well if they wrecked it who then built the new structure?

[@OZRIC1985]

That's a trip that Don Randi was on this! I got to see him play at his club "The Baked Potato" in Studio City, CA a few times. He sure has played with a lot of great bands over the years. The best of the best musicians play in his club all the time.

[@jerlewis4291]

The band playing he music is named The Wrecking Crew. Google them to see how many songs and albums they played on. Glen Campbell was in the band. Hal Blaine Tommy Tedesco, Carol Kaye

[@paskuniag]

Like them on Facebook and you will hear musical history like nowhere else. I first heard this outtake on their FB page about a year ago. The Beatles had each other. LA had the Wrecking Crew. If you like American pop songs from the 60s, chances are the Wrecking Crew played on them. Even The Byrds and The Doors used them in the studio.

[@terrypursell4332]

Jer Lewis According to Carol Kaye, the Wrecking Crew, was not the name they were known by at the time. Carol says they were known as "The Clique". In the interview which is available on KZbin, Carol says she does not agree with a big portion of the "Wrecking Crew" movie. She says in the interview that "The Wrecking Crew" is mostly the story of Hal Blaine, and Tommy Tedesco. I am glad the movie is out there, and I'm also glad to hear what to look out for, according to Carol Kaye.

[@BehindTheSounds]

Terry Pursell Carol Kaye claims to have played on a lot of things that she clearly didn't such as Motown sessions. She also claims to have played on several Beach Boys songs, when in fact she played on a few cash-in cover versions made by other artists. She may have been there but she's not the end-all authority and she's nasty to anyone who questions her faulty memories. I'm not entirely sure what the Wrecking Crew was referred to back then, but it seems like different people could have had different names for it. Brian never even refers to them as a group in his sessions, so maybe he didn't think of it that way.

[@terrypursell4332]

***** Thanks for the reply! As for Motown sessions, I don't see why she would claim she played on Motown tracks, since that was in Detroit. I believe she did work for Phil Spector, as maybe a lot of the studio players did that are a part of this clique, or wrecking crew.....

[@BehindTheSounds]

Terry Pursell The reason why she takes credit for Motown recordings is because she apparently played on a few covers of Motown songs and somehow confuses that with the hit single versions recorded in Detroit with Jamerson (who is now dead and can't speak). It's pretty shameless and infuriating that she sticks to this story dispelled by so much evidence. It's not the mistake that's the problem, it's that she sticks to her guns when confronted about it. She did work for Phil Spector a lot, but she has this thing where she tries to present herself as "the" bassist of the Wrecking Crew. I honestly think the evidence shows that Ray Pohlman was Brian's no. 1 choice for bassist and if he couldn't get him (or wanted two bassists as was often the case) Carol Kaye would do as a replacement. She'll play the bassline for "Good Vibrations" in interviews as though she owns it when she wasn't even on any of the sections used in the final single version. Just her whole persona these days strikes a lot of bad chords with me. Hal Blaine is much cooler about taking credit for what he actually played and realizing when he makes an error in taking credit for a session he wasn't on.

[@illinoizrichy1]

i guess the half dozen thumbs downs,just do not like to listen to masterpieces in the making

[@carolynglaser607]

Brian did all the arranging, etc. on this particular song, but it was the amazing voice of Carl singing the lead. Brian does the falsetto background only, not the lead.

[@Ianstrox]

1:00 is so lovely, sounds like a fleet of ships rising from the depths

[@saguaroboy]

A smart man will listen to the seasoned musicians. So brilliant then the note clipping on the jazzy sections...

[@univibe23]

There at the very end where he wants to hear the bass notes the play the "Satisfaction" lick.

[@BehindTheSounds]

People keep bringing this up and it makes me wish I hadn't included it in the video. Don Randi is just playing the notes from the figure in GOK in a descending pattern. Not the same pattern of notes (or even key) as the riff in Satisfaction.

[@heinkle1]

Love the tiny clip of Dead Man's Curve at the beginning - Jan Berry had his accident a month after this recording session at Dead Man's Curve.

[@BehindTheSounds]

Heinkle Just to clarify, Berry's accident was a few blocks away near the Dead Man's Curve on Sunset...and on a straight stretch of road.

[@fungerz]

For a video about the making of the song to be full of revelations & moving is a major plus point. There's no way to escape Brian Wilson's spark.

[@crietman29]

- I think he was really cute in the glasses!

[@mrtwang32]

I love around 6:30 when Brian and Hal work out the drum fill, with Blaine trying first the hit on the tom-tom before trying the snare. "That's it," Brian calls out and moves on to another issue. The man was SERIOUSLY on top of his game.

[@petercrowl9467]

French Horns and Sleigh Bells make Brian Wilson my favorite.

[@oldhiway66]

Great collage of photos. Appreciate the detail given to the roster of players. Thanks!

[@mradnanchowdhury]

"clip clop" percussion is called the temple blocks

[@dangaynor]

@BehindTheSounds Yeah. The session player is just goofing off with 'Satisfaction' in mind after rehearsing his part with the harpsichordist. 'Satisfaction' is in a different key, has a different number of notes and that part falls on a different beat.

[@SamSneed-th4du]

One of the most difficult progressions to learn by ear even for a skilled musician born with perfect pitch

[@ericynot]

BTS, another great installment of the Brian Wilson/WC chronicles. Thank you, thank you for making these things. They're a great contribution to the appreciation of music, recording, and creativity.

[@raystaar]

Studio Three @ Western Recorders. I spent many, many hours there.

[@bobblue_west]

Where about in LA were the Western Recorders Studio? Thanks. (From locked-down in London, UK)

[@BehindTheSounds]

@@bobblue_west 6000 Sunset Blvd. The space is now called EastWest Studios: www.eastweststudios.com/studio3/

[@bobblue_west]

@@BehindTheSounds Thank You.

[@jtexconsult]

Pet Sounds is awesome, a brother from another mother in Denton Texas introduced me to it when I was bashing the Boys years back at a party. Problem, however, if you are under the age of thirty, you may be uncomfortable listening to the music travel back and forth between left and right speaker. Keep in mind this is part of the trip when listening to older multi-track studio music. a couple of songs, minutes, into it and you'll be used to it. Thx for this historical behind the scenes post.

[@prrbill1]

All I can say is thank you. While so many were ignoring Brian's creative genius during the British Invasion and the transition from rock & roll to rock, some of us (American phobics?) were deeply dependent on some traditional American R&R band to 'strike' back. Pet Sounds was the answer. Somewhere I remember reading that John & Paul heard the album and were so blown away that they scrapped their plans and leapt to "Magical Mystery Tour" as an answer.

[@edwardpasby5237]

Amazing. Beautiful.

[@BunneRabb]

making records is not for the faint of heart.

[@KenHeath]

In 1966, "Dad" was a common reference to just about anybody... derived from Beatnik culture... "Dad", "Big Daddy", "Daddy-O"... ;)

[@kevinindublin]

Great. Jim Gordon. That's the 'Layla' drummer.

[@sgtpepper1138]

Sad what happened to him.

[@eddieedmo4266]

It's amazing what they used back in the day to record. Someone mentioned a plastic jug was recorded in this, which reminds me of the plywood and trash can lid the "Funk Brothers" used in their Motown recordings. This is a true artist at work.

[@mitch19636]

Masterful...

[@lady12480]

"cause it's reverb and it sounded hot."

[@jprg1966]

I think praise is due to both Don Randi for a productive suggestion (to tighten that transition), and Brian for willing to roll with it and see how it sounded.

[@sunrise4783]

pet sounds is a masterpiece. unmatched.

[@GarethJones1979]

This is one of the best things I have ever see on You tube. well done Behind the sounds. Truly great.

[@erickmac88]

@BehindTheSounds Please do! And wow. The commitment you put in...if anyone ever says that they are bigger Beach Boys fans than you....I will personally smack them. Awesome thing you did here man. Thanks from a person who is barely beginning to understand how great they really were.

[@eviltwinrecords]

This is amazing!

[@marvy1118]

There is a KZbin video of this song with Brian's lead vocal instead of Carl's. Brian decided later that Carl's voice would be better for the song. Both versions are good!

[@BehindTheSounds]

The alternate version of God Only Knows is still Carl, it's just an alternate vocal take.

[@marvy1118]

***** Just wondering... How do you know that for sure? It sounds quite different, and from what I've read, Brian had intended to sing the lead vocal. There are places in the "Brian" vocal that sure sound like his usual style-isms.

[@BehindTheSounds]

marvy1118 It's Carl's voice for sure, at least as the dominant lead vocal. A guide vocal from Brian *might* be buried somewhere in the mix which might be what's confusing people. Brian and Carl had very similar voices but also minor differences in their inflections and their overall vocal range that should be evident to any fan, and the alternate version sounds like 100% Carl to me. I think it's just a take recorded earlier the same night, which is why the vocal delivery is more forceful than the released version. It's been said that Carl was exhausted by the time the final vocal take was recorded, which is why Brian recorded over his lead in the mono mix for the fadeout (starting about 2:00 in). And part of why I don't buy it, Brian has always said he wrote the song specifically for Carl to sing. I've never read anything otherwise. The only reason why he would have sang it is for a guide vocal, which would not have been double tracked.

[@marvy1118]

***** Thank you! That all makes total sense.

[@iferraro]

You have really outdone yourself with this song, the magnum opus of Pet Sounds. Love the intro shot of LA at night, with the moving lights... My fave series of videos on KZbin. I'll never forget when the channel first came out, as I was beginning to get totally obsessed with Pet Sounds. I recall it was last summer and I was home alone for a couple months and smoking a lot of pot. It was the best time of my life. We're the same age... thanks man.

[@MyKeith999]

People set this tune as your morning alarm and live a happier life. Love it! as Elvis would say "always have, always will!

[@oddball8974]

genius always was always will be.

[@AlexandrMaltsev]

Thank you so much for adding this video! It´s one of the most beautiful clips I've ever seen. It´s not just the song, it´s Brians voice n' everything getting together in one clip. Thanks!

[@PeterGrenader]

Until recently, one of the most underrated producers in the history of pop. Thankfully another case of 'the truth wiil out"

[@cepson]

These videos are mesmerizing. If I knew anything about writing or playing music, I imagine they would be almost pornographic.

[@davidmcpherson4085]

The master at work!

[@creolelady182]

Brian maintained his relationships with all of these people even to day. he was a goodlooking kid in the 1960's who made his mark. Too bad capitol records sis not realize that but then their motivation was profit

[@eddo1983]

Carl Wilson's vocals made this song come alive! SUPERB!!

[@jerlewis4291]

This is when Brian really formed a bond with The Wrecking Crew, these were the guys who played on every song and allowed the rest of the band to have some down time. Glen Campbell actually went on tour with the group to fill in when Al was not feeling well.

[@BehindTheSounds]

??? Glen Campbell filled in for Brian on the U.S. tour in late '64/early '65 after his nervous breakdown on an airplane between shows. It was not to replace Al.

[@jerlewis4291]

@@BehindTheSounds Oh, I know that Glen Campbell did fill in because he said it long ago, but he never said anything about a nervous breakdown. I guess that Glen had more tact than others do. Imagine not actually talking about a private matter that isn't yours.

[@BehindTheSounds]

At the time it would not have been publicized why Brian was quitting the road (one show in Tulsa was cancelled due to an "illness") but the breakdown occurred on their flight from LA to Houston on 12/13/64 and Brian was replaced by Glen for the remainder of that tour two days later on 12/15. I'm sure he was informed of the details of why he was replacing Brian and the details of this breakdown are now pretty well known. By early January when the group was back in the studio recording the final tracks for the "Today!" album, Brian informed them that he would not return to touring and would instead focus on recording in the studio.

[@jerlewis4291]

Which is why Glen never said WHY he was asked to fill in.

[@lizhoopes4531]

I must say, this song took on more meaning in our family when my daughter married earlier this year (in London). As guests were taking their seats, California Girls played (her new father-in-law thought it appropriate). She walked up the aisle to the music (no words allowed) 'God Only Knows'. Her new family thinks all California girls must be beautiful, blond haired, & blue eyed. No words to God only knows as religion cannot be brought into the ceremony.

[@producer1]

Yeah....probably both, as they did that quite a bit. If Carol was on the session, and not playing bass along with the upright player, she may have comped the bass line on guitar. I do hear both, but you're correct...it's not just an upright, and not just an electric.

[@biblerockets]

brilliant. i love Brian and wow , what a great album . so cool to get a glimpse of the work in progress and hear the construction of a masterpiece . great job .

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Thanks for all your work in putting these clips together. Enjoyed every single one so far. Brian really knew what he was doing in the studio sound wise, height of his powers. A musical genius...A

[@nitedrive2956]

Pure gold here.

[@Eeohippus]

Did you? Wow, I'd like to get a look at your library Mate. I'm going to see Brian in a few weeks and I must say that I'm looking more forward to this than when I saw the Eagles, Paul McCartney, or anyone. I grew up in LA during the 70s and we all loved the Boys; I used to look at Brian with wonder in my mind and hoped I'd be fortunate enough to see him one day. It's a small venue, with a stroke of luck maybe I'll get to see him up close... I'm in the 2nd row so I can't hope for more!!

[@RayBecker]

My God, what an amazing song. There are three and only three people that are supreme Songwriters, Musicians and Performers; Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and Pete Townshend. These three are the finest that the human race has ever produced. Yes, there are amazing people like Carole King, Billy Joel, John Lennon; but these three, they are SCARY talented. Let's take Pete; he goes home after a tour and he writes and records every song. He plays all of the instruments. Does all of the vocals. And when he thinks it's ready, he takes it to the others and they learn their parts. I'm sorry but that is just Frigging Amazing. Only other musicians can possibly understand what I'm saying. I never said these were my favorites. Brian Wilson; he heard every vocal with all of the harmonies along with the music in his head. Go listen to those other worldly harmonies. Those are what was in that man's head. Macca; c'mon. Supremely Gifted musician, composer and singer. How in the hell does all of that material fit in that head? McCartney is so talented, he does not even know. It just comes out. These three will never, ever be topped. The best part; I was there for all three hitting their prime. God Only Knows how lucky we all are.

[@BehindTheSounds]

Not to put McCartney down a peg but IMO Lennon was the true innovator in that group and was a genius for being essentially self-taught, similar to Brian Wilson. I'm not sure if he ever could have achieved success without McCartney (who I think would have ended up a successful musician or songwriter regardless), but I generally think his songs are more personal and more adventurous...written by somebody who routinely broke rules or conventions in composition because he didn't fully understand them in the first place. Pretty much all of my favorite Beatles songs are the ones written primarily by Lennon. Lennon's "Strawberry Fields Forever" made Brian Wilson pull his car over when he first heard it on the radio in early 1967 and declare that the Beatles had beat him to the sound he was chasing with "Smile" and within a few months the project had fallen apart. I don't see its B-side "Penny Lane" eliciting the same reaction, even though it strikes some of the same nostalgic notes.

[@RayBecker]

@@BehindTheSounds I could live the rest of my life having John instead of Paul in my top three. What really matters is that our likes and dislikes are Subjective and that we at least acknowledge a few of the truly greatest. Thanks for hosting this video and for taking the time to reply to my comment! Have a Terrific week.

[@paulcolbourne9112]

I enjoy the perpetual Paul or John is best arguments but I think they truly were each others equal as songwriters, arrangers, producers and performers. I would agree that John deserves more credit creatively and Paul more as arranger but both were as strong as the other in different ways and at different times. John's high point as songwriter was '63 - 67 and Paul's from 67-71. What either did afterwards never surpassed those years creatively and artistically. Their later solo material was also largely written or culled from those brief years of self-discovery. Brian was very similar in that regard having a 4 year burst of creative inspiration that would never repeat itself.

[@nedrobinson7490]

Music is totally subjective, so there’s no one “right” answer, but I’d add Paul Simon to your list. He wrote, arranged, and produced so many beloved songs that will long outlive him, outlive anyone commenting here. He’s very “rated”, but still somehow criminally underrated. Like those mentioned above, he wrote music that was simultaneously approachable enough for the masses and also so dense with genius musical choices in composition for the close listeners and musicians who understood the theory, Undeniably one of the greatest ever IMO.