Paul McCartney is undeniably one of the most influential songwriters in music history, achieving record-breaking success both as a member of The Beatles and as a solo artist. His partnership with John Lennon produced some of the most iconic songs ever written, helping shape the evolution of rock and roll and modern music as a whole.
While The Beatles’ albums are essential listening for anyone who wants to understand rock and roll, McCartney himself turned to another classic album to musically educate his own children. In a 1990 interview with David Leaf, Paul revealed that he made sure each of his kids owned a copy of The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds.
Paul reflected on his early impressions of The Beach Boys, noting that while he initially enjoyed their surf music, it was Pet Sounds that truly captivated him. “The early surf records…I was aware of them as a musical act, and I used to like all that, but I didn’t get deeply interested in it—it was just a real nice sound. We used to admire the singing, the high falsetto really and the very sort of ‘California’ lyrics.”
But when Pet Sounds came along, it was a game-changer. Paul said, “It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. First of all, it was Brian’s writing. I love the album so much. I’ve just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life. I figure no one is educated musically ’til they’ve heard that album.”
One of the aspects of Pet Sounds that struck Paul was Brian Wilson’s innovative bass lines. He explained how Brian would often use unexpected notes, creating a unique tension that gave the songs their distinct character. “If you were in the key of C, you would normally use—the root note would be, like, a C on the bass…And you just get a completely different effect if you play a G when the band is playing in C…And also putting melodies in the bass line. That I think was probably the big influence that set me thinking when we recorded Pepper, it set me off on a period I had then for a couple of years of nearly always writing quite melodic bass lines.”
Paul’s admiration for Brian Wilson has been a recurring theme throughout his career. In a 2018 interview with Reverb, McCartney reiterated that Brian was one of his biggest influences, particularly for his ability to “go to very unusual places” with his music. The Beatles’ experimental phase, leading to the creation of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was in part inspired by the boundary-pushing nature of Pet Sounds.
Interestingly, the influence went both ways. Brian Wilson has openly credited The Beatles’ Rubber Soul as a significant inspiration for Pet Sounds. This mutual admiration led to some of the most groundbreaking music of the 20th century. Over the years, Paul and Brian have had the opportunity to perform together, most notably on the timeless classic “God Only Knows.”
Reflecting on his performance with Brian, Paul shared in a 2013 interview with Ronnie Wood how emotional the experience was: “I got to sing it with Brian once, when we did a benefit (show) together. I was okay at the actual performance, I held it together. But at the rehearsal, at the soundcheck I lost it, because it’s very emotional, this song, I find it. (I was thinking) ‘Oh my god, I’m singing with Brian’, just got me, I couldn’t.”
McCartney’s love for “God Only Knows” runs deep, as he once declared it the greatest song ever written. During his 1990 interview, he placed it at the top of his list of favorite songs, calling it “very deep” and “always a bit of a choker.”
“God Only Knows,” penned by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, remains one of the standout tracks on Pet Sounds and a testament to the profound impact that music can have on even the greatest musicians of our time.
