The Pet Sounds Sessions is a 4-CD

Compact Disc

The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...

 boxed set

Boxed set

A box set is a compilation of various musical recordings, films, television programs, or other collection of related items that are contained in a box.-Music box sets:...

 released in 1997 which compiles tracks from The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...

' 1966 album Pet Sounds

Pet Sounds

Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band The Beach Boys, released May 16, 1966, on Capitol Records. It has since been recognized as one of the most influential records in the history of popular music and one of the best albums of the 1960s, including songs such as "Wouldn't...

, and its recording sessions. The album is included in its entirety in its original mono

Monaural

Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...

 mix, as well as a stereo

Stereophonic sound

The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...

 mix. The set also contains instrumental tracks, vocals-only tracks, alternate mixes, and edited highlights from the recording sessions for many of the album's songs, as well as several songs not included on the album.

Background

Overseen by producer Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson

Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...

, the set includes a new stereo mix of Pet Sounds by engineer Mark Linett

Mark Linett

Mark Linett is a record producer and audio engineer. He has done significant work with The Beach Boys, including re-mastering their recordings that appear on the "two-for-one" album re-releases. He also produced and engineered the Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound version of Pet Sounds...

. These new mixes would also be made available on the 1999 and 2001 re-issues of the regular album. The Pet Sounds Sessions was nominated for "Best Historical Album

Grammy Award for Best Historical Album

The Grammy Award for Best Historical Album has been presented since 1979. During this time the award had several minor name changes:*In 1979 the award was known as Best Historical Repackage Album*In 1980 it was awarded as Best Historical Reissue...

" at the Grammy Awards of 1999

Grammy Awards of 1999

The 41st Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill was the nights big winner winning a total of 5 awards including Album of the Year and Best New Artist. Madonna won three awards while country musicians the Dixie...

.

The stereo mix of the album contains some notable differences from the original mono mix. Among them, alternate vocal parts used for the bridge of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and the end of "God Only Knows" due to the original tracks no longer existing. "You Still Believe in Me" also features a single tracked vocal instead of the doubled vocal of the original due to a missing tape. Other differences are also noted in the booklet.

There was a minor controversy regarding a significant 18-month delay in the release of the box set (originally planned for May 1996 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the album's original issue). Reportedly, Mike Love

Mike Love

Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...

 was dissatisfied with the accompanying essays that undermined his involvement in the album's making.

Disc one

1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice
   Wouldn't It Be Nice
   "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is the opening track on the 1966 album Pet Sounds and one of the most widely recognized songs by the American rock band The Beach Boys...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love
   Mike Love
   Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
   
   ) – 2:33
2. "You Still Believe in Me
   You Still Believe in Me
   "You Still Believe in Me" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, taken from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. It is the second track on the album. The song was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with the lyrics by Tony Asher.- Information :...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) – 2:36
3. "That's Not Me
   That's Not Me
   "That's Not Me" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, taken from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. It is the third track on the album...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) – 2:31
4. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
   Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)
   "Don't Talk " is a song written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher for the American rock band The Beach Boys. It is the fourth track on the album Pet Sounds.- Information :...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) – 2:58
5. "I'm Waiting for the Day
   I'm Waiting for the Day
   "I'm Waiting for the Day" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, taken from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. It is the fifth track on the album.-Information:...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:06
6. "Let's Go Away For Awhile
   Let's Go Away for Awhile
   "Let's Go Away for Awhile" is an instrumental by the American rock band The Beach Boys, from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. It is the sixth track on the album.-Information:...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) (Brian Wilson) – 2:24
7. "Sloop John B
   Sloop John B
   "Sloop John B" is the seventh track on The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album and was also a single which was released in 1966 on Capitol Records. It was originally a traditional West Indies folk song, "The John B. Sails," taken from a collection by Carl Sandburg . Alan Lomax made a field recording of...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 2:59
8. "God Only Knows
   God Only Knows
   "God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. It is the eighth track on the group's 11th studio album, Pet Sounds , and one of their most widely recognized songs. "God Only Knows" was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Tony Asher and lead vocal by Carl...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) – 2:54
9. "I Know There's an Answer
   I Know There's an Answer
   "I Know There's an Answer" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, taken from their 1966 album Pet Sounds. It is the ninth track on the album. The song was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with the lyrics by Terry Sachen and Mike Love. The song was written during Brian's second...
   
   " (Stereo Mix) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love/Terry Sachen) – 3:18
10. "Here Today" (Stereo Mix) – 3:07
11. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
    I Just Wasn't Made for these Times (song)
    "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" is a song by The Beach Boys from their album Pet Sounds. It is the eleventh song on the album.- Information :...
    
    " (Stereo Mix) – 3:21
12. "Pet Sounds
    Pet Sounds
    Pet Sounds is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band The Beach Boys, released May 16, 1966, on Capitol Records. It has since been recognized as one of the most influential records in the history of popular music and one of the best albums of the 1960s, including songs such as "Wouldn't...
    
    " (Stereo Mix) (Brian Wilson) – 2:37
13. "Caroline, No
    Caroline, No
    "Caroline, No" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, recorded during the Pet Sounds sessions. It was released as a solo Brian Wilson single in March 1966 in advance of the album's release. The single was only a modest success, reaching number thirty-two in the US national chart and No....
    
    " (Stereo Mix) – 2:53
14. "Sloop John B" (Highlights from tracking date) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 1:04
15. "Sloop John B" (Stereo backing track) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:18
16. "Trombone Dixie" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson) – 1:26
17. "Trombone Dixie" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson) – 2:50
18. "Pet Sounds" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson) – 0:57
19. "Pet Sounds" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson) – 2:48
20. "Let's Go Away For Awhile" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson) – 2:20
21. "Let's Go Away For Awhile" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson) – 2:51
22. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 7:20
23. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:34
24. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Stereo track with background vocals) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:34
25. "You Still Believe in Me" (Intro - session) – 1:39
26. "You Still Believe in Me" (Intro - master take)  – 0:15
27. "You Still Believe in Me" (Highlights from tracking date) – 1:11
28. "You Still Believe in Me" (Stereo backing track) – 2:37

Disc two

1. "Caroline, No" (Highlights from tracking date) – 4:16
2. "Caroline, No" (Stereo backing track) – 2:53
3. "Hang on to Your Ego" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson/Terry Sachen) – 4:47
4. "Hang on to Your Ego" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson/Terry Sachen) – 3:23
5. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (Brian's instrumental demo) – 2:20
6. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (Stereo backing track) – 3:11
7. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (String overdub) – 1:48
8. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" (Highlights from tracking date) – 2:59
9. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" (Stereo backing track) – 3:47
10. "That's Not Me" (Highlights from tracking date) – 1:52
11. "That's Not Me" (Stereo backing track) – 2:46
12. "Good Vibrations
    Good Vibrations
    "Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
    
    " (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 2:41
13. "Good Vibrations" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:15
14. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (Highlights from tracking date) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 5:25
15. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (Stereo backing track) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:14
16. "God Only Knows" (Highlights from tracking date) – 9:25
17. "God Only Knows" (Stereo backing track) – 3:06
18. "Here Today" (Highlights from tracking date) – 6:37
19. "Here Today" (Stereo backing track) – 4:55

Disc three

1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (A cappella) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:37
2. "You Still Believe in Me" (A cappella) – 2:47
3. "That's Not Me" (A cappella) – 2:28
4. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (A cappella) – 3:07
5. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (A cappella) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:02
6. "Sloop John B" (A cappella) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:09
7. "God Only Knows" (A cappella) – 2:49
8. "I Know There's an Answer" (A cappella) (Brian Wilson/Mike Love/Terry Sachen) – 2:19
9. "Here Today" (A cappella) – 3:29
10. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" (A cappella) – 3:22
11. "Caroline, No" (A cappella) – 1:54
12. "Caroline, No" (Promotional Spot #1) :32
13. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Mono alternate mix) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:29
14. "You Still Believe in Me" (Mono alternate mix) – 2:23
15. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" (Vocal snippet) – 0:56
16. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (Mono alternate mix, Mike sings lead) - (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:02
17. "Sloop John B" (Mono alternate mix, Carl sings lead) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:05
18. "God Only Knows (Mono alternate mix, with sax solo) – 2:49
19. "Hang On to Your Ego" (Brian Wilson/Terry Sachen) – 3:13
20. "Here Today" (Mono alternate mix, Brian sings lead) – 3:07
21. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times (Mono alternate mix) – 3:11
22. "Banana & Louie" – 0:05
23. "Caroline, No" (Original speed, stereo mix) – 2:24
24. "Dog Barking Session" (Outtakes) – 0:34
25. "Caroline, No" (Promotional spot #2) – 0:28
26. "God Only Knows" (with a cappella tag) – 2:56
27. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Mono alternate mix) (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:28
28. "Sloop John B" (Brian sings lead throughout) (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:04
29. "God Only Knows" (Mono alternate mix, Brian sings lead) – 2:42
30. "Caroline, No" (Original speed, mono mix) – 3:03

Disc four (Original mono Pet Sounds)

1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher/Mike Love) – 2:33
2. "You Still Believe in Me" – 2:36
3. "That's Not Me" – 2:31
4. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" – 2:58
5. "I'm Waiting for the Day" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love) – 3:06
6. "Let's Go Away For Awhile" (Brian Wilson) – 2:24
7. "Sloop John B" (Trad. Arr. Brian Wilson) – 2:59
8. "God Only Knows" – 2:54
9. "I Know There's an Answer" (Brian Wilson/Mike Love/Terry Sachen) – 3:18
10. "Here Today" – 3:07
11. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" – 3:21
12. "Pet Sounds" (Brian Wilson) – 2:37
13. "Caroline, No" – 2:53

The Pet Sounds Sessions (Capitol 7243 8 37662 2) never charted in either the US or the UK.