The Friday song (on a Sunday): ‘God Only Knows’ by The Beach Boys

Yesterday, 16 May 2026, marked the 60th anniversary of the release of The Beach Boys’ album Pet Sounds, which I listened to this week. 

When Brian Wilson died just under a year ago, much obituary space dwelt on the sad and tragic lost decades, when he fell under the influence of Eugene Landy, and there was no doubt that Wilson had checked out from life as we know it. 

But no-one wants to remember that drama, the stilted conversation, the blank eyes, the once-upon-a-time insistence that engineers and staff wear fireman’s hats in the recording studio. It’s the genius of and the band The Beach Boys that we want to recall – the transformation of the Wilson brothers, Al Jardine and their cousin, Mike Love, into a band that seemed to conjure up the manifestation of every aspiration of (mostly white) teenage life. 

Their smiles were white, shirt stripes straight and surfboards long. Pure and wholesome was the image, but it was the music that captured generations. Via characteristically sun-kissed lead guitar lines, magnificent harmonies and Wilson’s production and arrangements, teenagers around the world were transported into the world of coastal California, sun, tans, sea, surf, cars and teenage romances. From the archetypal Surfing, USA and Fun Fun Fun to California Girls and the moody In My Room, they helped listeners’ imaginations transport them to a world away, the sandy beaches of California.

Pet Sounds: recording an icon

By the time of the recording of Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson had withdrawn from touring to lead the production, composing and recording aspects of the band. Pet Sounds was the album that transformed the surf sound into something more complex and serious and grown up, where the studio became an instrument too, just like it did for The Beatles on Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Conceived as a “production concept” by Wilson, who was not prepared to record any “filler” tracks, Pet Sounds stands with a handful of albums at the pinnacle of pop music. The record, along with the theremin thrill of Good Vibrations, released shortly thereafter, opened a new music tributary – and something American, countering the waves of the sea change brought by the British invasion, which at the time was the equivalent of a musical tsunami. 

Pet Sounds was released to muted acclaim, but has become recognised as a masterpiece. This week, the first true stereo mix of God Only Knows is the Friday pick. Rated by Paul McCartney as the greatest song ever written, it’s a beautifully composed piece with an array of major, minor, diminished, seventh and minor-seventh chords, unusual instrumentation and found sounds.

While God Only Knows was composed by Brian Wilson, brother Carl takes the lead vocal, with only Brian and Bruce Johnston singing harmony. Brian’s bass is upfront and thuds throughout. Unusual clip-clop percussion adds to the innovative orchestration for its time. While certainly a Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds shows Wilson had abandoned the small format of the group to include session players, who bolstered the playing. They included The Wrecking Crew’s Glen Campbell, Hal Blaine, Al Casey and Jim Gordon. It’s an album of hits and invention, and well worth digging into. 

Last thing. I use Apple and Spotify for these picks. Some have asked me to subscribe to Tidal too.  And now, thanks to my friend, music journalist and Substacker Diane Coetzer, the Friday Song is on Tidal too. Diane has also compiled this current year of tracks on a playlist and updates it in order. You can find the songs on Tidal under her profile, @dianecoetzer, and the playlist “The Friday Song 4”.  That’s it for this week. Have a good weekend!

Listen to God Only Knows on Spotify here and on Apple Music here.

I started a music WhatsApp group in 2023. I send one song a week on a Friday, with links to both Apple and Spotify, and an accompanying narrative/capsule piece. If you want to engage about a song, get a playlist or just get in touch, email me on markgrosin@gmail.com.

For more of Mark’s memorable track selections, go here.

_{Top image: Currency collage.}