Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston of The Beach Boys were presented plaques for Pet Sounds’ new double platinum status by UMe Chairman Bruce Resnikoff ahead of the legendary album’s 60th anniversary at the historic Capitol Records tower in Hollywood, CA on May 11, 2026. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for UMe)
Share:
Pet Sounds, the legendary and timeless 1966 album from The Beach Boys, celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2026 — May 16, to be precise, marks 60 years to the day of its initial release.
May 15, one day before that anniversary, The Pet Sounds Session Highlights has been released, compiling crucial material from the 1997 4-CD box set The Pet Sounds Sessions. The new collection features alternate takes, a cappella recordings and tracking sessions, each of which will be making its debut on vinyl.
It’s available digitally and as a 2-CD and 2-LP set, with new liner notes by longtime band historian Howie Edelson and more.
Click here to pick up Pet Sounds Highlights on 2-CD from our Rock Cellar Store
Click here to pick up Pet Sounds Highlights on 2-LP from our Rock Cellar Store
Ahead of the release was the debut of a 3-song “Sloop John B” digital EP, featuring an a cappella recording of the song highlighting the vocal work of Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston.
Here are two of the tracks on the EP:
Want more stories like this? Click HERE to sign up for our Rock Cellar email newsletter!
There’s also a “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” EP — featuring three versions of the legendary song: Vocals Only, Stereo Back Track, and Stereo Mix:
And here’s the official description of the new audiophile vinyl releases of the album:
The new audiophile pressings present Pet Sounds with the highest standards in sound and packaging, ranging from high-end to ultra high-end editions. The Vinylphyle Edition is pressed at RTI on 180-gram black vinyl and cut from the original mono and stereo analog tapes by Joe Nino-Hernes at Sterling Sound. The stereo mix, originally overseen by Brian Wilson and produced and engineered by Mark Linett in 1996 for The Pet Sounds Sessions box set, is included alongside the original mono album cut from the original 1966 assembled master reel. The release will have an initial pressing of 3,000 copies. The double LP features a beautiful gatefold tip-on jacket and 4-panel insert with new liner notes by Howie Edelson. Each Vinylphyle album release is mastered in all-analog from original sources when available by leading vinyl cutting engineers and pressed at Record Technology, Inc. (RTI) California. The series emphasizes consistent quality control across mastering, plating, pressing, and printing.
Separate from that audiophile vinyl will be a release from Interscope-Capitol’s Definitive Sound Series (DSS), which will present Pet Sounds in its original mono configuration using the state-of-the-art One Step process, which eliminates multiple steps in the plating process and delivers the recording’s intricate arrangements and vocal harmonies with remarkable clarity. Pressed at RTI on Neotech VR900 D2 180-gram vinyl, the AAA [All Analog Mastering] was cut by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from rarely used circa-1972 original analog tapes. Limited to 6,000 individually numbered copies, the release draws from the early-1970s Brother Records pressing, long noted for its sound quality. Each copy includes a certificate of authenticity documenting the mastering, plating, and pressing process. More information here.
There’s also more lined up in connection to the Pet Sounds anniversary.
Per a news release:
Leading up to the anniversary, The Beach Boys are keeping the celebration going across socials and YouTube. Follow along as the band shares the stories behind Pet Sounds, explores its global legacy, and reveals new ways to experience the music. Starting anniversary week, tune into The Beach Boys’ YouTube channel for a special listening experience in collaboration with the San Diego Zoo, where the iconic Pet Sounds cover was famously photographed in 1966. Subscribe today to stay updated on all the festivities.
On the day of the 60th anniversary, Saturday, May 16, fans and fitness enthusiasts are invited to Santa Monica for the first-ever Beach Boys 5K & Wellness Day. The event will take place at the Third Street Promenade and feature live music, fitness experiences, and a community 5K run celebrating the legacy of Pet Sounds. For more information, visit: https://thebeachboys5k.com/
The track listing for the 2-CD edition of The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights:
Disc One
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Vocals Only)
You Still Believe In Me (Vocals Only)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)
Sloop John B. (Vocals Only)
God Only Knows (Vocals Only)
Here Today (Vocals Only)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Vocals Only)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track and Backing Vocals)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian Wilson’s Instrumental Demo)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead)
Sloop John B. (Carl Sings First Verse)
God Only Knows (Sax Solo, Alternate Version)
Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Mix)
Here Today (Alternate Version)
Disc Two
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights from Tracking Date)
Trombone Dixie (Highlights from Tracking Date)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocal Snippet)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocals Only)
That’s Not Me (Highlights from Tracking Date)
Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Vocals Only)*
Caroline, No (Stereo Mix, Original Speed)
God Only Knows (Highlights from Tracking Date)
Good Vibrations (Highlights from Tracking Date)
Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
*Track is included on both Disc 1 and Disc 2
Stream the whole collection below.
See also:
Bruce Johnston Announces Exit from The Beach Boys: ‘This Isn’t Goodbye, It’s See You Soon’
Previous Article
Riding an Unrelenting Wave of Buzz, Algorithm-Approved Viral Microtonal Canadian Duo Angine de Poitrine Expand 2026 Tour
Published on 2026/05/15
Many (including this author) have recently had their social media feeds flooded algorithmically with videos, performances and memes related to […]
Next Article
Sublime: New Album ‘Until the Sun Explodes’ Out June 12 — Stream “Can’t Miss You” and the Title Track (Pre-Order)
Published on 2026/05/15
Sublime will release a new studio album titled Until the Sun Explodes on June 12. It’s the first full-length album […]