The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, redefined what an album could be upon its release on May 16, 1966, forever altering the course of popular music. Sixty years later, it remains as vital and influential as ever.

Capitol Records/UMe is celebrating the album’s 60th anniversary with The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights. Providing deeper insight into the making of the album, the collection compiles standout material from the 1997 Grammy-nominated 4-CD box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, which documented the legendary 1965–66 recording sessions.

The new collection, coming May 15, 2026, features 25 alternate takes, a cappellas, and tracking sessions, all making their vinyl debut. Available as a 2-CD set and across multiple 2-LP configurations—including standard black vinyl and limited-edition splatter/color variants—each format includes new liner notes by longtime Beach Boys historian Howie Edelson, along with a detailed sessionography. Various formats are available to order in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.

A full 90-track digital-only box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, will also be released.

Ahead of the release, The Beach Boys have shared performances of their classic hit, “Sloop John B,” through a stunning a cappella version that isolates the vocal harmonies of Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston, along with a fascinating alternative take featuring Carl in place of Brian on lead.

Breaking away from the surf rock that made them global stars, The Beach Boys’ 11th album in just four years marked a dramatic creative shift. Influenced by The Beatles’ Rubber Soul and Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound production, Brian Wilson set out to create what he called “a complete statement.” The result was a groundbreaking work that expanded the possibilities of recorded music through its innovative use of the studio, complex arrangements, and unconventional instrumentation—including theremin and found percussion.

Across its 13 tracks, Pet Sounds introduced a new level of emotional depth and musical sophistication, with intricate harmonies from Brian, Carl, Dennis, Mike, Al, and Bruce. The album’s influence extended immediately, inspiring The Beatles and producer George Martin during the creation of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, and continues to shape artists and producers today.

“It was a big leap from where we were,” Jardine told Best Classic Bands in 2016, at the time of the album’s 50th anniversary. “We’d been out on tour for a long time [minus Brian, who’d stopped traveling with the band in 1964 to concentrate on writing and recording, [his place in the road band taken by new recruit Bruce Johnston]. There was a lot of adjustment. But it wasn’t that we didn’t want to do it.”

Love told Best Classic Bands, “One thing I’ve been quoted as saying was, ‘Don’t f**k with the formula.’ But I never said that! It’s the most famous thing I said that I never said. First of all, I named the album. Second, all of us – Carl [Wilson], Al, Bruce, myself – all worked really hard on the harmonies. Pet Sounds is awesome for so many reasons. How could you dislike that music?”

For Brian Wilson, the album represents part of a continuum, the latest development in his evolution as an artist. By the time Pet Sounds was released he was deeply involved in perfecting his next masterpiece, the single “Good Vibrations,” which he’d hoped to include on the album but continued to fine-tune for months. “I decided to experiment with a new kind of music,” Wilson told Best Classic Bands in 2016. “I was young and creative and we really did good. I’m glad that people still like the album. It makes me proud.”

On its release, Pet Sounds, despite garnering raves from the nascent rock press, peaked at #10 on the Billboard albums chart, a lesser performance than most of their previous albums. While not widely appreciated upon release, six decades later Pet Sounds remains a defining work of modern music.

The Beach Boys The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights 2-CD Tracklist
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

THE PET SOUNDS SESSIONS BOX SET DIGITAL TRACKLIST
Disc 1 – Stereo Mix + Sessions
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
You Still Believe In Me
That’s Not Me
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder
I’m Waiting For The Day
Let’s Go Away For Awhile
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
I Know There’s An Answer
Here Today
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Pet Sounds
Caroline, No
Sloop John B (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track)
Trombone Dixie (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track)
Pet Sounds (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub)
Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Let’s Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Stereo Track With Background Vocals)
You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Session)
You Still Believe In Me (Intro-Master Take)
You Still Believe In Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)
You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track)

Disc 2 – Sessions Pt. 2
Caroline, No (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Caroline, No (Stereo Backing Track)
Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian’s Instrumental Demo)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Highlights From Tracking Date)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)
That’s Not Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)
That’s Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)
Good Vibrations (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Highlights From Tracking Date)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)
God Only Knows (Highlights From Tracking Date)
God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)
Here Today (Highlights From Tracking Date)
Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)

Disc 3 – Stack-O-Vocals
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
You Still Believe In Me
That’s Not Me
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
I’m Waiting For The Day
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
I Know There’s An Answer
Here Today
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Caroline, No

Disc 3 Continued – Alternate Versions
Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #1)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Mix 3/3/66)
You Still Believe In Me (Mix 2/16/66)
Don’t Talk … (Vocal Snippet)
I’m Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead) (Mix 3/12/66)
Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse)
God Only Knows (Sax Solo) (Mix 3/12/66)
Hang On To Your Ego (Alternate Version)
Here Today (Alternate Version)
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times (Alternate Version)
Banana & Louie
Caroline, No (Original Speed, Stereo Mix)
Dog Barking Session (Outtakes) (Mix 3/22/66)
Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #2)
God Only Knows (With A Capella Tag) (Mix 3/12/66)
Wouldn’t It Be Nice (Alternate Version)
Sloop John B (Brian Sings Lead Throughout)
God Only Knows (Brian Sings Lead) (Mix 3/22/66)
Caroline, No (Original Speed, Mono Mix)

Disc 4 – The Original Mono Mix, Re-mastered In 1996
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
You Still Believe In Me
That’s Not Me
Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
I’m Waiting For The Day
Let’s Go Away For Awhile
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
I Know There’s An Answer
Here Today
I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Pet Sounds
Caroline, No