Written by: Brian Wilson & Mike Love
Released: 1966
US Charts: #1 (1 week)
UK Charts: #1 (2 weeks)
Other Charts: #2 (Australia), #8 (Germany), #12 (Italy)
Considered the magnum opus of the Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations” is one of the most critically acclaimed songs ever in music history. It is the result of Brian Wilson’s desire to continuously experiment and create ever increasing sophisticated songs with complex arrangements. Influenced by the Beatles’ album “Rubber Soul”, Brian Wilson led the group to create “Pet Sounds”, considered by many, the greatest album ever made.
Following Pet Sounds, Wilson set out on an even more ambitious project and this eventually led to the song “Good Vibrations.” However, the project that he’d begun SMiLE was not released for 37 years due to his deteriorating mental health. It was only released in 2004 under “Brian Wilson presents SMiLE.”
The production of the song is innovative in all aspects of the word. This is the first major song to use musical collage, which refers to recording various sections separately and then putting them together in the editing process. Due to this process, Wilson devoted months of effort to produce the song, recording sections in 4 different recording studios in 17 recording sessions, costing $50,000, which was a fair bit of money back in 1966.
His newfound method of recording was and is still seen as crazy, and it’s no wonder that his mental health was deteriorating during this period. Nevertheless, his desire to capture the sound he had in his head and challenge the possibilities of the recording studio bore fruit with the release of “Good Vibrations.” Rolling Stone magazine ranked this song as the 6th best song of all time, which says a lot about the impact and influence of this song.
In fact, such was its impact, that musical collage became to be used by the Beatles in their songs “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “A Day In My Life.” Paul McCartney himself attributed Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys with the idea of using musical collage in their own songs.
It’s a shame that SMiLE could not be finished and released in the late 60s where it would have made an enormous impact on the music scene. However, that’s something that can’t be changed and we shouldn’t dwell upon that.
For the moment, we can only enjoy the creativity and genius of Brian Wilson through this absolute masterpiece. Songs like this are rare, so enjoy listening!
Lyrics can be accessed here.
Chords can be accessed here.
Feel free to comment on this song and/or my review below.
Subscribe to the All Time Classic Songs newsletter today and you’ll receive a FREE copy of my brand new e-book “The 30 Greatest Love Songs of All Time.” Limited time only!
