Another Definitive Vinyl Reissue - The Beach Boys : Pet Sounds (Vinylphyle 2026)

There’s never been a better time to be a music fan, whether it be the ability to stream practically anything in lossless audio, or to enjoy some of the greatest vinyl pressings ever made.

This new pressing of (one of history’s most iconic albums) Pet Sounds essentially makes all other vinyl pressings unnecessary. One LP in the original mono mix, and the 2nd LP features the glorious stereo remix. It was cut to vinyl by Joe Nino-Hernes, who is quickly becoming a real force in vinyl mastering (his cut of The Velvet Underground & Nico is also the definitive pressing of that masterpiece).

I first heard Pet Sounds on cassette in the mid-80s, after first seeing the Beach Boys - An American Band doc on LA’s legendary Z Channel. Even as a kid, I was completely taken by the music. It reminded me in some ways of the classical music my uncle and grandfather regularly played, but it moved me far beyond that. As I got older, the lyrics became something to behold. In my opinion, Tony Asher’s lyrics are just as crucial to this albums endurance as Brian Wilson’s music. The lyrics are still relevant, and they make just as much sense and connect just as deeply with me as a now older adult as they did as a young man. Their themes are the core of humanity.

When I found my first, original mono vinyl LP sometime in the early 90s, I remember it sounding far worse than that cassette copy. It wasn’t until hearing the 1972 reissue that paired Pet Sounds with The Beach Boys then-new LP Carl & The Passions that I heard Pet Sounds on a great sounding record. In fact, it was that album that sent me down the path of taking notes on which records sounded better than others, well before the internet. The mono LP in this new set is very similar to the 1972 issue, but with better low end. Admittedly, my days of being a diehard 60’s mono ride or die listener are over. Sure, some mono mixes are cool (especially on 45’s), but when there’s a good sounding stereo mix (or remix), that’s what I wanna hear.

The stereo LP is the best I’ve heard the stereo mix sound, on any format. It’s completely 3 dimensional, and with this music being so rich and layered, I want to hear it with some separation. The richness of the mono is all there, but with an immersive, deep field of sound that’s gonna fill the room and fill your soul.