The failed Beach Boys album inspired by a Beatles song: “Too ahead of its time”
Without The Beatles and The Beach Boys, the 1960s would have been devoid of colour. Both groups played vital roles in advancing pop music to dizzy new heights, inspiring artists worldwide to experiment and break boundaries. Most significantly, they pushed one another to greatness.
Competition is an essential driver of growth and excellence. Without the pressure of someone close on their heels, artists, businesses, and athletes alike might grow complacent, letting their standards wane. While feeling threatened can be unsettling, it often serves as the catalyst for greater achievement. A prime example is the dynamic between The Beach Boys and The Beatles, two legendary bands that continually pushed each other to reach new creative heights in the studio.
There was no need for diss tracks or rivalries, as no bad blood existed between the two groups. Instead, their dynamic was fueled by mutual inspiration and admiration. This creative exchange was crucial in solidifying the impeccable legacies of both bands. After the release of Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys sought to raise the stakes again, turning their gaze to Merseyside for guidance in shaping their next chapter.
This incident wasn’t the first time they had used The Beatles in their moment of need, and Brian Wilson later admitted that the Fab Four was a pivotal reason in his decision to make Pet Sounds, an album he poured everything into. He told Paste in 2004: “Rubber Soul blew my mind. I liked the way it all went together, the way it was all one thing. It was a challenge to me to do something similar. That made me want to make Pet Sounds, I didn’t want to do the same kind of music, but on the same level.”
The Beach Boys completed the realm of pop music with Pet Sounds, a masterful record. Furthermore, it gave The Beatles a reason to up their game, which led to the creation of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Over the years, Paul McCartney has heaped immense praise on Wilson and The Beach Boys on numerous occasions. He considers Pet Sounds to be one of the greatest albums of all time and also believes it includes the best song ever written, ‘God Only Knows’.
Following Pet Sounds was an almighty task for Wilson, as it was an impossible album to replicate. For the next step, The Beach Boys chose experimentality on the following project: Smile. However, this would be a step too far, even for the prodigal Wilson.
After transforming the possibilities of the album format on Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys felt like nothing was out of reach. Sadly, the project was too ambitious for their own good, incorporating over 50 hours of sound fragments into a 12-track LP intended to last only around half an hour.
For a band that had perfected the art of simplicity, The Beach Boys needlessly overcomplicated their sound, straying from the very elements that had earned them their revered status. Capitol Records objected to the album in its original form and refused to release it as Brian Wilson had envisioned. After a period of reworking and refinement, the group released a pared-down version of the project in 1967, titled Smiley Smile.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2007, Wilson reflected upon this sorrowful period. He also revealed the Beatles song, which he had on constant rotation while making Smile. “After Pet Sounds, I wanted to take people to an even happier place, which was Smile. I was digging ‘She’s Leaving Home’ but also trying to do something ahead of its time,” he said.
According to Wilson, his only failure was being too progressive. He stated, “Unfortunately, Smile was too ahead of its time—by 35 years.”
‘She’s Leaving Home‘ was inspired by a story that McCartney read about a teenage runaway in the newspaper and featured on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band. McCartney masterfully flexed his storytelling muscles on the song, and the creation weaved its way into Wilson’s heart.
There is also another reason why Wilson is incredibly fond of ‘She’s Leaving Home’. Before it was released, McCartney visited him in Los Angeles and performed it on the piano in his Californian home. Wilson later reminisced, “We both just cried. It was beautiful”.
McCartney and Wilson might have been rivals in the charts, but there has never been a hint of animosity between them. Their relationship was built on the foundations of artistic respect, with ‘She’s Leaving Home’ arriving in Wilson’s life during a tumultuous period when he needed it most. Meanwhile, the same can be said for ‘God Only Knows’ and McCartney.
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