God Only Knows

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Album at Rhino.com

Written by: Brian Wilson, Tony Asher
Produced by: Wilson
Released: May '66 on Capitol
Charts: 8 weeks
Top spot: No. 39

"It's very deep. Very emotional, always a bit of a choker with me," Paul McCartney said of this Pet Sounds ballad. McCartney and John Lennon first heard the Pet Sounds album at a chic London party; the same night, they went back to McCartney's house and wrote "Here, There and Everywhere," which is directly influenced by "God Only Knows." The understated lead vocal by Carl Wilson established the quiet brother as the Beach Boys' secret weapon, but it's the arrangement of French horns, sleigh bells, harp, strings, flute, bass clarinet and accordion that gives the song its heavenly kick. Carl's brother Brian had become fascinated by spirituality and said this song came out of prayer sessions in the studio. "We kind of made it a religious ceremony," Brian said of recording Pet Sounds. The only problem: The use of the word god in the title, controversial at the time, scared off some radio programmers.

Appears on: Pet Sounds (Capitol)

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