Minkin's Music: Pet Sounds

By Jay Minkin

What’s the best area concert this summer? Other than the Jack White led The Raconteurs playing The Agora in August, my most anticipated show is seeing the Blossom Festival Orchestra conducted by Lucas Richman.

Actually, it’s the guest artists who will be gracing the Blossom Music Center stage on Sunday, August 11. The iconic genius behind The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, accompanied by bandmates Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, will perform the group’s influential album Pet Sounds in its entirety.

Pet Sounds was the 11th studio album by the band, released May 16, 1966 on Capitol Records. For this recording, Wilson desired to make a complete statement similar to what he believed the Beatles had done with their album Rubber Soul, released in December 1965. It initially met with a lukewarm critical and commercial response, although classic hits “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “Sloop John B,” “Caroline, No,” and “God Only Knows” were part of this concept Lp. A song that wasn’t quite finished, “Good Vibrations,” was released as a stand-alone single in October that same year.

Pet Sounds is recognized as a historic album that advanced the field of music production in addition to setting numerous precedents in its recording. In 2004, Pet Sounds was preserved in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” The album can be found in the top three of several “all-time” lists.

Along with several other Beach Boys hits you’ll hear that evening, families can take advantage of The Cleveland Orchestra’s “Under 18s Free” program, which is designed to encourage families to attend Cleveland Orchestra and Blossom Music Festival concerts together. Adults may receive lawn passes (two per regular-priced adult paid admission) for young people to attend free. For complete details, visit ClevelandOrchestra.com.

Contact Jay at Blues4Bird@aol.com or post on his Minkin’s Music Facebook page.