PET SOUNDS Sessionography



1. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Gold Star Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
Jan. 22, 1966, 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Engineer: Larry Levine

Drums: Hal Blaine
Bells, tympani, percussion: Frank Capp
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Ray Pohlman
Danelectro bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Jerry Cole, Barney Kessel, Bill Pitman
Piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Accordions: Carl Fortina, Frank Marocco
Saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson, Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton

2. You Still Believe In Me
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Nov. 1, 1965, times unknown
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Jerry Williams
Tympani, Latin percussion: Julius Wechter
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Billy Strange, Jerry Cole, Barney Kessel
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Clarinet: Steve Douglas
Bass clarinet: Jay Migliori
Saxophones: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson

3. That’s Not Me
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Feb. 16, 1966, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Dennis Wilson
Guitar: Carl Wilson
Organ: Brian Wilson

(Note: The AFM contract for this date lists Brian, Carl, Dennis, Alan and Bruce as having played on this track. However, on the surviving session tape, only Brian, Carl and Dennis are clearly audible on the basic track, which includes just drums, organ, one guitar and tambourine. As Brian was on the studio floor, Bruce was in the control booth, helping Chuck Britz direct the session. The tambourine apparently was played by Alan Jardine or an uncredited Terry Melcher; Brian has named the latter on at least one occasion.)

Overdubbed at a later session, date unknown:
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
12-string electric guitar: Glen Campbell
Percussion: Frank Capp?

4. Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Feb. 11, 1966, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Steve Douglas
Vibraphone, tympani: Frank Capp
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Billy Strange
Organ: Al de Lory
Overdub session
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
April 3, 1966, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Violins: Arnold Belnick, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig
Viola: Norman Botnick
Cello: Joseph Saxon

5. I’m Waiting For The Day
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 6, 1966, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Drums: Jim Gordon
Tympani, bongos: Gary Coleman
Electric basses: Carol Kaye, Ray Pohlman
12-string guitar: Carl Wilson
Ukulele: Lyle Ritz
Piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Flutes: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Jay Migliori
English horn: Leonard Hartman
Overdub session
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 6, 1966, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Violins: William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp
Viola: Harry Hyams
Cello: Justin DiTullio
String bass: Lyle Ritz

6. Let’s Go Away For Awhile
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Jan. 18, 1966, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Tympani, vibraphone: Julius Wechter
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Al Casey, Barney Kessel
Piano: Al de Lory
Tenor saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson
Baritone saxophones: Jim Horn, Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton
Overdub session
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Jan. 19, 1966, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Violins: Arnold Belnick, James Getzoff, William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Jerome Reisler, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig
Violas: Joseph DiFiore, Harry Hyams
Cello: Justin DiTullio, Joseph Saxon
Flutes: Steve Douglas, Jules Jacob

7. Sloop John B.
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
July 12, 1965, 12 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Tambourine: Ron Swallow?
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Al Casey, Jerry Cole, Billy Strange
Organ: Al de Lory
Glockenspiel: Frank Capp
Clarinet: Jay Migliori
Flutes: Steve Douglas, Jim Horn
Baritone saxophone: Jack Nimitz
Overdub session
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Dec. 29, 1965, 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
12-string electric guitar: Billy Strange

8. God Only Knows
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 10, 1966, 12:30 a.m. to 4:15 a.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Jim Gordon
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Danelectro bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitar: Carl Wilson
Piano: Don Randi
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Accordions: Carl Fortina, Frank Marocco
Clarinet, bass clarinet: Leonard Hartman
Flutes: Bill Green, Jim Horn
French horn: Alan Robinson
Baritone saxophone: Jay Migliori
Violins: Leonard Malarsky, Sid Sharp
Viola: Darrel Terwilliger
Cello: Jesse Erlich

9. I Know There’s An Answer
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Feb. 9, 1966, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Julius Wechter
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Tack piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Tenor saxophones: Steve Douglas, Jim Horn, Paul Horn, Bobby Klein
Baritone saxophone: Jay Migliori
Overdub (12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.)
Guitar: Glen Campbell

10. Here Today
Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA
March 11, 1966, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Engineer: Bruce Botnick
Drums: Nick Martinis
Percussion: Frank Capp
Tambourine: Terry Melcher
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitars: Al Casey, Mike Deasy
Piano: Don Randi
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Baritone saxophones: Jay Migliori, Jack Nimitz
Trombone: Gail Martin
Bass trombone: Ernie Tack

11. I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Gold Star Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
Feb. 14, 1966, 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Engineer: Larry Levine
Drums, tympani, bongos: Hal Blaine
Tympani, Latin percussion: Frank Capp
String bass: Chuck Berghofer
Electric bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Piano: Don Randi
Harpsichord: Mike Melvoin
Theremin: Paul Tanner
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Tenor saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson, Bobby Klein
Baritone saxophone: Jay Migliori

12. Pet Sounds
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Nov. 17, 1965, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Ritchie Frost
Percussion: Ritchie Frost, Bill Green, Plas Johnson
String bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Acoustic guitar: Tommy Tedesco
Electric guitars: Jerry Cole, Billy Strange
Piano: Brian Wilson
Tenor saxophones: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson
Baritone saxophone: Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton

13. Caroline, No
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Jan. 31, 1966, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Vibraphone: Frank Capp
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Ukulele: Lyle Ritz
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Flutes: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson, Jay Migliori
Overdubs (5 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
Drums (in vamp): Hal Blaine
Electric bass: Carol Kaye
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Tenor saxophone: Steve Douglas

14. Hang On To Your Ego
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
Feb. 9, 1966, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Musician credits are identical to I Know There’s An Answer.



Sessionography compiled by Brad Elliott.

Note: The musician credits in this sessionography have been corrected to include
information that was not known at the time of the 1999 Pet Sounds reissue.




Back to the track notes for Pet Sounds

Back to the main essay for Pet Sounds



Brad Elliott’s home page

This page was last updated Feb 19, 2012.