Al Casey - Guitar
Al DeLory - Organ, Piano, Tack Piano
Al Jardine - Vocals
Alan Robinson - French Horn
Arnold Belnick - Violin
Barney Kessel - Guitar, Mandolin
Bill Green - Flute, Percussion, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Bill Pitman - Bass, Guitar
Billy Strange - Guitar, Guitar (Electric), Guitar (12 String)
Bobby Klein - Sax (Tenor)
Brian Wilson - Organ, Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Bruce Johnston - Vocals
Carl Fortina - Accordion
Carl Wilson - Guitar, Vocals
Carol Kaye - Bass, Bass (Electric)
Chuck Berghofer - String Bass
Darrel Terwilliger - Viola
Dennis Wilson - Drums, Vocals
Don Randi - Piano
Ernie Tack - Trombone (Bass)
Frank Capp - Percussion, Glockenspiel, Bells, Tympani [Timpani], Vibraphone
Frank Marocco - Accordion
Gail Martin - Trombone
Gary Coleman - Bongos, Tympani [Timpani]
Gene Estes - Percussion
Glen Campbell - Guitar (12 String)
Glenn Ross Campbell - Guitar
Hal Blaine - Bongos, Drums, Tympani [Timpani]
Harry Hyams - Viola
Jack Nimitz - Sax (Baritone)
James Getzoff - Violin
Jay Migliori - Clarinet, Flute, Clarinet (Bass), Horn, Saxophone, Sax (Baritone)
Jerome Reisler - Violin
Jerry Cole - Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Jerry Williams - Percussion
Jesse Ehrlich - Cello
Jim Gordon - Percussion, Drums
Jim Horn - Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Joseph DiFiore - Viola
Joseph Saxon - Cello
Jules Jacob - Flute
Julius Wechter - Bass, Tympani [Timpani], Vibraphone, Latin Percussion
Justin DiTullio - Cello
Larry Knechtel - Organ
Leon Russell - Piano
Leonard Hartman - Clarinet, Clarinet (Bass), Horn (English)
Lyle Ritz - Bass, Ukulele, String Bass
Mike Deasy Sr. - Guitar
Mike Love - Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Mike Melvoin - Harpsichord
Nick Martinis - Drums
Norman Botnick - Viola
Paul Horn - Sax (Tenor)
Paul Tanner - Theremin
Plas Johnson - Percussion, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Ralph Schaeffer - Violin
Ray Pohlman - Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Bass (Electric)
Ritchie Frost - Percussion, Drums
Roy Caton - Trumpet, Horn
Sid Sharp - Violin
Steve Douglas & the Rebel Rousers - Horn
Steve Douglas - Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor)
Terry Melcher - Tambourine, Vocals
Tibor Zelig - Violin
Tommy Morgan - Harmonica
Tommy Tedesco - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar
William Kurash - Violin
The best Beach Boys album, and one of the best of the 1960s. The group here reached a whole new level in terms of both composition and production, layering tracks upon tracks of vocals and instruments to create a richly symphonic sound. Conventional keyboards and guitars were combined with exotic touches of orchestrated strings, bicycle bells, buzzing organs, harpsichords, flutes, theremin, Hawaiian-sounding string instruments, Coca-Cola cans, barking dogs, and more. It wouldn't have been a classic without great songs, and this has some of the group's most stunning melodies, as well as lyrical themes which evoke both the intensity of newly born love affairs and the disappointment of failed romance (add in some general statements about loss of innocence and modern-day confusion as well). The spiritual quality of the material is enhanced by some of the most gorgeous upper-register male vocals (especially by Brian and Carl Wilson) ever heard on a rock record. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "God Only Knows," "Caroline No," and "Sloop John B" (the last of which wasn't originally intended to go on the album) are the well-known hits, but equally worthy are such cuts as "You Still Believe in Me," "Don't Talk," "I Know There's an Answer," and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times." It's often said that this is more of a Brian Wilson album than a Beach Boys recording (session musicians played most of the parts), but it should be noted that the harmonies are pure Beach Boys (and some of their best). Massively influential upon its release (although it was a relatively low seller compared to their previous LPs), it immediately vaunted the band into the top level of rock innovators among the intelligentsia, especially in Britain, where it was a much bigger hit. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi
