Wouldn't It Be Nice / God Only Knows

by The Beach Boys

Wouldn't It Be Nice / God Only Knows cover art
  • Type: Single
  • Released: 18 July 1966
  • Label: Capitol
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 5:08
  • Community rating: 4.76/5 from 6 ratings

Artists on this release: Brian Wilson, Tony Asher

Album Notes & Community Reviews

This pairing represents the emotional and structural pinnacle of Brian Wilson's 'Pet Sounds' era, bringing symphonic complexity to teenage pop narratives. Utilizing the Wrecking Crew session musicians, Wilson incorporated unorthodox instruments like accordions, French horns, and harpsichords into dense, Wall of Sound-inspired arrangements. The celestial vocal harmonies mask an undercurrent of vulnerability and spiritual doubt uncommon in mid-sixties radio.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic, vocal-group, wall-of-sound, orchestral, soaring

Tracklist

  1. Wouldn't It Be Nice (2:22)
  2. God Only Knows (2:46)

Credits

More from The Beach Boys: full discography