This week is "In Memoriam" week on CSOTD.
I haven't done a theme week for a long time, and it's due time. Also, already 2025 has seen the passing of some true musical greats, and I just wanted to pause for this week and acknowledge, in tribute, those bright talents that we have lost in this first half of the year.
First up this week is Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025).
As the principal songwriter, arranger, and producer for The Beach Boys, and later as a solo artist, Brian Wilson’s contributions helped shape the sound of modern pop and rock. His work stands out for its emotional depth, ambitious musicality, and pioneering use of the recording studio as an instrument.
Straight outta Inglewood, California, and later growing up in Hawthorn, Wilson co-founded The Beach Boys in 1961, alongside his brothers Carl and Dennis, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Early hits like “Surfin’ Safari” and “Surfin’ U.S.A.” defined the Southern California surf-rock sound, but even in these early songs, Wilson’s talent for lush harmonies and melodic invention stood out.
As the 1960s progressed, Wilson began to grow artistically, moving beyond simple surf songs. He stopped touring in 1964 to focus on studio production and began experimenting with more complex compositions and recording techniques.
One of Wilson's masterpices was “Good Vibrations”, released on October 10, 1966. It is considered one of the most ambitious pop singles ever produced. The song’s title came from a remark Wilson’s mother made about dogs picking up “good vibrations” from people’s energy. He recorded over 90 hours of tape, across multiple studios, with sessions beginning during the Pet Sounds era and continuing for months. Collaborator Van Dyke Parks was originally involved in lyrical ideas (and later SMiLE), but Tony Asher and Mike Love helped craft the final words.
The song includes modular recording—short, self-contained musical sections that were later spliced together, something quite radical at the time. It features unusual instruments like the Electro-Theremin, cello triplets, and layered vocal harmonies.
Today, “Good Vibrations” is routinely ranked among the greatest songs of all time (e.g., Rolling Stone, Mojo). The song is viewed as a turning point in pop music, showing that chart-topping singles could also be artistically daring.
Brian Wilson’s work—especially Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations—forever changed the landscape of popular music, proving that pop could be both experimental and deeply emotional. His legacy as a visionary artist continues to inspire generations of musicians.
