Brian Wilson was the brain behind much of The Beach Boys’ music, and even his solo efforts through the years have had a touch of magic to them that few songwriters could even dream of. He was a legendary pop songwriter who has since been described as a “genius,” and it’s hard to argue that when you consider how influential the following 1966 songs, written by Brian Wilson, really are. Let’s take a look at a few Pet Sounds tracks that still influence songwriters today.
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice” from ‘Pet Sounds’
When one thinks of the mid-1960s, one often thinks of this pop hit. It’s a simple love song that manages to sound sophisticated and ridiculously catchy. And there’s no guessing why “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” became such a huge hit in 1966. This is one of many examples of how The Beach Boys used vocal layering to create a dreamy effect in this music, which would become the go-to for many a music producer throughout the rest of the 60s.
Videos by American Songwriter
Co-written by Tony Asher and Mike Love, “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
“God Only Knows” from ‘Pet Sounds’
I’m biased. I adore this Beach Boys song. It’s my favorite out of everything in their discography. Those dreamy, layered, swaying vocal harmonies and arrangement are unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. And even with that bias in mind, “God Only Knows” deserves to be on our list of Brian Wilson songs from 1966 that changed songwriting forever. Plenty of Wilson’s contemporaries have called “God Only Knows” the greatest pop song ever written. Even Paul McCartney said it was his favorite song of all time. Clearly, it was influential.
A co-written effort with Tony Asher, “God Only Knows” was a shockingly modest hit. It peaked at only No. 39 on the Hot 100 chart.
“I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” from ‘Pet Sounds’
This introspective song from Pet Sounds showed many songwriters that they could get pretty deep and still come out with a catchy, marketable pop tune. And anyone who has ever felt alienated or like they didn’t belong likely felt seen when they first heard “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times”.
“I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times” was not released as a single and thus didn’t chart. However, it remains a fan favorite after all these years.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
More The List
-
Photo by CBS via Getty Images -
(MANDATORY CREDIT Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) Pink Floyd live at Hakone Aphrodite, Kanagawa, August 6, 1971. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images) -
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 01: Photo of STYX; ltoR John Panozzo, James Young, Tommy Shaw,Dennis deYoung, Chuck Panozzo (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns) -
Rock Group Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) L-R Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, John Fogerty and Doug Clifford pose for a portrait during the album cover session for Green River in 1969 in Tilden Regional Park in Orinda, California. (Photo by Basul Parik/Getty Images) -
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 06: In this image released on October 09, 2026 Lainey Wilson performs during the 57th Annual Dove Awards at Bridgestone Arena on October 6, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images) -
Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images -
DEVORE, CA – CIRCA 1983: Terri Nunn of Berlin performing at the US Festival – partially financed by Steve Wozniak circa 1983 in Devore, California. (Photo by Images Press/IMAGES/Getty Images)
