The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds Celebrates 60 Years with Interscope-Capitol’s
Definitive Sound Series One Step Edition, Out May 15
Release Inspired by the Legendary 1972 Brother Records Pressing, Sourced from Rare Analog Tapes Discovered in the Archive
Capitol/UMe To Release Vinylphyle and Zoetrope Vinyl Editions
Los Angeles, CA – March 24, 2026 – Sixty years after its release, The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds still ranks among the most revered and influential albums in music history. Cited among the greatest albums ever made, the 1966 masterpiece crafted by Brian Wilson pushed the boundaries of pop music.
To mark the album’s 60th anniversary, Interscope-Capitol’s Definitive Sound Series (DSS) will release a limited-edition pressing of 6,000 numbered copies presenting the album in the original monophonic mix Brian Wilson originally crafted in the studio. The All Analog recording pressed on Neotech VR900 DS 180-gram high-definition vinyl at Record Technology, Inc., using the state-of-the-art One Step process, which eliminates multiple steps in the plating process and delivers the album’s intricate arrangements and vocal harmonies with remarkable clarity. The DSS edition includes a certificate of authenticity detailing the mastering, plating, and pressing chain. The album’s now available for pre-order. Download hi-res art here.
Mastered by Chris Bellman at Bernie Grundman Mastering from rarely used circa-1972 original analog tapes, the new audiophile edition was inspired by the circa-1972 Brother Records’ pressing, first issued as a two-fer with Carl and the Passions – “So Tough” and later released as a standalone LP. Long celebrated among collectors for its striking sonic clarity, the pressing became the blueprint for the Definitive Sound Series edition. With nearly 400 different variants circulating worldwide, debate over the best-sounding version of Pet Sounds has become legendary among collectors and audiophiles.
While researching archival materials, the DSS team and producer Tom “grover” Biery discovered analog tapes labeled“Reprise Master”—Reprise having distributed the Beach Boys’ Brother Records releases. Further analysis by mastering engineer Chris Bellman confirmed that the tapes matched the revered early-70s pressing, with identical running times and catalog references, indicating they were the source for the circa-1972 Artisan-cut lacquers.
“For years I thought the versions I had were great, until I heard that early ‘70s Brother Records pressing,” says Biery. “It felt like hearing Pet Sounds in three-dimensional mono sound for the first time. The balance, the arrangements, the emotional depth—everything came alive. Finding these tapes is like discovering a missing chapter of history.”
In addition to the Interscope-Capitol Definitive Sound Series edition, Capitol/UMe will release a premium all-analog audiophile 2LP Vinylphyle Edition featuring the original album in both mono and stereo, as well as a collectible Zoetrope vinyl edition. They will also release The Pet Sounds Sessions Highlights in multiple formats, which culls 25 alternate takes, a cappellas, and tracking sessions from the 1997 Grammy-nominated box set The Pet Sounds Sessions. For more information or to pre-order the Pet Sounds 60th anniversary releases, visit: https://beachboys.lnk.to/PetSounds60PR.
Iconic Artists Group oversees The Beach Boys’ legacy in partnership with the members of the band and their estates.
Previous DSS titles include Beck’s Morning Phase, Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down, Nat King Cole’s The Christmas Song, Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, A Perfect Circle’s Mer de Noms, R.E.M’s Chronic Town / Murmur, and blink-182’s Enema of the State. All DSS releases will be initially exclusive to shop.capitolmusic.com and Interscope.com.
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