Editing Pet Sounds (section)

==Writing sessions==
[[File:At the pet sounds studio 1966.jpg|thumb|From left: Johnston, Melcher, Asher, and Brian at a ''Pet Sounds'' recording session in early 1966.]]

In 1965, Wilson met [[Tony Asher]], a 26-year-old lyricist and advertising jingle writer, at a Los Angeles recording studio.<ref name="Tony Asher interview" />{{refn|group=nb|1965 is the date given by most sources. Others state that Wilson had met Asher during a social gathering at Schwartz's house. Carlin dates the initial meeting between Asher and Wilson to early 1963.{{sfn|Lambert|2016|p=188}} }} After exchanging song ideas, Wilson learned of Asher's abilities through mutual acquaintance [[Loren Schwartz]].<ref name="Tony Asher interview">{{cite AV media notes |chapter=Interview with Tony Asher |title=The Pet Sounds Sessions |others=[[The Beach Boys]] |year=1997 |publisher=[[Capitol Records]] |type=Booklet |chapter-url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Tony_Asher_Interview.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427192653/http://albumlinernotes.com/Tony_Asher_Interview.html |archive-date=April 27, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> That December, Wilson proposed a lyric collaboration to Asher, seeking a new creative partnership "completely different" from his prior work.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=76}}{{refn|group=nb|December 1965 is the date given by Carlin.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=76}} Asher recalled that Wilson called him when the rest of the band were out of the country.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=77}}}} Asher accepted, and their writing sessions began within ten days, starting with "[[You Still Believe in Me]]".<ref name="Tony Asher interview" />

Wilson and Asher collaborated over a two-to-three week period in early 1966, likely January through February, writing at Wilson's home.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=81}}{{refn|group=nb|This is Charles Granata's rough estimation. As of 2003, most of the documentation that could have provided a more definitive chronology of the album's writing had been lost.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=81}} Carlin dates the start of the writing sessions to December 1965.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=81}} In 2009, Wilson himself recalled that he may have been writing with Asher as early as November 1965.<ref name="rubber09"/>}} Sessions typically started with Wilson introducing musical fragments—such as chord patterns or melodic ideas he had developed over time—discussing records for their distinctive feel, or proposing a lyrical theme.<ref name="Tony Asher interview" /> Their preliminary sketches, which they referred to as "feels",{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=84}} were developed with occasional [[marijuana]] use.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=91}}{{refn|group=nb|Wilson's writing process, as he described in 1966, started with finding a basic chord pattern and rhythm that he termed "feels", or "brief note sequences, fragments of ideas". He explained, "once they're out of my head and into the open air, I can see them and touch them firmly. They're not 'feels' anymore."{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=73}}}} Lyrics were typically completed prior to recording sessions, which often commenced immediately after composition,{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=81}} though studio booking times were never planned in advance.{{sfn|Dillon|2012|p=93}}

{{quote box|align=left|width=25%|quote=
It felt like we were writing an autobiography, but oddly enough, I wouldn't limit it to Brian's autobiography [...] We were working in a somewhat intimate relationship, and I didn't know him at all, so he was finding out who I was, and I was finding out who he was.
|source=—Tony Asher<ref name="Tony Asher interview" />}}

Asher maintained that his primary role was to provide feedback on Wilson's developing melodies and chord progressions, though they exchanged ideas throughout the process.<ref name="Tony Asher interview" /> Regarding their lyrical collaboration, he explained, "The general tenor of the lyrics was always his [...] and the actual choice of words was usually mine. I was really just his interpreter."{{sfn|Kent|2009|p=16}} Asher later cited significant musical contributions to "[[I Just Wasn't Made for These Times]]", "[[Caroline, No]]", and "[[That's Not Me (The Beach Boys song)|That's Not Me]]"{{sfn|Gaines|1986|p=145}} and claimed conceptual input on three songs.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=88}} He agreed to receive 25% of publishing royalties, a share he considered disproportionate to his contributions.{{sfn|Carlin|2006|p=79}}

In Marilyn's recollection, Brian worked on ''Pet Sounds'' virtually nonstop, and that when he was home, "he was either at the piano, arranging, or eating."{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=75}} Asher recalled, "I wish I could say Brian was totally committed [to writing the songs]. Let's say he was{{nbsp}}... um, very ''concerned''."{{sfn|Kent|2009|p=19}} After their songs were completed, Asher observed a few recording sessions, mostly those involving string overdubs.{{sfn|Granata|2003|p=114}}

Wilson collaborated on two additional tracks. "[[I Know There's an Answer]]", written before working with Asher, was co-written with Beach Boys road manager [[Terry Sachen]].{{sfn|Badman|2004|p=114}} In 1994, Mike Love received retroactive co-writing credits for "[[Wouldn't It Be Nice]]" and "I Know There's an Answer",{{sfn|Doe|Tobler|2009|pp=22, 25}} though his contributions—aside from "[[I'm Waiting for the Day]]"—are generally regarded as minimal.<ref name="tracks">{{cite web |last=Elliott |first=Brad |date=August 31, 1999 |title=Pet Sounds Track Notes |url=http://www.bradelliott.com/writings/ps2.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090124175327/http://www.bradelliott.com/writings/ps2.html |archive-date=January 24, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2009 |publisher=beachboysfanclub.com}}</ref> The remaining two instrumental tracks, "[[Let's Go Away for Awhile]]" and "[[Pet Sounds (instrumental)|Pet Sounds]]", were composed by Wilson alone. They were originally recorded as backing tracks for existing songs, but by the time the album neared completion, he decided that the tracks were more effective without vocals.<ref name="BrianPopGenius">{{cite magazine |date=May 21, 1966 |title=Brian Pop Genius! |url=http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd420/kwan_dk/MMMay211966.jpg |url-status=live |magazine=[[Melody Maker]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224133015/http://i1218.photobucket.com/albums/dd420/kwan_dk/MMMay211966.jpg |archive-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref>