"Good Vibrations" #1 12/10/1966

A true masterpiece of rock, and maybe one of the greatest musical compositions ever of any genre. It was part of the mad, drug-fueled genius of Brian Wilson, from the greatest album never released, "Smile," and was documented in the movie "Love And Mercy." (The backstory of "Smile" is simply astounding.) This was probably the first hit record that used a modular structure, where disjointed song fragments are tied together. The most distinctive instrument on the record was an electro-theremin, usually heard in low budget horror movies. It cost between $50,000-$75,000 to make and was the most expensive single ever recorded up until then. The Beach Boys used four different studios over a six-month period with at least 17 recording sessions and more than 20 musicians, including many members of the Wrecking Crew, and had 90+ hours of tape - for a three and a half minute single! Nobody is 100% sure who appears on the finished record, however. There were something like 20 different mixes floating around, and the final version that was released...was in mono. An absolutely brilliant, iconic song of the 60's, and one of my Desert Island selections.