This list of Session players for the recording of Pet Sounds is from the Stereo/Mono CD (1999)
Capitol 72435-21241-2-1
1. Wouldn't It Be Nice
Gold Star Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
January 22, 1966, 7pm to 11:30pm
Engineer: Larry Levine
Drums: Hal Blaine
Bells, Tympani, Percussion: Frank Capp
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carole Kaye
Guitars: Jerry Cole, Bill Pittman
Mandolins: Barney Kessel, Ray Pohlman
Piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtal
Accordions: Carl Fortina, Frank Marocco
Saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson, Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton
2. You Still Believe In Me
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
November 1, 1965, times unknown
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Jerry Williams
Typani, Latin Percussions: Julius Wechter
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Jerry Cole, Barney Kessel, Billy Strange
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Clarinet: Steve Douglas
Bass Clarinet: Jay Migliori
Saxophones: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson
3. That's Not Me
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
February 16, 1966, 2pm to 5pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Dennis Wilson
Guitar: Carl Wilson
Organ: Brian Wilson
(NOTE: The AFM contact for this date lists Brian, Carl, Dennis, Alan and Bruce as having played on this track. However, on the surviving session tape, only Brian, Carl and Dennis are clearly audible on the basic track, which includes just drums, organ, one guitar and tambourine. As Brian was on the studio floor, Bruce was in the control booth, helping Chuck Britz direct the session. The tambourine apparently was played by Alan Jardine or an uncredited Terry Melcher; Brian has named the latter on at least one occasion.)
Overdubbed at a later session:
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
12-String Electric Guitar: Glen Campbell
Percussion: Frank Capp?
4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
February 11, 1966, 9am to 12:30pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Steve Douglas
Vibraphone, Tympani: Frank Capp
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Billy Strange
Organ: Al de Lory
Overdub Session:
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
April 3, 1966, 10pm to 1am
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Violins: Arnold Belnick, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp, Tibor Zelig
Viola: Norman Botnick
Cello: Joseph Saxon
5. I'm Waiting For The Day
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 6, 1966, 2pm to 5pm
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Drums: Jim Gordan
Tympani, Bongos: Gary Coleman
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitar: Ray Pohlman
Ukulele: Lyle Ritz
Piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtel
Flutes: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Jay Migliori
English Horn: Leonard Hartman
Overdub Session:
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 6, 1996, 5pm to 8pm
Engineer: H. Bowen David
Violins: William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp
Viola: Harry Hyams
Cello: Justin DiTullio
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
6. Let's Go Away For A While
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
January 18, 1966, 9:30am to 12:30pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Tympani, Vibraphone: Julius Wechter
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Al Casey, Barney Kessel
Piano: Al de Lory
Tenor Saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson
Baritone Saxophones: Jim Horn, Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton
Overdub Session:
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
January 19, 1966, 3pm to 6pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Violins: Arnold Belnick, James Getzoff, William Kurasch, Leonard Malarsky, Jerome Reisler, Ralph Schaeffer, Sid Sharp
Violas: JosephDiFiore, Harry Hyams
Cello: Justin DiTullio, Joseph Saxon
Flutes: Steve Douglas, Jules Jacob
7. Sloop John B
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
July 12, 1965, 12am to 3am
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Tamourine: Ron Swallow?
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Al Casey, Jerry Cole, Billy Strange
Organ: Al de Lory
Glockenspiel: Frank Capp
Clarinet: Jay Migliori
Flutes: Steve Douglas, Jim Horn
Baritone Saxophone: Jack Nimitz
Overdub Session:
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
December 29, 1965, 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
12-String Electric Guitar: Billy Strange
8. God Only Knows
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
March 10, 1966, 12:30am to 4:15am
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Jim Gordon
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Danelectro Bass: Ray Pohlman
Piano: Don Randi
Organ: Larry Knechtal
Accordions: Carl Fortina, Frank Marocco
Clarinet, Bass Clarinet: Leonard Hartman
Flutes: Bill Green, Jiim Horn
French Horn: Alan Robinson
Baritone Saxophone: Jay Migliori
Violins: Leonard Malarsky, Sid Sharp
Viola: Darrel Terwilliger
Cello: Jesse Erlich
9. I Know There's An Answer
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
February 9, 1966, 9am to 12:30pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Percussion: Julius Wechter
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Tack Piano: Al de Lory
Organ: Larry Knechtal
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Tenor Saxophone: Steve Douglas, Jim Horn, Paul Horn, Bobby Klein
Baritone Saxophone: Jay Migliori
Overdub (12:30pm to 1pm)
Guitar: Glen Campbell
10. Here Today
Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA
March 11, 1966, 7pm to 10:30pm
Engineer: Bruce Botnick
Drums: Nick Martinis
Percussion: Frank Capp
Tambourine: Terry Melcher
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Al Casey, Mike Deasy
Piano: Don Randi
Organ: Larry Knechtal
Baritone Saxophones: Jay Migliori, Jack Nimitz
Trombone: Gail Martin
Bass Trombone: Ernie Tack
11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Gold Star Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA
February 14, 1966, 7:30pm to 11:30pm
Engineer: Larry Levine
Drums, Tympani, Bongos: Hal Blaine
Tympani, Latin Percussion: Frank Capp
String Bass: Chuck Berghofer
Electric Bass: Ray Pohlman
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Piano: Don Randi
Harpsichord: Mike Melvoin
Theremin: Paul Tanner
Harmonica: Tommy Morgan
Tenor Saxophones: Steve Douglas, Plas Johnson, Bobby Klein
Baritone Saxophone: Jay Migliori
12. Pet Sounds
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
November 17, 1965, 2pm to 6pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Ritchie Frost
Percussion: Ritchie Frost, Bill Green, Plas Johnson
String Bass: Lyle Ritz
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Acoustic Guitar: Tommy Tedesco
Electric Guitars: Jerry Cole, Billy Strange
Piano: Brian Wilson
Tenor Saxophones: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson
Baritone Saxophone: Jay Migliori
Trumpet: Roy Caton
13. Caroline No
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
January 31, 1966, 2pm to 5pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Drums: Hal Blaine
Vibraphone: Frank Capp
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Guitars: Glen Campbell, Barney Kessel
Ukulele: Lyle Ritz
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Flutes: Bill Green, Jim Horn, Plas Johnson, Jay Migliori
Overdubs (5pm to 6pm):
Drums: (in vamp) Hal Blaine
Electric Bass: Carol Kaye
Harpsichord: Al de Lory
Tenor Saxophone: Steve Douglas
14. Hang On To Your Ego
Western Recorders, Hollywood, CA
February 9, 1966, 9am to 12:30pm
Engineer: Chuck Britz
Musician credits are identical to I Know There's An Answer.
Musician credits followed by "?" indicate speculative participation in session.
Some discrepancies exist between the session information presented here and the similar information published in The Pet Sounds Sessions boxed set. In the several years since the release of the Pet Sounds Sessions, further research has produced additional informatino relating to the sessions. The information presented here is the most accurate data available as of the release of this album.
