God Only Knows What I'd Be Without You - The Beach Boys

Formed in 1961, The Beach Boys, would graduate musically from Californian-sun surf to multi-textured intricately arranged music, earning them a spot as one of the most successful bands from America. Inspired by 1950's vocal groups, Brian Wilson, formed the band as an outlet for creating sophisticated pop music, mainly built around five-part harmonies.

Growing up in Hawthorne, Los Angeles, and initially named The Pendletones, the original group consisted of the Wilson brothers, Brian, Dennis, Carl and their cousin Mike Love. Self-taught on their instrument of choice the group would enlist Murry Wilson, the brothers abusive father, as their manager. Shortly after their formation, and renamed The Beach Boys, the Wilsons released their first single, Surfin, through a local label, reaching No.73 in the Billboard charts. Their chart entry would impress Capitol Records enough to earn them a recording contract.

1962, would see the band in the studio recording their debut album, Surfin' Safari, featuring the single, and title track, which peaked at No. 14 in the Billboard charts. The single would give the band the first of 37 entries into the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, the most by an American band. The success of the single and its B-side, 409, helped to ignite the surf craze.

Now a chart success Capital Records began putting pressure on Brian to come up with more material. By the end of 1963 The Beach Boys released 3 more albums and a string of singles including, Surfin' U.S.A., Surfer Girl, Be True to Your School, Fun Fun Fun, all of which reached the top 10 in the charts.

Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, I Get Around, released in 1964 would be the bands first No.1 Billboard Hit. While the band was having success Brian was begining to focus more on songwriting which was moving away from surf themes into far more contemplative and introspective areas. California Girls would be his first masterpiece with its layers of harmonies and the Phil Spector inspired, wall of sound. The single would be a sign of what was to come next.

With the aid of lyricist Tony Asher, Brian would begin work on Pet Sounds, an album filled with layers of harmonies and complex arrangements. A rock classic, the album featured songs such as God Only Knows, Wouldnt It Be Nice and I Just Wasnt Made For These Times, showcasing the extent of Brian's talents as a songwriter and arranger.

In the summer of 1966, Brian would begin work on what he intended to be a response to The Beatles, Revolver. An avant-pop album in the making, Brians self-imposed pressure, drug intake and paranoia around his position in the band would force him to shelve the project which would eventually be released as Smile, decades later in 2004.

The pressure and being responsible for the bands success would eventually have a negative effect of Brian mental health forcing him off the road. Confined to his Bel Air mansion, Wilson would stay behind writing their music as the band continued to perform live without him. The follow up albums, while containing moments of magic, would fail to have the same impact as Pet Sounds.

Selling over 100 million records worldwide, The Beach Boys, have earned the title as one of the most critically acclaimed and influential bands of all time. Through their long career the band released 29 studio albums and 75 singles, including the 4 No.1 Hits, I Get Around,, Help Me Rhonda,, Good Vibrations, and Kokomo. Along with 1960's artists such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix, The Beach Boys were one of the central figures in the histories of rock.