Wouldn't it Be Nice by Charles L. Granata Summary

Wouldn't It Be Nice by Charles L. Granata is a comprehensive examination of the making of the Beach Boys' iconic 1966 album Pet Sounds. The book chronicles Brian Wilson's creative process from conception and composition through arrangement and production, featuring detailed track-by-track analysis and extensive interviews with key personalities including lyricist Tony Asher, Bruce Johnston, Hal Blaine, and Jimmy Webb. Granata explores the musical, personal, and professional influences that shaped this groundbreaking album.

Wouldn't It Be Nice is ideal for Beach Boys enthusiasts, music historians, and anyone interested in studio production techniques of the 1960s. The book appeals to readers who want technical insights into recording arrangements, vocal harmonies, and instrumental details. It's particularly valuable for musicians and producers seeking to understand Brian Wilson's innovative approach to studio sound creation and the evolution of popular music during this pivotal era.

Wouldn't It Be Nice is worth reading for its thorough research and informative content about Pet Sounds. While some reviewers describe Charles L. Granata's writing style as "serviceable" and straightforward rather than lyrical, the book delivers valuable technical details and historical context. Readers appreciate the extensive interviews, track-by-track analysis, and insights into recording equipment differences between studios like Gold Star and Columbia. The revised edition includes new information and recent developments.

Charles L. Granata is a music historian and author with deep expertise in studio recording techniques and Beach Boys history. His qualifications include conducting extensive interviews with key Pet Sounds collaborators, analyzing raw tapes dozens of times, and possessing comprehensive knowledge of Southern California music history and 1960s pop culture. Granata's technical background enables him to explain tonal and harmonic construction, recording equipment, and psychological aspects of the album's celestial harmonies.

Wouldn't It Be Nice covers Brian Wilson's creative vision, the album's conception and composition process, instrumental arrangements, and vocal harmony techniques. Granata provides detailed analysis of recording equipment differences, explains the Electro-Theremin versus original Theremin, and tracks down specific session musicians like the French horn player. The book also examines Pet Sounds' release, its cultural impact, and the interplay with the Beatles' contemporaneous albums during the mid-1960s.

Wouldn't It Be Nice reveals how Brian Wilson turned his back on protest songs and folk rock to create deeply emotional, soul-touching music. The book details Wilson's embrace of advancing recording technology to expertly create original studio sounds that inspired generations. Granata documents Wilson's prodigious talent through interviews and technical analysis, showing how Wilson reached deep within himself to compose music with vulnerability and delicacy while working with session musicians and crafting intricate arrangements.

Charles L. Granata conducted extensive interviews with lyricist Tony Asher, Beach Boy Bruce Johnston, drummer Hal Blaine, and songwriter Jimmy Webb. He also incorporated archival interviews with Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, Paul McCartney, and Capitol Records' Nik Venet. Additionally, Granata interviewed session musicians including the French horn player and Electro-Theremin performer, providing comprehensive firsthand accounts from those directly involved in creating Pet Sounds.

Critics note that Wouldn't It Be Nice, while informative and well-researched, lacks lyrical quality and emotional resonance compared to the album it describes. Some readers found the middle section too technical, getting lost in detailed recording and writing specifics. The writing style is described as a "journalistic collection of quotes and facts" that doesn't capture Pet Sounds' emotional vulnerability. Despite thorough research, reviewers felt the book was "serviceable" rather than inspiring.

Wouldn't It Be Nice dedicates chapters to Pet Sounds' release and its influential interplay with the Beatles' contemporaneous albums. The book explores how Brian Wilson's ambition to create "the greatest rock album ever made" positioned Pet Sounds within the competitive mid-1960s music landscape. Granata includes insights from Paul McCartney interviews and examines how Pet Sounds inspired generations of musicians, demonstrating the album's impact on popular music evolution and the creative exchange between Wilson and his British counterparts.

Wouldn't It Be Nice provides in-depth technical analysis of recording equipment, explaining differences between Gold Star Studios and Columbia Studios. Granata covers tonal and harmonic construction of vocal arrangements, tracking and compression techniques, and digitization processes. The book clarifies the distinction between the original Theremin and the Electro-Theremin used on Pet Sounds, detailing specific instrumental arrangements and how session musicians contributed to the album's unique sonic landscape.

Wouldn't It Be Nice stands out as the definitive work on Pet Sounds, offering unparalleled track-by-track analysis and comprehensive interviews unavailable elsewhere. Unlike more narrative-driven music biographies, Granata's approach is technical and detail-oriented, focusing on production specifics rather than storytelling. The book's journalistic style provides factual depth that appeals to readers seeking technical understanding, though it may disappoint those wanting more emotionally evocative prose about Brian Wilson's genius.

Wouldn't It Be Nice explores how the title track expresses the frustrations of youth and desire for romantic freedom. The song, co-written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, describes a young couple fantasizing about marriage and the ability to "hold each other close the whole night through". Brian Wilson explained the song expressed "the need to have the freedom to live with somebody," capturing universal feelings about wanting what you can't yet have. The track is noted for being "very 'up'" despite its theme of longing.