Two "Pet Sounds" highlights, the former featuring envelope-pushing instrumentation and production and the latter, a deceptively complex harmonic structure as well as lyrics that were, at that point, taboo for a pop song because of the repeated references to God. The Beatles' Paul McCartney named "God Only Knows" his favorite song of all time.

Brian Wilson built a sizable net worth after decades in the music business and several top-10 hits with The Beach Boys during his career.

Despite singing about surfing and being endlessly labelled as a surf band, the Beach Boys didn't actually sound anything like other surf rockers like Dick Dale or the Ventures. Pet Sounds ' instrumental title track is the exception, with its twangy electric guitar and exotica rhythms apparently having been intended for a James Bond film.

Wilson of the Beach Boys wrote some of the 20th century’s best and most enduring pop songs. These are some of our favorites.