Sgt Pepper for me, easily. I grew up listening to that LP spinning endlessly on our family's combo TV/record player contraption and it probably shaped my musical tastes more than any other album. That said, Sgt Pepper does have a very mediocre mid-section (including the slight Lovely Rita, the awful Good Morning and the unlistenable Within You And Without You) while Pet Sounds does contain God Only Knows, perhaps my favorite Pop song of all time. So I can't fault anyone who votes the other way.

I will never tire of "Wouldn't It Be Nice". It's just one of those overplayed songs that I can't get sick of. As someone mentioned previously, had "Good Vibrations" been included on Pet Sounds the Earth might have gone all wobbly.

Here some info on Pet Sounds' influence from Wikipedia:

Paul McCartney stated that "It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water. I love the album so much. I've just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life ... I figure no one is educated musically 'til they've heard that album ... I love the orchestra, the arrangements ... it may be going overboard to say it's the classic of the century ... but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways ... I've often played Pet Sounds and cried. I played it to John [Lennon] so much that it would be difficult for him to escape the influence ... it was the record of the time. The thing that really made me sit up and take notice was the bass lines ... and also, putting melodies in the bass line. That I think was probably the big influence that set me thinking when we recorded Pepper, it set me off on a period I had then for a couple of years of nearly always writing quite melodic bass lines. "God Only Knows" is a big favorite of mine ... very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one. On "You Still Believe In Me", I love that melody - that kills me ... that's my favorite, I think ... it's so beautiful right at the end ... comes surging back in these multi-colored harmonies ... sends shivers up my spine."

Other artists have also cited Pet Sounds as one of the all time classic albums. Eric Clapton stated that "I consider Pet Sounds to be one of the greatest pop LPs to ever be released. It encompasses everything that's ever knocked me out and rolled it all into one." Elton John thinks that "Pet Sounds is a landmark album. For me to say that I was enthralled would be an understatement. I had never heard such magical sounds, so amazingly recorded. It undoubtedly changed the way that I, and countless others, approached recording. It is a timeless and amazing recording of incredible genius and beauty." George Martin, the Beatles producer, stated that "Without Pet Sounds, Sgt. Pepper wouldn't have happened... Pepper was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds." Bob Dylan has said of Brian Wilson's talents, "That ear - I mean, Jesus, he's got to will that to the Smithsonian."

Pet Sounds by a very, very slight measure. I'll take Love's "Forever Changes" over both as the definitive 60s album, though.

another

They're both great, but Pet Sounds ranks #1 all time for me.

I also love "Forever Changes" and "Odessey and Oracle".

The Sgt. Pepper concept was certainly Paul's and the others more or less went along with it (dressing up in the costumes and all), but the music on album itself wasn't really one person's vision. I remember John saying in Anthology that his songs could have gone on any album. But Pet Sounds could easily have been a Brian Wilson solo album; the only contribution the other Beach Boys made were their vocals. "Caroline, No" was even released as a Brian Wilson single.

Definitely! I need to be in the right mood for Sgt. Pepper or Pet Sounds, but I could put on Rubber Soul any time.

A Day in the Life?

I love Pet Sounds but Sgt Pepper is the superior of the two.

Just bumping up this thread. I just bought the new 40th Anniversary Pet Sounds CD + DVD combo. It's VERY nice (at least the audio; haven't cracked the DVD yet. It's a nice package (all fuzzy like the Muppet Show S1 DVD).

Best Buy includes exclusive audio downloads for live versions of Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B and God Only Knows, but they neglect to mention that the downloads are protected WMA files, and hence unreadable to Ipods. I mean after all, how many people out there would want to listen to digital music on their Ipods? Seventy to Eighty percent tops, right?

Still it's a great presentation of one of the greatest albums ever.

With this bump, I'd have to say Sgt. Pepper's by a little

Sgt Pepper's:
1) The bass is incredible on both, but Paul McCartney has taken it to a new ground with "With a Little Help From My Friends" and "Lovely Rita"
2) Pet Sounds just sounds the same to me. Each song sounds the same. Sgt. Peppers defines diverse.

Pet Sounds:
1) 2 Incredible Singles: "Wouldn't it Be Nice" and "God Only Knows Why"
2) Man that Brian Wilson can sing

In the end, I've listened to Sgt Peppers about 1000 times and maybe 20 times of Pet Sounds. Throw in Rubber Soul/Revolver in this poll and those clearly win.

Picked up the new Pet Sounds fuzzy on release date at BB for $17.99 IIRC.

I saw it at Borders on sale for $19.99 and I had a $10 off $20 coupon. Oh well.

Pet Sounds!

Very, very close, but I went with Pet Sounds.

Definitely Pet Sounds for me. As others had said, if Revolver had been a choice, I dunno...

There's a 15 part Pet Sounds podcast series available through iTunes or here (see sidebar):

http://petsounds40.blogspot.com/

I've downloaded what's been released thus far, but haven't listened to it yet (want to hear it all in one big chunk).

Doubt I'll upgrade to the anniversary set any time soon, since I already have the box set. Is the DVD worth it?

That's all well and good but remember, without The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" there would likely be no "Pet Sounds."

While I love The Beach Boys and "Pet Sounds", Brian and the boys best stuff (with exception to one or two songs) still pales to The Beatles' outtakes.

It was to me. I had a lot of the stuff in other forms, but they changed some editing and added more plus a few other things never seen before.

That sums it up for me. I am a huge Beatles fan and not a huge (but like/respect) fan of the Beach Boys but this just 'feels' better. Sorry not a proper word to decribe but when I listen to both all the way through that is what it is.

Don't get me wrong there are some great songs on Pepper.

What albums are on par with Rubber Soul/Revolver that we could have a contest with?

Or would it be Rubber Soul vs. Revolver??

Rubber Soul vs Revolver would be interesting for me to read people's thoughts about. They are so different and so amazing.

Also...what if Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane had been on Sgt Pepper instead of the single?

Rubber Soul has Run for Your Life. It loses automatically.

Hahahhahhah the slide guitar part is great in that song!!!

Aw, come on. It's great because on that album you see John at his sweetest ("In My Life") and at his nastiest ("Run for Your Life"). No, the song that almost sinks Rubber Soul would have to be "What Goes On". I've probably managed to sit through it 3 times my whole life.

Add "Sloop John B" to your incredible singles.

I've got the DVD-Audio version of Pet Sounds and every time I hear it, I think, "Man, I wish I had this back in college when I could still get high every now and then."