Good Vibrations

Wilson began recording it in February 1966. It was built from short sections cut across four Hollywood studios, with more than 30 session musicians and over 90 hours of tape through September, which made it the costliest and longest-to-record pop single of its time. Tony Asher wrote early lyrics, which Wilson set aside. Mike Love finished the words on 24 August 1966. Wilson took the idea from his mother's remark that dogs sense "vibrations" from people.

The Beach Boys released it on 10 October 1966, and it reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 10 December, as well as topping the UK chart. It was promoted as a pocket symphony. It went onto Smiley Smile in 1967 at Capitol's insistence, though Wilson opposed that.

The 2004 recording is an extended version with lyrics by Asher and a different bridge, both written in 1966. Alexis Petridis of the Guardian said it was hard to see the point of a new version. Todd Rundgren's near-exact cover on Faithful reached number 34 in the US in 1976, and Wilson said he was very proud of it.