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Albums First Released in 1966

Studio recording became central to the music itself in 1966, with layered arrangements, tape effects and carefully sequenced albums. Major releases from 1966 include Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, Revolver by The Beatles, Blonde on Blonde by Bob Dylan and Speak No Evil by Wayne Shorter.

Pet Sounds and Revolver made the studio part of composition, Blonde on Blonde expanded the rock double album, and jazz continued to develop through composers such as Wayne Shorter. These changes set up the psychedelic year that followed.

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Our Pick of the Year: Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys

Brian Wilson built Pet Sounds from unusual instruments, close vocal arrangements and songs about uncertainty rather than surf culture. Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows and I Just Wasn't Made for These Times work as individual songs, but the sequencing gives the album a continuous emotional shape. It remains a clear example of the studio used as part of composition.

Explore the year before or after

1965 Vinyl Records  |  1967 Vinyl Records  |  All years