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Paul McCartney tells Rick Rubin about how The Beach Boys influenced The Beatles. It was an all-time creative rivalry and here were key moments when the bands inspired each other: ◻️February 1964 Over 73m Americans (40% of the population) watch The Beatles perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. Beach Boys lead Brian Wilson says Beatlemania "shook me up a lot. They eclipsed a lot of what we'd worked for...So we stepped on the gas a little bit." ◻️ July 1964 In the months after Ed Sullivan, The Beatles rip off a streak of #1 hits including "Love Me Do", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", " She Loves You". In July, The Beach Boys drop the song "I Get Around" and snag the #1 spot. ◻️ December 1965 The Beatles release the groundbreaking "Rubber Soul" album. Wilson is "so blown away" by it that he immediately goes in the studio, smokes a joint and writes "God Only Knows" (which Paul McCartney cites as his favourite song ever). That song kicks off The Beach Boys next album. ◻️May 1966 The Beach Boys finish the "Pet Sounds" album. It's writing, vocal harmonies, consistent theme and use of non-traditional instruments (French horns, sleigh bells) pushes the envelope. They give McCartney and John Lennon an advance listen to the album. McCartney recalls how “Pet Sounds” affected The Beatles: "That was the album that flipped me. The musical invention on that album was wow! I just thought, ‘Oh dear me. This is the album of our time. What the hell are we going to do?’" ◻️August 1966 The Beatles release another classic album ("Revolver") with McCartney writing a few songs inspired by "God Only Knows". ◻️ February 1967 The Beach Boys are working on their "Pet Sounds" follow-up album called "Smile". The Beatles release the song "Strawberry Fields Forever". Wilson hears the song while driving and — years later — remembers his reaction: “I had to pull over to the side of the road…and I said, ‘I’ve never heard anything like this in my life’”. He believed that The Beatles had gotten their first to the sound he wanted for the "Smile" album and shelved the project. ◻️May 1967 The Beatles release "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". They had stopped touring the year prior and spent the time in the studio experimenting (with sounds and drugs). The all-time album is heavily influenced by "Pet Sounds".
