# The 1966 album Paul McCartney wanted to live forever: “The classic of this century”

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-1966-album-paul-mccartney-wanted-to-live-forever-the-classic-of-this-century/
- Published: 2026-07-22T16:30:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-28T23:54:10+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1966-album-paul-mccartney-wanted-to-live-forever/
- Topics: Art, Culture, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- McCartney called Pet Sounds a defining modern classic.
- The 1966 Beach Boys album influenced The Beatles.
- Brian Wilson’s studio ambition remains central to its reputation.

## Summary

Paul McCartney praised The Beach Boys’ 1966 album Pet Sounds as a record far beyond its contemporaries, describing it as “the classic of this century”. The article presents the album as a major influence on McCartney and The Beatles, particularly for its ambition, songwriting and studio innovation.

Released in 1966 and largely driven by Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds helped redefine what a pop album could achieve artistically. McCartney has repeatedly highlighted its enduring quality, suggesting it was made to outlast its era rather than simply succeed in the charts.

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.