Watch 26 Versions of ‘God Only Knows’ By the Beach Boys and Their Offshoot Bands

The article traces the many performances and recordings of the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”, using 26 selected versions to show how the song and the band’s history have unfolded over roughly 60 years. It notes that the song remains a regular part of Mike Love’s concert set, even as questions surround the future of the Beach Boys’ touring line-up.

The Beach Boys have played the song at least 2,333 times according to setlist.fm, though the article estimates the true total could exceed 6,000; including performances by band members’ solo and offshoot acts, it may be around 9,000. The article also looks back to the 1966 “Pet Sounds” sessions, where Brian Wilson shaped the arrangement before Carl Wilson took the lead vocal, a performance the piece says helped complete the song.