Select Few: Kim Wilde’s Favourite Albums | Page 2 of 14 | The Quietus

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

1. Beach BoysPet Sounds

One of my dad’s albums that was in his record collection and got played a lot in the house. It’s one that he particularly loved. I fell in love with it too during the 70s, although my dad would have bought it as soon as it was released. I love the songs. I love Brian Wilson’s voice and I love the use of harmony. When I was growing up, we were always singing harmonies together. My mum was a session singer so we’d often sit around and take harmonies from Everly Brothers songs. In the car you would never hear anyone singing a melody, ever. It’s still the same now. The melodies are for someone else to do! Everyone always takes the harmonies. I was very captivated by the harmonies on the album and how they worked. I loved all the crazy sounds too. There’s never really been an album like it, before or since. It really blew me away as a child. And I think that’s the power of it – Pet Sounds wasn’t just for the more cerebral muso-minded adults. It had a strong impact on me as a 10-year-old child.

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