Born in Inglewood, California back in June 2, 1942, just two days after Paul McCartney, the legendary Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson is certainly one of the most influential artists of all time. He not only was important in the early days of the band, when they were still focused on Surf music, but he was essential when they made “Pet Sounds” in 1966, which became one of the most praised records in the history of music.
A fundamental part of the history of Rock and Roll, Wilson had the chance to see up-close the evolution of music and over the decades talked about many bands. He even revealed once, which is his favorite album of all time.
The album that Brian Wilson said is his favorite of all time
Although Brian Wilson loves groups like The Beatles and Elton John, when he was asked in an interview with Napster in 2011 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) which was his favorite album of all time, he mentioned one made by The Rolling Stones.
“My favorite album of all time is (The Rolling Stones) ‘Between the Buttons’ (1967). Especifically, one of the things in that album that blew me away the most was a song called ‘My Obsession’. I was invited down to The Rolling Stones studio the night they mixed down ‘My Obsession’.”
“I always passed out with excitement, I could not believe that record. It was unbelievably groove of a record I ever heard in my life. We were all experimenting with all different kinds of sounds. The Stones were really kicking butt with ‘My Obsession’. We kicked a little butt with ‘Salt Lake City’ and an album called ‘Summer Days and Summer Nights’, stuff like that,” Brian Wilson said.
Brian really loves that album and in an interview with Spin in 2021 he listed that record as one he can’t live without. He said: “At least for today…I’m thinking about this album. The song ‘My Obsession’ is, well, I’m obsessed with it.”
He believes The Rolling Stones played their instruments better than the Beach Boys
Talking with The New York Times in 2004, Brian was asked if the Beach Boys were more “artistically adventurous” than the Rolling Stones. The musician said that he thought both bands were the same when it came to that but that the Stones were better players. “I think we’re about even. The Beach Boys were a pretty good singing group. But the Stones played their instruments better,” Brian Wilson said.
The Rolling Stones guitarist and songwriter Keith Richards also admires the American Band. He even revealed once which are some of his favorite songs from their discography.
In a statement featured on Wilson’s official website, the guitarist said Brian did “well constructed songs”.
“’Round, round get around / I get around’. I thought that was brilliant. Brian Wilson had something. ‘In My Room’, ‘Don’t Worry Baby.’ I was more interested in their B-sides, the ones he slipped in. There was no particular correlation with what we were doing. So I could just listen to it on another level. I thought these are very well constructed songs,” Keith Richards said.