1966
  January   The band tour Japan from 7th-23rd
  February   Brian meets Van Dyke Parks (born January 3rd, Hattiesburg MS, 1943) at a party at Terry
  Melcher's house. Carl marries Annie Hinsche (born December 27th, 1949, Manila,
  Philippines, sister of Billy, born June 29th, 1951, Manila) in LA on the 3rd. The San
  Diego Zoo photo session for the new album takes place on the 10th: reportedly the band
  behave so badly that they are barred from ever returning (according to an article
  published a few days later, the album is currently titled Our Freaky Friends !).
  March   released as a Brian Wilson solo single, "Caroline, No/Summer Means New Love" reaches
  no higher than #32, but "Sloop John B/You're So Good To Me", released two weeks
  later under The Beach Boys banner, hits #3.
  spring   The Beach Boys move their management from Cummins & Currant to Julius Lefkowitz
  & Company. Taking charge of their account is Nick Grillo, who is soon invited to become
  their personal manager. Derek Taylor, ex-Beatles publicist, is employed by the band in the
  same capacity.
  May   Released on the 16th, Pet Sounds, although a breakthrough in production, arranging,
  performing and songwriting - and a huge overseas success - charts no higher than #10.
  However, it does afford Brian artistic respectability in hip LA circles. Also on the 16th,
  Bruce flies to London for three days: armed with a copy of Pet Sounds, he plays it to a
  host of UK musicians and journalists, most notably John Lennon & Paul McCartney.
  July   extracted 45 "Wouldn't It Be Nice/God Only Knows" peaks at #8 (and #39, the last B side
  to chart).  In a move generally, if unfairly (and probably incorrectly), viewed as sabotage
  by Capitol, Best Of The Beach Boys compilation is released and outsells Pet Sounds,
  peaking at #8. During the sessions for "Good Vibrations", Brian meets David Anderle.
  September   sessions begin in earnest for Brian's latest project, originally tagged Dumb Angel but
  swiftly retitled Smile. The sandbox is installed in Brian's Laurel Way house.
  October   as the Smile sessions continue in the band's absence touring Europe, "Good Vibrations/
  Let's Go Away For A While" is released and rapidly becomes the band's third #1 single
  and a worldwide chart success. Anderle is put on the Beach Boys' payroll in order to set
  up Brother Records.
  November   usually cited as the point where he lost track of both the Smile sessions and a firm grip on
  reality, Brian records "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow", part of "The Elements" commonly called the
  'Fire' music on the 28th, and is later much disturbed when a rash of fires break out in LA.
  A combination of his own increasing uncertainty and the band's uneasiness with the
  material on their return from touring lead to a general unraveling of the project.
  December   the projected release date for Smile passes with the album far from completion. David
  Oppenheim arrives in LA to shoot footage of Brian working on Smile for a CBS
  documentary "Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution". Alan & Lynda's first child, Matthew
  Alan, is born on the 9th. Mike and Suzanne's first child, Hayleigh is born on the 27th.
  Dennis & Carol's daughter Jennifer is born on the 21st. In a reader's poll held by the
  British rock weekly New Musical Express, The Beach Boys beat The Beatles as the Top
  World group, 5,373 votes to 5,272.