back to the Beatles..
the Beatles and the Beach Boys both hit the music scene in 1962, Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson are 2 days apart in age. from 1962-66, IMO, the Beach Boys stomped all over the Beatles, culminating with Pet Sounds (and the single, "good vibrations"). McCartney heard Pet Sounds, and upped his game..
http://albumlinernotes.com/Paul_McCartney_Comments.html
McCartney began playing the piano like Brian Wilson had been doing, and the McCartney-led Beatles kicked it in gear from 1967-69.. John Lennon was growing disinterested and contributing much less in those years. Wilson was mired in drug addiction and psychosis and quit touring with the group, but he still turned out cuts like "Heroes and Villians" and "Surf's Up" that made the Beatles look like light weights.