Help Me, Rhonda

Infobox Single
Name = Help Me, Rhonda


Artist = The Beach Boys
from Album = Summer Days (and Summer Nights)
Released = April 5, 1965
Format = Vinyl
Recorded = February 24, 1965
Genre = Pop
Length = 2:46
Label = Capitol Records
Producer = Brian Wilson
Chart position = • #1 (US)• #27 (UK)
Reviews =
Last single = "Do You Wanna Dance?"/"Please Let Me Wonder"
(1965)
This single = "Help Me, Rhonda"/"Kiss Me, Baby"
(1965)
Next single = "California Girls"/"Let Him Run Wild"
(1965)|

"Help Me, Rhonda" is a song written by Brian Wilson and his cousin Mike Love. The song was released as a single which was released by The Beach Boys in 1965 through Capitol Records. The B-side of the single was "Kiss Me, Baby". The single peaked at number one in the United States, thus becoming their second number one single in the U.S. after "I Get Around". It also peaked at number twenty-seven in the United Kingdom. The song features Al Jardine singing the gutsy lead vocal, and it is considered by critics and fans alike to be Jardine's greatest vocal performance to date. The song features production by Brian Wilson. There are two versions of the song, this version and the earlier version, titled "Help Me, Ronda". The single version of the song has become one of The Beach Boys best known and best loved songs and features regularly on many Beach Boys Greatest Hits compilations.

Recording the song

The single version of the song was recorded at Universal and Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood on the 24th February, 1965 with Chuck Britz as the engineer and production by Brian Wilson. Featured on the instrumental track were regular Wrecking Crew members such as Hal Blaine on drums and Carol Kaye on electric bass. Beach Boys who contributed to the instrumental track were Carl Wilson (guitar) and Brian Wilson (acoustic piano and Hammond B-3). The single version featured Al Jardine on lead vocals with backing vocals by Carl, Dennis and Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston.

Interruption by Murry Wilson

The recording session of this song was infamously interrupted by the Wilson brothers' domineering (and inebriated) father, Murry, who openly criticized the Boys' singing enthusiasm. His criticisms drove Brian Wilson to the breaking point to where Brian screamed an expletive, removed his headphones and confronted his father. Shortly after defending his actions, Murry Wilson left the studio and the Beach Boys continued with the session. The recording reel continued to roll and recorded the entire confrontation. [ [http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/10/im_a_genius_too.html WFMU's Beware of the Blog: I'm A Genius, Too! The Murry Wilson Tapes ] ]

Despite the interruption, the Beach Boys were able to finish the session, and "Help Me, Rhonda" went on to hit #1 on the charts.

Album versions

Today! version

The first version of the song appears on the 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today!". Though this is the earlier version and it features a different spelling in the title, "Help Me, Ronda". This version runs over three minutes and has the volume fading in and out towards the end.

Summer Days version

The single version, which appears on "Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!)", was re-recorded a few weeks later. It has a different arrangement, one word changed in the lyrics, an added guitar part and added piano part, loses the volume changes, the harmonica, and adds in different backing vocals such as the "Bow-wow-wow" part. It was The Beach Boys' second United States number one hit song. The song was originally considered to be an album cut only; however, radio stations began to play the track and Brian decided to rework the tune. The recut version, which by then had been a hit, was included on the "Summer Days..." LP. It was during the recording of what would become the single version that a drunk Murray Wilson and Brian had their infamous studio argument.

Live versions

After becoming just The Beach Boys second number one hit in the United States, it immediately became a regular in the band's live set. The song has been released on two Beach Boys official live albums: 1973's "The Beach Boys In Concert" and "".

The song was performed by Ricky Martin at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)".

References

See also

*List of songs by The Beach Boys

External links

* [http://www.maniacworld.com/i-am-a-genius-too.html Recording Session of Help Me, Rhonda] Animated Version