Kiss Me, Baby

Infobox Single
Name = Kiss Me, Baby


Artist = The Beach Boys
from Album = The Beach Boys Today!
Released = April 5, 1965
Format = Vinyl
Recorded = December 16, 1964 & January 15, 1965
Genre = Pop
Length = 2:35
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)|

"Kiss Me, Baby" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love. It was released as the B-side of the The Beach Boys #1 U.S. hit "Help Me, Rhonda". It was also released by The Beach Boys on their 1965 album "The Beach Boys Today!".

Composition

In November 1969, the Wilsons' father, Murry Wilson, sold the copyrights to the band's songs to Irving Almo for approximately $700,000. [http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/1969.html Beach Boys Timeline - 1969] ] Many years later in April 1992, just after Brian Wilson had won a lawsuit which recovered many of the copyrights to his songs, Mike Love filed a lawsuit against Brian Wilson claiming that he had not been given credit, and therefore hadn't received royalties, on over thirty of the band's songs, many of them hit singles. [http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/1992.html Beach Boys Timeline - 1992] ] One of these songs was "Kiss Me, Baby". The song was originally only credited to Wilson, but Love insisted that he had a hand in writing the lyrics. Mike Love won the lawsuit and the song-writing credit was amended, therefore ensuring future royalties on all of the songs that he had claimed he had a hand in writing.

Recording

The song was recorded over two dates at Western Recorders, both produced by Brian Wilson. Arranged by Brian Wilson, the instrumental track most likely was recorded on December 14, 1964, with Chuck Britz engineering. The vocals were most likely overdubbed at a sesion on January 15, 1965. On the verses it features the group singing in unison with Brian Wilson and Mike Love featured on lead vocals on the chorus. The backing vocals are provided by Brian, Carl & Dennis Wilson, Mike Love and Al Jardine. An A cappella mix of the song was released on the 2001 album "Hawthorne, CA", allowing the listener to clearly hear the complex vocal arrangements and harmonies.

Musicians

*Hal Blaine - drums, temple block
*Peter Christ - English horn
*Steve Douglas - tenor saxophone
*David Duke - French horn
*Al Jardine - backing vocals
*Carol Kaye - bass guitar
*Barney Kessel - 12-string guitar
*Mike Love - lead and backing vocals
*Jay Migliori - baritone saxophone
*Bill Pitman - acoustic guitar
*Ray Pohlman - bass guitar
*Leon Russell - piano
*Billy Strange - electric guitar
*Julius Wechter - vibraphone, bell-tree
*Brian Wilson - piano, lead and backing vocals
*Carl Wilson - lead guitar, backing vocals
*Dennis Wilson - backing vocals

Single release

"Kiss Me, Baby" was released in April 1965 in the United States as the B-side of the band's second U.S. #1 hit, "Help Me, Rhonda". In the United Kingdom, the song was also released as the B-side of the "Help Me, Rhonda" single, which only managed to chart at the number 27 position in Britain.

Album and alternate releases

The song was first released on an album in 1965 on the band's "The Beach Boys Today!" album. A stereo remix of the song was released on the 1998 "Endless Harmony Soundtrack". A Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound version of the song was released on the Endless Harmony DVD as a bonus track. The track, along with the other 5.1 surround sound mixes, were produced and mixed by Mark Linett. An A cappella mix of the song was released on the 2001 archival release "Hawthorne, CA".

References

See also

*List of songs by The Beach Boys

External links

* [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:gifixqrrldke "Kiss Me Baby"] review at Allmusic