Help Me, Ronda
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"Help Me, Ronda" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American pop band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!. The song is notable for being the first major Beach Boys song in which Alan Jardine sings lead (he had a lead vocal on their earlier Christmas album). The song features production by Brian Wilson. There are two versions of the song, this version and the later version, entitled "Help Me, Rhonda". This version (3:04) is over fifteen seconds longer than the latter version.
[edit] Recording the song
The original version of the song was recorded over two dates at Western Recording Studios in Hollywood on the 8th January and the 19th January 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. The single version featured Alan Jardine on lead vocals with backing vocals by Carl, Dennis and Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
[edit] Single version
There are a number of false endings to this version of the song with the volume fading in and out. Brian Wilson re-recorded and improved the arrangement, and released an improved version of the song, renaming it "Help Me, Rhonda", changing Ronda to Rhonda. This re-recorded version has a different arrangement, one word changed in the lyrics, an added guitar part and and added piano part, loses the volume changes, the harmonica, the tambourine, and adds in different backing vocals such as the "Bow-wow-wow" part. The re-released song appeared on The Beach Boys 1965 album Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!). The re-released version proved to be a good move by Brian Wilson with the improved version hitting #1 on the U.S. charts. The original version of the song appeared on the popular Endless Summer compilation.
