Help Me, Rhonda
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| “Help Me, Rhonda” | |||||
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| Single by The Beach Boys from the album Summer Days (and Summer Nights) |
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| Released | April 5, 1965 | ||||
| Format | Vinyl | ||||
| Recorded | February 24, 1965 | ||||
| Genre | Pop | ||||
| Length | 2:46 | ||||
| Label | Capitol Records | ||||
| Producer | Brian Wilson | ||||
| The Beach Boys singles chronology | |||||
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"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.
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[edit] 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. Future Captain and Tennille star Daryl Dragon was featured on keyboards. The single version featured Al Jardine on lead vocals with backing vocals by Carl, Dennis and Brian Wilson, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston.
[edit] 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.[1]
Despite the interruption, the Beach Boys were able to finish the session, and "Help Me, Rhonda" went on to hit #1 on the charts.
[edit] Album versions
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980.
The song was performed by Ricky Martin at "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001)".
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Recording Session of Help Me, Rhonda Animated Version
| Preceded by "Ticket to Ride" by The Beatles |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single May 29, 1965 (2 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Back in My Arms Again" by The Supremes |
