Lady (Dennis Wilson song)

"Lady" is a song written by Dennis Wilson that was released with Daryl Dragon as "Dennis Wilson & Rumbo" in the United Kingdom on the 4th of December, 1970 on Stateside Records. The song served as the B-side of the "Sound of Free" single. However, the single was not issued in the United States. The song is also commonly known as "Fallin' In Love". This release was Dennis Wilson's first solo release. By 1977, he would also go on to record and release his critically acclaimed debut solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. Featured on the track is Dennis Wilson on lead vocals and the track also features Daryl Dragon instrumentally on the track. Daryl Dragon would later go onto become famous under the duo of Captain & Tennille - the "Captain" being himself and the "Tennille" being his wife Toni Tennille.

Proposed releases

Also known as "Fallin' In Love", the song was reportedly a part of the unreleased Beach Boys' album Add Some Music. The album later evolved into the 1970 release of Sunflower, and did not feature the song in the final line-up of the album. After missing out on the final track line-up on Sunflower, "Lady" has also been rumoured to have been a part of the tape reel for the album that eventually became Surf's Up, although it once again missed out on being included on the final line-up for the album.

Although a fairly obscure song, on the 25th February, 1971 on the David Frost Show, The Beach Boys played "Fallin' In Love (Lady)". When asked what inspired the song, Dennis replied "my lovely wife, she's an inspiration". Dennis was at the time married to Barbara Charren.

Both "Lady" and "Sound of Free" are in the middle of a dispute about the rights between Capitol and Brother Records. Apart from the long out of print, obscure single version, the only legal means of hearing the original mix of song is on the Super Furry Animals compiled "Under The Influence - A Collection of Musical Influences & Inspirations" released in 2005.

A new mix of the song, featuring a newly-created introduction (edited together from later parts of the track), extended instrumental passages and additional vocals from both Dennis and Carl Wilson features on the Beach Boys' 2009 compilation album Summer Love Songs. This version was created and mixed by Mark Linett, and is credited to The Beach Boys rather than Dennis Wilson & Rumbo.

A re-recording of the song, titled "Flowers Come In The Spring", was done in 1977. Recorded either during or just after the sessions for what became Pacific Ocean Blue, it was considered for inclusion on his then-unreleased follow-up Bambu.

Cover versions

A cover version of the song under the title "Fallin' In Love" by American Spring appeared on the B-side of their 1973 single Shyin' Away. The members of American Spring were virtually The Honeys members Marilyn and her sister Diane Rovell, without their cousin Ginger Blake. Dennis Wilson's brother, Brian Wilson, was at the time married to Marilyn. The song featured Marilyn on lead vocal. It also featured a new instrumental and vocal arrangement by Brian Wilson as well as production by Brian Wilson, Stephen Desper and David Sandler. Although the single sold poorly, it has since become a sought-after collectible. The Shyin' Away single was later re-issued as apart of the re-released Spring album by Rhino Records in 1988. Both songs from the single were also released on the 2004 compilation CD, Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions.

The English band Lush has also covered the song on their 1991 release, Black Spring as "Fallin' In Love". On a year 2000 release, the song was covered and released as the opening track on a Beach Boys tribute album Caroline Now!: The Songs of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. The version was performed by Eugene Kelly.

The Swedish pop band Sambassadeur cover "Fallin' In Love" on their 2008 album Migration. The Spanish pop band Anorak cover "Lady" on their 2006 album Synthetic Pop Covers from the European Space Agency.