Help Me, Rhonda

"Help Me, Rhonda" is a song written by Brian Wilson with additional lyrics by Mike Love for American rock band The Beach Boys, of which both were members.[1] The song was first released as "Help Me, Ronda" in March 1965 on the album The Beach Boys Today!. A second recording with a different arrangement was issued as a single under the spelling "Help Me, Rhonda". The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their second chart-topping single since "I Get Around" in 1964. This version was included on the album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965). Both versions feature rhythm guitarist Al Jardine on lead vocals.

"Help Me, Rhonda"
Song by The Beach Boys
from the album The Beach Boys Today!
ReleasedMarch 8, 1965
RecordedJanuary 8, 1965
GenreRock and roll
Length3:04
LabelCapitol
Composer(s)Brian Wilson
Lyricist(s)Brian Wilson, Mike Love
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
Endless Summer track listing
20 tracks
Side one
  1. "Surfin' Safari"
  2. "Surfer Girl"
  3. "Catch a Wave"
  4. "The Warmth of the Sun"
  5. "Surfin' U.S.A."
Side two
  1. "Be True to Your School"
  2. "Little Deuce Coupe"
  3. "In My Room"
  4. "Shut Down"
  5. "Fun, Fun, Fun"
Side three
  1. "I Get Around"
  2. "Girls on the Beach"
  3. "Wendy"
  4. "Let Him Run Wild"
  5. "Don't Worry Baby"
Side four
  1. "California Girls"
  2. "Girl Don't Tell Me"
  3. "Help Me, Rhonda"
  4. "You're So Good to Me"
  5. "All Summer Long"
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
"Help Me, Rhonda"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
B-side"Kiss Me, Baby"
ReleasedApril 5, 1965
RecordedFebruary 24, 1965
Length2:46
LabelCapitol
Songwriter(s)Brian Wilson, Mike Love
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Do You Wanna Dance?"
(1965)		 "Help Me, Rhonda"
(1965)		 "California Girls"
(1965)
Audio sample
"Help Me, Rhonda"
  • file
  • help

Composition

The lyrics of "Help Me, Rhonda" tell a story of a man who was attracted to a woman who then found another man; to aid the healing process, he begs a woman named Rhonda to help him get over her. According to songwriter Brian Wilson, "Rhonda" was not based on a real person.[2]

Wilson later said of the song, "I would've made a better rhythm — it wasn't in the pocket."[3]

Recording

The original version was recorded over two dates at United Western Recorders in Hollywood on January 8 and 19, 1965, with Chuck Britz as the engineer and production by Brian Wilson. The instrumental track has Carl Wilson, and members of The Wrecking Crew:[4] Bill Pitman, and Glen Campbell on guitar, Billy Strange on ukulele, Ray Pohlman on bass guitar, Leon Russell on piano, Hal Blaine on drums and timbales, Julius Wechter on claves, Billy Lee Riley on harmonica, Steve Douglas and Plas Johnson on tenor saxophone, and Jay Migliori on baritone saxophone. Al Jardine sang the lead vocal with backing vocals by Carl, Dennis and Brian Wilson, and Mike Love. The track runs over three minutes with no guitar solo, has a number of false, fade in/fade out endings, and, instead of the song starting with Jardine's vocal, there is a brief ukulele intro.

Remake

"Help Me, Ronda" was originally considered an album cut, but radio stations began to play it, which inspired Brian to rework its arrangement for a single release. Respelled "Help Me, Rhonda", the song's remake was recorded at Universal and Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood on February 24, 1965, again with Britz as the engineer and Brian as producer. Featured on the instrumental track were regular Wrecking Crew members such as Hal Blaine on drums and Carol Kaye on bass guitar. Beach Boys who contributed to the instrumental track were Carl (guitar) and Brian (Hammond organ and Wurlitzer electric piano). The single version once again features Al Jardine on lead vocals with backing vocals by Carl, Dennis and Brian Wilson, and Mike Love. It features a slightly faster tempo, and features a changed lyric ("ruined our plans" from the previous version is changed to "shattered our plans").

The Wilson brothers' drunken father, Murry, sat in on the vocal overdub session, but constantly criticized the band's performance and enthusiasm. His criticisms drove Brian to the breaking point; Brian screamed expletives, removed his headphones, and confronted his father. Shortly after defending his actions, Murry left the studio and the Beach Boys continued. The recording reel continued to record the confrontation, which circulates among fans.[5]

Release

The first version appears on the March 1965 album The Beach Boys Today! as "Help Me, Ronda". This version is included on the Endless Summer compilation album, although it is listed as "Help Me, Rhonda". The single version was released on April 5, 1965. In addition to topping the charts in the US, the single reached No. 1 in Canada (on the RPM national chart), No. 5 in Sweden, No. 10 in Germany and Australia, No. 2 in Singapore, No. 3 in The Philippines, No. 5 in Hong Kong and No. 9 in Ireland. It peaked at No. 27 in the United Kingdom. It was then included on the album Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), released July 5, 1965.

Alternative versions

The instrumental backing of this version was released in 1990 as a bonus track on the CD reissue of the band's 1968 Stack-O-Tracks album. A slight variation, "Help Me, Rhonda (Alternate Single Version)", is on the 1998 Endless Harmony Soundtrack album. This version features a falsetto melody, performed by Brian Wilson, in the chorus not present in any other version.

Live performances

After becoming The Beach Boys' second number one in the United States, it became a regular in the live set. It has been on two Beach Boys live albums: 1973's The Beach Boys in Concert and Good Timin': Live at Knebworth England 1980.

The Beach Boys performed the version with the Grateful Dead on April 27, 1971 at the Fillmore East in New York City. The Beach Boys sang the vocals while Jerry Garcia added his own touch to a one-time collaboration. The venue closed a few months later.

During the early 1970s, The Beach Boys began to change the lead vocalist on the song as both Carl and Dennis Wilson performed the lead during this time. However this experiment was brief as Al Jardine once again permanently took over lead vocals in 1974 until he left the group in 1998, when briefly Phil Bardowell and then John Cowsill took over the lead. However, for the band's 50th Anniversary tour, Jardine once again took the lead.

Personnel

Credits from Craig Slowinski.[6]

Album version
The Beach Boys
Additional musicians and production staff

Single version

Credits from Craig Slowinski.[7]

The Beach Boys

  • Al Jardine – lead vocals
  • Mike Love – lead, harmony and backing vocals
  • Brian Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, Hammond B-3 organ, piano
  • Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, 12-string guitar
  • Dennis Wilson – harmony and backing vocals

Additional musicians and production staff

  • Billy Strange – 12-string guitar
  • Glen Campbell – electric guitar
  • Barney Kessel – ukulele
  • Carol Kaye – bass
  • Larry Knechtel – Wurlitzer electric piano
  • Hal Blaine – drums, timbales
  • Steve Douglas – tenor saxophone
  • Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone
  • Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone
  • Chuck Britz – engineer

Later versions
See also: List of cover versions of Beach Boys songs

References
  1. Slowinski, Craig (2007). "The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today!" (PDF). Retrieved October 27, 2012.
  2. Will, George F. (June 20, 2012). "The Beach Boys still get around". Washington Post. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  3. "Brian Answer's Fans' Questions In Live Q&A". Brianwilson.com. January 29, 2014. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. Hartman, Kent (2012). The Wrecking Crew. St. Martin’s Griffin. pp. 261–263. ISBN 978-1-250-03046-7.
  5. "I'm A Genius, Too! The Murry Wilson Tapes". WFMU. October 10, 2005.
  6. Slowinski, Craig (2007). "The Beach Boys- The Beach Boys Today!" (PDF). Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  7. Slowinski, Craig. "Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)". Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  8. "Jan and Dean's Discography Original Albums 2". Jananddean.com. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
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