User:Santa Claus of the Future/BBB/Rhonda

"Help Me, Rhonda" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American pop band The Beach Boys. The song was the band's second number one single in the U.S. and only the second Beach Boys song to feature an Al Jardine lead vocal. The song, originally titled "Help Me, Ronda", was first released on the 1965 album The Beach Boys Today!. Before that album was released, however, Wilson had already begun to record a new version of the song. This new version (with the more well-known "Rhonda" spelling) became the more famous recording, reaching the top of the charts for two weeks in May 1965.

Composition
"'I wrote 'Help Me, Rhonda' one night when I was fooling around on the piano, imitating Bobby Darin singing 'Mack the Knife'. I wanted to come up with a cool shuffle beat. After several hours, I'd done it.' - Brian Wilson"

"I wrote "Help Me, Rhonda" one night when I was fooling around on the piano, imitating Bobby Darin singing "Mack the Knife". I wanted to come up with a cool shuffle beat. After several hours, I'd done it."

- Brian Wilson

"Help Me, Rhonda" is in verse/chorus form. The chorus was heavily influenced by the harmonica part to "Fannie Mae".

The song was originally credited just to Brian Wilson. Mike Love's name was added as a result of a lawsuit filed by him against Wilson in the 1990s.

Original Recording
The original version of the song was recorded over two dates at Western Recording Studios in Hollywood. The instrumental track was recorded on January 8, 1965, featuring a twelve-man band. The 31st take was used. On January 19, The Beach Boys overdubbed their vocals and handclaps onto the track. For both sessions, Chuck Britz was the engineer, and Brian Wilson was the producer

musicians

 * Hal Blaine - drums, timbales
 * Glen Campbell - 12-string guitar
 * Steve Douglas - tenor saxophone
 * Al Jardine - lead vocals
 * Plas Johnson - tenor saxophone
 * Mike Love - backing vocals
 * Jay Migliori - baritone saxophone
 * Bill Pitman - electric guitar
 * Ray Pohlman - bass guitar
 * Billy Lee Riley - harmonica
 * Leon Russell - piano
 * Billy Strange - ukulele
 * Ron Swallow - tambourine
 * Julius Wechter - claves
 * Brian Wilson - backing vocals
 * Carl Wilson - 12-string guitar, backing vocals
 * Dennis Wilson - backing vocals

Single recording
The song was originally considered to be an album cut only, but radio stations began to play the track and Brian decided to rework and re-record it. The single version of the song was recorded at Universal and Radio Recorders studios in Hollywood on February 24, 1965, again with Chuck Britz as the engineer and Brian Wilson as producer.

Interruption by Murry Wilson
The recording session of this song was infamously interrupted by the Wilson brothers' father, Murry, who openly criticized the Boys' enthusiasm. His criticisms drove Brian Wilson to breaking point and 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 which circulates among fans.

musicians

 * Hal Blaine - drums, timbales
 * Glen Campbell - electric guitar
 * Steve Douglas - tenor saxophone
 * Al Jardine - lead vocals
 * Plas Johnson - tenor saxophone
 * Carol Kaye - bass guitar
 * Barney Kessel - ukulele
 * Larry Knechtel - electric piano
 * Mike Love - backing vocals
 * Jay Migliori - baritone saxophone
 * Don Randi - electric piano
 * Howard Roberts - ukulele
 * Leon Russell - piano
 * Billy Strange - 12-string guitar
 * unknown - upright bass
 * Julius Wechter - tambourine
 * Brian Wilson - piano, organ, backing vocals
 * Carl Wilson - 12-string guitar, backing vocals
 * Dennis Wilson - tambourine, backing vocals

Versions and releases
The first version of the song appears on the 1965 album The Beach Boys Today! as "Help Me, Ronda", released March 8, 1965. This version runs over three minutes and has a number of false endings with the volume fading in and out; it is included on the Endless Summer compilation album.

The single version, which has a noticeably different arrangement, and one word changed in the lyrics, was released on April 5, 1965. In addition to topping the charts in the US, the single also reached #1 in Canada (on the RPM national chart), #5 in Sweden, #10 in Germany and Australia, #2 in Singapore, #3 in The Philippines, #5 in Hong Kong and #9 in Ireland. It peaked at number twenty-seven in the United Kingdom.

The new single version was subsequently included on the album Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!), released June 28, 1965. The instrumental backing track of this version was released in 1968 on the band's Stack-O-Tracks album.

A slight variation, called "Help Me, Rhonda (Alternate Single Version)," is included on the 1998 Endless Harmony Soundtrack album. This version adds a wordless falsetto from Brian Wilson over the chorus.

The song is featured on most Beach Boys hits compilations; typically the single version is used.

Live versions
After becoming The Beach Boys second number one hit in the United States, it immediately became a regular in the band's live set. It 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 also released by Brian Wilson on his 2000 live album Live at the Roxy Theatre and by Al Jardine on his album Live in Las Vegas.

The song was performed by Ricky Martin at 2001's "An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson".

Cover versions
Johnny Rivers' cover in 1975 on his "New Lovers And Old Friends" album (with an assist from Brian Wilson on back-up vocals) reached #22 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A slow, reflective cover of the song appears on the 1998 album Toxic Swamp And Other Love Songs by Kenny Young And The Eggplants.