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. 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 . Both versions feature rhythm guitarist Al Jardine on lead vocals.

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

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: 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 and Brian. 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.
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.

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, 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 , 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 ", 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 .
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.

Album version

;The Beach Boys
;Additional musicians and production staff
Credits from Craig Slowinski.
The Beach Boys
Additional musicians and production staff