Tricia aka Little Darlin' (unreleased song)

[Jason Penick]

So I was going back and revisiting a lot of Beach Boys solo stuff recently, and I came across this track labelled "Tricia" on my copy of First Love.

Now the audio is pretty horrendous on my copy, but I could hear it well enough to make out what I believed to be Carl prominently featured on harmonies. Then it hit me: I know where I've heard this bridge melody before. It's the same as "Must Be a Miracle" from Wilson/Paley!

I hop on over to Mr. Doe's site to confirm evidence of BW involvement. Not much to go on there but a partial writing credit (Love ?) and a recording date of 10-11/78. However it turns out "Tricia" does NOT appear to be part of First Love after all, though it was worked on during the same timespan (as was "Glow Crescent Glow", but that's a different matter entirely).

So my question here is, based on likely Brian Wilson (co-)authorship and the seeming presence of Carl on background vocals, is it time to lift this winning song out of the Mike Love solo ghetto and elevate it to the status of legitimate lost-Beach Boys cut?

It seems that some of the songs on L.A. and KTSA likely had fewer Beach Boys involved than on "Tricia", and I think they screwed the pooch by not including this catchy tune over some of the clunkers that made it. Maybe it had something to do with the Tricia in question, whether that be Mrs. Roach Campo or then-Miss Nixon.

Anyway, I'd just be curious to know what peoples' thoughts are on this track. I find myself digging it quite a bit.

[Jason Penick]

YouTube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC7DyhoDx6s

[Aomdiddlywalla]

Always loved this track, a great 'Sandy' re-write.
Actually I like a lot of First Love and would like a clean copy, as all the versions I've heard are 4th generation at best.

[Micha]

Good vocal performance by Mike here, not as creepily nasal as way too often during that era. Not my favorite kind of arrangement though.

[Rocker]

Always loved this. I think - a Aomdiddlywalla mentioned - it is partly a "Sandy/Sherry (later She says that) she needs me" rewrite. And I'm not sure that is Carl in the background. I always thought it could be him but iirc I was was told it was someone else.

[Michael Edward Osbourne]

Probably my favorite Mike Love solo track of all time. Great tune.

[bgas]

I can't listen to the track at all, hate the instruments.

[Matt Bielewicz]

Meh. It's just Sandy/Sherry rewritten (again), in a much more clumsy and clod-hopping arrangement than the original...

Sometimes, I really wish Brian had just FINISHED Sandy/Sherry/Tricia/whatever in 1965. It would be a great song with a beautiful 1965 vocal and a fantastic twist on the chord progression at the end. Instead, we have all of these rewrites, none of which quite deliver on the promise of the original. That includes Brian's multiple attempts, in my opinion, by the way. I'm glad the 1975 Sherry finally got an official release on MiC last year, but even though it's closest in time to the original, I still think the track re-record lacks the lightness of touch of the unfinished 1965 recording. Oh, and of course, it appears to have a mortally wounded, chain-smoking walrus bellowing on it instead of Brian Wilson...

[Jason Penick]

Wow, that's crazy-- I didn't even notice the similarities to Sandy/Sherry/whatever until you guys pointed it out, but now it's painfully obvious. Again, it just goes to show how Brian never lets a good hook go unused (see also the bridge popping up later in "Must Be a Miracle").

It's interesting to see peoples' feelings on this song ranging from love it to hate it. Personally I enjoy the arrangement quite a bit: the way the bassline neatly underpins the verse contrasts nicely with the spacy "Little Pad" sounding steel guitars on the bridge.

Hopefully the PTB will see fit to exhume this track for a future rarities collection.

[Gerry]

You know, some of you guys have absolutely no respect for Brian Fuckin' Wilson. I'd rather hear a chain-smoking BW sing this than anybody else. Why do you even haunt this board.

[zachrwolfe]

‍

[Jason Penick]

Anybody who comes to this board to disrespect Brian Wilson is a fucking idiot.

Can we bring it back to this song? I happen to love it; others may not. Bring all your "Tricia" love or hate here.

[RangeRoverA1]

I can't listen to the track at all, hate the instruments.

Tell me about it! Whose idea it was to play guitar in a "Hawaiian" style? Horrid. If they tuned in guitar differently, it might have benefitted; not the worst melody & I like Mike's singing quite a bit. As for Sherry/Tricia connection, I'll take transition up anytime. And Sherry's just more interesting, it's got hooks.

[Smilin Ed H]

Didn't he re-record some tracks for a possible 81 release? Wonder if he re-recorded this too. The production has a bit of an 80s feel.  Think I hear Carl too.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Meh. It's just Sandy/Sherry rewritten (again), in a much more clumsy and clod-hopping arrangement than the original...

Sometimes, I really wish Brian had just FINISHED Sandy/Sherry/Tricia/whatever in 1965. It would be a great song with a beautiful 1965 vocal and a fantastic twist on the chord progression at the end. Instead, we have all of these rewrites, none of which quite deliver on the promise of the original. That includes Brian's multiple attempts, in my opinion, by the way. I'm glad the 1975 Sherry finally got an official release on MiC last year, but even though it's closest in time to the original, I still think the track re-record lacks the lightness of touch of the unfinished 1965 recording. Oh, and of course, it appears to have a mortally wounded, chain-smoking walrus bellowing on it instead of Brian Wilson...

Nailed it (except for the last bit, which is overly harsh IMO). "Sandy" gets my vote for most unfortunate song to remain unfinished, tantalizing glimpse of what might have been. There's something uniquely transportive about the tune, and a crystalline, perfectly realized '65 rendition would have been unbelievably great.

[Rocker]

Tell me about it! Whose idea it was to play guitar in a "Hawaiian" style?

Listen to the lyrics at that point and I guess you'll understand.

Can we bring it back to this song? I happen to love it; others may not. Bring all your "Tricia" love or hate here.

As I said before, I really like this. I'm a fan of the whole "Sandy/Sherry/Tricia/She says.." recordings. But I think that "Sherry" is the worst because it so obviously takes from the Four Seasons which to me sounds very forced.
The best imo is what eventually got released, "She says that she needs me". Even the production works mostly very well. It's one of the highlights of Brian's solo works for me. Just a terrific song.

[joshferrell]

can you imagine a if instead of "Bull Sessions" Brian added "Guess I'm dumb" as a beach boys track and if he would have placed "Sandy" somewhere either on Today or SDSN? 

[Bittersweet-Insanity]

Mike Love, should you come across this thread, please re-record or release a pristine version of this awesome song.