The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey guys,

I was wondering if anyone knew of a high quality recording of Help Me Rhonda.  Even if it's just a backing track, I'm just dying to hear it in the type of quality that the Pet Sounds stereo remaster had. 

Any advice would be appreciated!

Doubt it gets any better than sounds of summer

Sounds of Summer is compressed as all getout. Honestly, it sounds pretty good on the Andrew Sandoval-mastered comp with 20 greatest hits on it (I can't recall the exact title).

Isn't that just called Greatest Hits Volume 1 or something?

If you're referring to a stereo remix of the song, it doesn't exist, because they don't have multitracks for a few overdubs.

That said, if you want to hear some interesting variations, there's an alternate version on Endless Harmony (more vocal overdubs, different mixing) and the mono backing track can be found on the U.S. Singles Collection.

The Summer Days SOT set has the tracking session in stereo. Mindblowing.

I prefer that alternate version to the single. Those extra vocals really make it for me.

Ugh not me. The final version can't be beat, for me.

I've had this for ages, but only just listened to it - Amazing!

That's certainly the best in terms of hearing what's going on.  I don't quite understand the hesitation to do a stereo mix of Rhonda despite the missing solos.  By definition, a remix is a presentation of the recording in a new way, and at the end of the day nobody would mind the missing solos when you could hear that great track in stereo with some stereo vocals. 

When those horns come in, on the "Rhonda you look so fine" bit, it almost sounds like ska music.

The whole rhythm of the tune is ska. Somehow, that got lost when the vocals were added. All Summer Long has that as well. I can only think that My Boy Lollipop was a big fave of Brian Wilson.

Thanks for the reply, but what is the Summer Days SOT?  What does SOT stand for?

Yes.

I think a new mix could bring some of that back.  I've always held Rhonda out as the best example of what the studio musicians can provide.  The swing that informs the bassline is something only the jazz guys could provide, I think.  The accents are just right.  Also revelatory in the Sea Of Tunes boot are the keyboard sounds.  Those got sort of buried and combined into that monolithic ska upbeat.  But there's a really swell wurly on there.  Not to mention the uke and stuff.  Superb arrangement and performance, not the best mono mix, though, I think.

Nice post. Although to me, Brian's mono mixes are mostly sacred and unbeatable, I agree Rhonda is one where he lost the punch and detail of his backing track.

http://www.beachboys.com/raritiesII.html

Thanks!