The Smiley Smile Message Board

To Capitol: Please release stereo version of  "Help   Me Rhonda (alternate)" from Endless Harmony Soundtrack on upcoming box release!!

This song is so good, but that added falsetto just makes it for me. With that falsetto by Brian it easily becomes my favourite pre-PS song.  ;D ;D ;D
A stereo release of (perhaps all three versions?) of this song would be highly cherished by the fan community and also be very accessible to the casual consumer.

Do others agree?

Impossible with this version, and the released version, as parts were added on the mixdown to mono.

 :-[
does that inlude the Today version?

Is it weird I like this version slightly more than the released one?

I like the alternate version better as well, so if it's it weird, then we're BOTH weird. There must be others who prefer it though. It's one of the rare instances from that era where I question Brian's judgement, but Rhonda went on to become a #1 smash, so he obviously knew what he was doing (now THERE'S an understatement if there ever was one).

I like Brian's falsetto parts but I don't know if it would have impacted the song commercially. They could have used that as the album cut though and kept the single version the same.

Maybe he decided that those vocal parts missing from the single version were a little too 'doo-wop-y' at a time when he was striving towards something more progressive and new. It really does sound like something The Four Seasons might have released.

I find that if I'm listening to the single version, I'll supply the falsetto "wah wah wah wah wahs" myself, LOUDLY! :)

Brian added the "wah wahs" during the Seattle shows in 1970.

No. I prefer the unreleased single version from Endless Harmony as well. I love the added falsetto, but I do think that Brian made the right choice by taking it out of the commercial single release. I agree that it might not have sat too well with some people who were part of the anti-doo wop movement that was growing, and it might not have charted as successfully.

Did he? On the copy I have it's not there.

Is there more than one Seattle '70 show circulating?

The Carlin bio says he hit the high notes from the rarely played single arrangement.

I can't remember hearing it either. I'll need to check it out although if I remember right the copy I have is quite poor quality so there's every chance it doesn't cut through.

I don't.

I too very much prefer the Endless Harmony mix with the added falsetto part. The song just sounds like it's missing something now if I listen to the original.

Shame tracks are missing and a stereo mix isn't possible. I think it's okay to release this sort of thing as long as it's noted as to why - "Do You Wanna Dance?" as an instrumental*, "You Still Believe In Me" and "She Knows Me Too Well" as stereo but missing one of the leads, etc. As long as the original mono mix is still kept in circulation, I don't see a problem with it. That said, if we never get a stereo mix, the mono mix is still just fine to these ears.

* Doesn't at least one of the leads exist for this? Beyond bootleg format, as some fans have coupled the instrumental with the single lead. Also, I know I've heard a somewhat poor quality version of the doubled lead.

Could this be in reference to the higher "Help me Rhonda, yeah!" that's not on the Today! version?

Me either. Brian Wilson knew what he was doing.

I think he's singing "a-Rho-Rho-Rhonda Girl, a-Rho-Rho-Rhonda girl.."etc.