The Smiley Smile Message Board

When was this Rock And Roll To The Rescue Recorded

Don't you just Know it..

"Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue" was recorded March 17, 18, 24 and April 6, 1986.

I've always thought this song is rather underrated. I mean, this is a LOW bar, but I think it's one of the better 80s BB tracks, myself. The production is incredibly dated and of its time, and if you've never seen the music video please do yourself the favor of sparing yourself the nausea, but it's kinda funky and I think it's interesting that they chose to have Brian sing it. His screamy, nasal vocal adds something rather raucous to it.

I agree. It's a underrated single that I've always liked. One of my favourite later Brian vocals!

That's one of the worst lead vocals by Brian, ever.

It would've been better for Mike to sing this, as he did when they played it live, but it's a good track. The drum machine sounds dated, but the background vocals are pretty cool.

Have to agree with you here.. This song sounds TONS better than most of The Beach Boys (1985). Some interesting touches in the arrangement (like the acoustic guitars on the chorus), some pretty good full harmony, and I dig Brian's vocal.. Sounds like he's trying to get that old 60's Mike Love sound. Actually the verses remind me a lot of the song Hully Gully, which Mike did sing on the Party album. The production isn't nearly as dated as I'd expect it to be. Not half bad, the 80's cheese doesn't overwhelm it. The lyrics are silly but not cringeworthy at all.

I think this song should have made it onto MIC. It's an interesting song in a sea full of mediocrity or pure crap. I actually don't hate Beach Boys 1985 all that much either.

Do you have info on the April 6 date?  Was that for vocals?  Dates on the AFM contracts are the first three you mention, plus June 6 (the last of these was for a synth overdub)...which admittedly is only three days before the release date of the single, so that might not be entirely correct...

I actually really love this song and I agree its really underrated.

Rocks more than any song on TWGMTR.

A harmless caricature song about a band which had become a caricature.  Nice ditty for those who like the cheez du fromage of the 80's

Were TWGMTR supposed to rock?

How many (non-fan mix) versions of this exist?

Instrumental
Extended
Percadella
7"
12"


(all guesses…)

Love the percadella mix. Funnily enough, that mix and It's a Beautiful Day were the first 2 songs I played (loud ) in the hire car after arriving in L. A after a long flight from Oz 6 months ago. To me, they seem like great  "welcome to L.A" songs. Cheesy, but get you in the spirit

Which version is the longest?

Rock 'n' Roll To The Rescue (Beach Party Mix - Extended Dance Version) [6:35] on Still Cruisin' CD single.

The video is the best thing the boys ever did. Without a doubt ;)

Brian's head is round in that video. VERY round.

I heard this performed live once.  Carl Wilson rocked on it.  Brian was not there.  I liked it much better live, with the vocals of Carl, Al, Mike, and Bruce.  Can't remember if Jeff Foskett was there at that time but  he probably was.


I'd like to have a live copy of the song.  In fact, I'd like to see it done by Brian's band or Mike's band in a current show.

Anybody know where to find a quality live version of this?

There's a live version of it on You Tube, with video, but no Brian.

I've always loved this song. Great rocker, great Brian vocals and group harmonies on the chorus.  Definitely a song for playing loud in the car.  The video is pure cheese but still enjoyable!  :o

- Playback version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxJfuml6ir8
- Original clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WD0X6Um8ZC4
- extended mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh_Aqxhib8o
- live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95W5kGk8hU0
- percadella mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUMrtEJuKZw
- instrumental mix: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG7eOZlrEnQ
- 45 version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Get_LjKsgvM

did i miss some  ;D
Youre welcome  ;)

I agree. Great rock song with good harmony's. This should have made it to the MIC box. Maybe we get a 80 and 90's cd with all the songs from that period.

What a goofy time the 80's were...

Always liked the tune, the video, and Al's live "hoarse' vocal.....and that great cameo by Carl!

It was actually pretty cool in 1986 just hearing Brian sing a lead on a Beach Boys single.  I remember thinking how young Brian looked, compared to the Getcha Back video or the appearance on Solid Gold "performing" Getcha Back in 1985. And the hair--loved Brian's 1986 Pet Sounds-esque hair.

It's probably the thinnest Brian was since high school. You're right, Southbay, at that point (1986), ANY Brian vocal/video/appearance with the group was a welcome sight. And, hey, anybody viewing at that time was thinking, "Dr. Landy, whatever you're doing, keep it up..". Yeah, we were duped, sadly. And, ultimately sadly for Brian. But, you know, even though Brian looked healthy physically, those eyes and that speech pattern, well, you sensed there was still something very wrong...

No doubt, but as 17 year old kid who was just getting into the group and learning Brian's history...to me he looked great, the Landy regimen seemed to be working. He was back in the band and I had a lot of false hope. I thought the late 80's were going to be great for Brian and the Beach Boys. Yeah, we were all duped.

  Liked it at the time. Holds up better than most of their 1985-92 output.

I'm going to have to say that Brian from the mid-80's looked the best he ever did in his entire career. It's a shame that I can't say the same about him mentally

I was fooled, too. He did look great, and I still love the 1988 album, but all the articles that came out to supposedly promote it talked more about Landy than the music. I doubt that all the negative press about Landy helped sell many albums, people just looked at robot Brian and said "that guy is so messed up, what a shame". Maybe so, but he gave us some beautiful songs through all of that pain.

I remember loving this song when it came out, and I still think it's a brilliant song. Great lyrics, great backing vocals and some great instrumental parts. I think it's a strong standout track from the era and should have been on the new box set.

:) Mark

Brian looked even better in the Bruce Willis spoof rockumentary, "The Return of Bruno".  He was also pretty convincing when talking about 'Bruno's' appearance on Bandstand!

"Beaches In Mind" should, but unfortunately doesn't. Suboptimal arrangement.

Not overly keen on RARTTR, however the guitar riff on the fade is brilliant! THAT should've been used prominently throughout, preferably in place of those awful drums...

Now, Now! I'm at the REAL BEACH, the Beach Boy beach!! Wait... Did I get here too late, where are they?  It's just like the beaches in Oz...  Driver, let's check Brian's, head up to Bellagio Road.  wait, some foreign chap says it's his now...the other one, the Brother studio!... gone...The Wilson's old house...what, gone again, at least they left a monument. well - do they live anywhere near here...I got a tour map from some fan online, but it must be forty years old...                                                            smile.  You are in the right place now.  Welcome to the Board Moz ;D       I like both tracks, Al is great on It's a Beautiful Day.  One of my favorite Al tracks.  The soundtrack it's from has a lot of good stuff too.  I even liked the movie.  There's a number by some psychotic oriental chick, that's crazy great.  EDIT:  I went and pulled the record, don't think this will ever get a cd release. Noticed the BB track was produced by Bruce - pretty good for him in 1979.  Two by Eddie Money, remember him? Only one , but a great one by the talented Mr. Nick Lowe - Without Love.  Two by Costello, that had not been released in America yet, but we were all buying the imports anyway.  And the one referred to earlier, Don't you Ever Say No! by Zane Busby.  She had her 15 minutes.  I loved the 70's, the whole decade was, I don't want to say cheese, although some of it was.  Music had a hard time getting on my good side again.  The ship righted, but the best way to say it is 1964 through 1978, for me, and I don't say that too often, where the best years for music.  Then again, it's all of your age.  That has something to do with it.  This is getting too long. Stop.  Subjective excuse, for those that disagree!  I can ramble on sometimes...NEXT POSTER PLEASE!   :p      Football is about to start.