"Help Me Rhonda" from the box-set - Preview

[Quzi]

According to AGD's site, Blondie and Ricky joined the band in June 1971 and Bruce left in April 1972.

[MBE]

Ricky played a few 1971 dates but they were not made Beach Boys until early 1972.

[Phoenix]

A nice pic from the short time there were eight active Beach Boys (including Brian):

http://www.chuckpulin.com/photos.php?photo=3540&origin=%2Fphotos.php%3Fview%3Dsheet%26start%3D144

[SonicVolcano]

A nice pic from the short time there were eight active Beach Boys (including Brian):

http://www.chuckpulin.com/photos.php?photo=3540&origin=%2Fphotos.php%3Fview%3Dsheet%26start%3D144

This is probably the era where they looked the coolest. Love the hairstyles and clothing from that period.

[jimmy1949]

I think that is Al not Brian...

[Wrightfan]

L to R I believe is:
Al
Dennis
Carl
Bruce
Ricky
Blonde
Mike

[EgoHanger1966]

A nice pic from the short time there were eight active Beach Boys (including Brian):

http://www.chuckpulin.com/photos.php?photo=3540&origin=%2Fphotos.php%3Fview%3Dsheet%26start%3D144

This is probably the era where they looked the coolest. Love the hairstyles and clothing from that period.

And is that a beer in Bruce's hand?!?!?!?!?!

[bgas]

A nice pic from the short time there were eight active Beach Boys (including Brian):

http://www.chuckpulin.com/photos.php?photo=3540&origin=%2Fphotos.php%3Fview%3Dsheet%26start%3D144

This is probably the era where they looked the coolest. Love the hairstyles and clothing from that period.

And is that a beer in Bruce's hand?!?!?!?!?!

Budweiser

[Smilin Ed H]

But he didn't inhale.

[RangeRoverA1]

You can download the MP3 here:

http://www.wikiupload.com/ZGH8353V8NHC28I

Thanks for the link, PongHit! That was a very generous gesture. I certainly like getting the songs for free.

About the song: interesting to hear Help Me, Rhonda from different angle. Sounds very stylish, I'm actually quite impressed by Dennis's singing. It has slight hints of bluesy style, to my ears. I would never have thought that HMR - Al's staple - can live on its own without him on leads. However, I still think that Al is the best choice for the song; its joyful mood fits exactly to his type of voice. Plus, I agree with some posters that the arrangements on the studio v-n can't be outdone.

[Phoenix]

I think that is Al not Brian...

Sorry for the confusion but there are only seven people in that picture.  What I said is that picture came from the small window of time when trere were EIGHT active Beach Boys.  The seven people in that picture PLUS Brian. 

[Mike's Beard]

I wonder if a photo of all 8 together exists?

[The 4th Wilson Bro.]

You can download the MP3 here:

http://www.wikiupload.com/ZGH8353V8NHC28I

Thanks for the link, PongHit! That was a very generous gesture. I certainly like getting the songs for free.

About the song: interesting to hear Help Me, Rhonda from different angle. Sounds very stylish, I'm actually quite impressed by Dennis's singing. It has slight hints of bluesy style, to my ears. I would never have thought that HMR - Al's staple - can live on its own without him on leads. However, I still think that Al is the best choice for the song; its joyful mood fits exactly to his type of voice. Plus, I agree with some posters that the arrangements on the studio v-n can't be outdone.

Exactly my sentiments, RR (though, of course, I would have stated them more eloquently, LOL).  Dennis' vocals – and the bluesy arrangement of HMR – was great and a nice change of pace from the original.  But the version that reached #1 with Al singing lead could never be outdone, IMO.

[Phoenix]

I wonder if a photo of all 8 together exists?

Probably not.  In fact, I don't think there's any contemporary ones of Blondie, Ricky, and Brian together.  Aside from that one where Brian was added.  Still, it would be an awesome picture!

[MBE]

Yeah all the 1972 shots of Brian with the group, that I know of, come from before they joined. No individual shots with Brian either. When he came around they probably just didn't whip out a camera and make him nervous. That said they may own private photos with Brian from the period.

[Phoenix]

Yeah all the 1972 shots of Brian with the group, that I know of, come from before they joined. No individual shots with Brian either. When he came around they probably just didn't whip out a camera and make him nervous. That said they may own private photos with Brian from the period.

Good point!

[phirnis]

Do we know if Brian even interacted with the "new ones", like in actual face-to-face conversation? Did he care?

[Rocky Raccoon]

If I recall, I once heard an interview with Blondie Chaplin where he said that he did work with Brian on the Holland album but that he never felt particularly friendly with any of the band aside from Carl, which is one of the reasons why it was easy for him to quit in the first place.  I have heard Brian praise Blondie as a vocalist though.

[hypehat]

It's understandable, seeing as Brian was hardly in the greatest state of mind during that time.

[Cabinessenceking]

If I recall, I once heard an interview with Blondie Chaplin where he said that he did work with Brian on the Holland album but that he never felt particularly friendly with any of the band aside from Carl, which is one of the reasons why it was easy for him to quit in the first place.  I have heard Brian praise Blondie as a vocalist though.

The relations of the band at the time are interesting. Carl really was the knot tying everything together. He had good relations with everybody in the band and also was the guy who had solid friendships with the members of their backing band. Blondie and Ricky were surely friends during this period but I'm surprised Blondie didn't have a closer friendship with Dennis, given that they were all more 'rock&roll' than Al and Mike, who were probably becoming closer during this period. Brian was doing his wildcard Brian thing. Wouldn't surprise me if he had very little interaction with Blondie and Ricky.

[Jon Stebbins]

If I recall, I once heard an interview with Blondie Chaplin where he said that he did work with Brian on the Holland album but that he never felt particularly friendly with any of the band aside from Carl, which is one of the reasons why it was easy for him to quit in the first place.  I have heard Brian praise Blondie as a vocalist though.

The relations of the band at the time are interesting. Carl really was the knot tying everything together. He had good relations with everybody in the band and also was the guy who had solid friendships with the members of their backing band. Blondie and Ricky were surely friends during this period but I'm surprised Blondie didn't have a closer friendship with Dennis, given that they were all more 'rock&roll' than Al and Mike, who were probably becoming closer during this period. Brian was doing his wildcard Brian thing. Wouldn't surprise me if he had very little interaction with Blondie and Ricky.

I think there is a bit of error in the above evaluation if its somehow alluding that Dennis was not close to the backing musicians, because he definitely was. He certainly was not as traditionally gracious and consistent a guy as Carl, but Dennis was truly equally close to the guys his own way. He was as close as Carl if not the closest of the Beach Boys to the second level hired hands (backing band guys). He spent the most time with them and was incredibly loyal to them, and would often threaten to quit himself when Mike lobbied to let someone go because they didn't meditate, or because he found someone who'd do the job for less money. I've interviewed most all of these guys, and have become very good friends with many of them. I've spent a lot of personal time with Blondie too. Of course Carl is his #1 because Carl  was the Flame's champion and bought him his first good guitar (a telecaster), and did so much for he and Ricky. But at the same time he has nothing but great things to say about Dennis. It was Dennis who pushed for Blondie to sing more leads, and he asked Blondie to sing River Song, Carry Me Home, Its A New Day, and had no issue with Sail On Sailor transitioning from a planned Dennis lead to a Blondie lead. Blondie told me Dennis was completely mellow about sharing the spotlight, unlike some of the others. The backing band guys are unanimous in their assessment that the principals treated them well professionally, but personally the majority of the principals treated them like second tier employees, which they were I guess. They describe some of the Beach Boys as elitist in their attitude towards them. But time and time again they pointed out that Dennis was the exception. That year after year he treated them as equals, and that he "hung out" with them doing the small stuff...playing cards, going out to eat, touring the latest city, exploring, partying etc...and often on Dennis' dime. So yes, for sure, Carl was a generous leader, and treated everyone like family...but i think Dennis treated them like friends and war buddies, and part of a club of hardworking, blue collar dudes, that he was not the leader of, just a part of.

[Rocky Raccoon]

But he didn't inhale.

The Bruce Johnston way of drinking:  Take a sip and then spit it in the face of the person next to you.

[Mikie]

Good post, Jon, as usual.

Just speculation, but it seems like Dennis and Blondie would also have been good drinking buddies. Both hit the sauce pretty good in those days.

[hypehat]

But he didn't inhale.

The Bruce Johnston way of drinking:  Take a sip and then spit it in the face of the person next to you.

 

[Phoenix]

Another thanks for that post, Jon.  It's always great to hear about the stuff you mention, and any new details of Blondie & Ricky's time with the band.