Discuss & Rate Beach Boys Songs Day by Day

Today's song is H.E.L.P is on the Way, an outtake from 1970 that was finally released on Good Vibrations box set in 1993:

 

H.E.L.P Is On The Way.

I like the song, but it's not that exciting for me.

The lyrics are actually my favorite part of the song -- of course, they are very non-commercial for 1977; again, I think that a lot of this stuff fits in better with the late 90s/early 00s Indie scene. The sound also has that obvious Stephen Desper stamp on it and thus kind of doesn't fit here in the late seventies. I include it on a Landlocked playlist of "goofy" songs from 1970-1971 to counterpart my Surf's Up playlist; where I think it fits better, at least musically, in that context.

However, it's ten million times better than "Santa's On His Way", which it morphed into. I think, though I definitely prefer "Take a Load Off Your Feet", which is Al's re-write of this.

3/5

 

Not much of a melody, the keyboards are interesting at first but with repetition are less so. It’s boring, although some of the lyrics are funny and as noted by Lance are the best part of the song. There’s a mix of this somewhere - on the Landlocked boot? - with banjo prominent in the mix and I prefer that version, although I couldn’t find it on YouTube. A generous 2/5 for this.

 

"H.E.L.P."
Fairfax and 3rd. Stop at the Radiant Radish to get your 45 RPM single of this song (b/w "I Just Got My Pay").

Dig the call and response section here. Great melody and interesting lyrics to boot.

5/5

 

We did H.E.L.P. after Sunflower, right? There's no difference between that version and the Adult/Child version, correct?

Anyway, here's what I said previously about the song:

HELP is not a song I go out of my way to cue up but when it comes on, it makes me smile (no pun intended).
It doesn't quite reach the heights of a 4 for me but a (high) 3/5.

I don't think it musically fits Adult/Child.

 

H.E.L.P. 4/5
I think it's great fun and catchy.
Enjoy the backing vocals.

 

Always liked this tune and like Pawnmower says, the bv's are well done. I would have liked to hear Al do this instead of Mike straining to make the high notes. I'm giving this favorite a 4/5.

 

A fun song somewhat out of place. For what it is: 4

 

I just realized we all talked about H.E.L.P Is On It's Way as a bonus track for Surf's Up or something.

 

I went and checked to find I'd missed rating a few of those Sunflower bonus songs. With the health theme, H.E.L.P. Is On the Way" fits better (sorta) with this group of songs, and gives Mike a lead vocal. Brian wasn't finished, or ready to turn in a new project. If it's true what I read Mike said about Brian and Reynolds' offerings, he had already decided he could do a better job and went on to do the underwhelming M.I.U. album with Al. Brian wasn't ready for that, either. Dennis and Carl weren't interested to try. Dismissing all of these wonderful songs was a bad decision.

"H.E.L.P. Is On the Way" did get a new mix. I like the one with the banjo upfront better, too. In either version I can't go higher than a 3/5, 6/10.

 

Page 155. After Sunflower.

 

At least I was consistent. I looked back and I gave it a 2/5 back then as well.

 

H.E.L.P. is another one that will benefit from a remix when we get a 1970 copyright dump. The version on the GV Box has always sounded a little murky to these ears but the song isn't half bad. 3/5

 

Yeah, six out of ten would be a better rating.

 

Collated ratings for Pet Sounds:

1. Wouldn't It Be Nice 4.7
2. You Still Believe In Me 4.8461538
3. That's Not Me 4.6923076
4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulders) 4.7692307
5. I'm Waiting for the Day 4.833333
6. Let's Go Away For Awhile: 4.5454545
7. Sloop John B 5
8. God Only Knows 4.7333333
9. Hang On to Your Ego 4.1666666
10. Here Today 4.7272727
11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times 4.9166666
12. Pet Sounds 4.7777777
13. Caroline, No 4.888888888

Pet sounds as album: 5
Average song: 4.7382369

Bonus track
Trombone Dixie 4.2857142

 

Collated ratings for SMiLE

1. Our Prayer 5
2. Gee 4.3
3. Heroes and Villains [SMiLE Sessions version] 4.8181818
4. Do You Like Worms 4.2727272
5. I'm In Great Shape 2.2857142
6. Barnyard 2.8888888
7. The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine 3.2
8. Cabin Essence 4.7222222
9. Wonderful 4.6428571
10. Look (Song for Children) 3.4545454
11. Child is Father of the Man 4
12. Surf's Up 4.9166666
13. I Wanna Be Around/Workshop 2.5
14. Vega-Tables 4.4
15. Holidays 3.2
16. Wind Chimes [SMiLe Sessions Versions] 4.5454545
17. The Elements: Fire 4.4166666
18. I Love to Say Da-Da 3.25
19. Good Vibrations 5

SMiLE: 4.75
Average by Song: 3.9902063

 

Oh, I completely forgot about that. Thank you all for reminding me.

I've just checked to find out we've also discussed Games Two Can Play, so that song will be skipped this time.

 

Your ratings for H.E.L.P Is On The Way:
1-0 vote
2-1 vote
3-4 votes
4-3 votes
5-1 vote

 

Today's song is It's Over Now, which was released on Good Vibrations box set in 1993:

 

Our Ratings for Christmas Album

1. Little Saint Nick 4.555555
2. The Man with All the Toys 4
3. Santa's Beard 3.2857142
4. Merry Christmas Baby 3.2222222
5. Christmas Day 2.85
6. Frosty the Snowman 3.5
7. We Three Kings of Orient Are 4
8. Blue Christmas 3.5
9. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 2.25
10. White Christmas 2.4
11. I'll Be Home For Christmas 4.5
12. Auld Lang Syne 4.33333333

Average vote by song: 3.5660686

Bonus tracks

• The Lord's Prayer 3.5
• The Things WE Did Last Summer 4.3333333

 

Collated ratings for SMiLE bonus tracks

• Your Welcome 3.375
• Tune X 2.5714285
• I Don't Know 2.5
• He Gives Speeches 3.5

 

Fantastic song, the "normal-speed" version from Made In California is my go-to version, of course. Of course, this doesn't sound like the Beach Boys, but it's got Carl, Brian and Marilyn on it. I really like the string arrangements, that sort of swell up over Marilyn's vocal. Yes, it's maudlin and packed with self-pity, but you know...sometimes that works.

5/5

 

Has someone given this song to Engelbert? Johnny Mathis?

I'd be in for this even if it was a stock standard ballad, but the "Shades of Blue" tag brightens the whole picture.
It's a 5/5 easy for me. Bit of a window into some imagined late 70s where Brian was writing for Carl or others the way Barry Gibb and Bacharach were at the time.

Are we doing the Carl solo albums cum 1981-1983?
I might do that myself...

 

Shouldn't we add "New England Waltz" as a bonus discussion?

 

I think some discussion of the solo albums should happen in some capacity (perhaps not song a day for all of them!) as there is often a lot of crossover between what was originally solo material and Beach Boys material and vice versa. Also, there are large gaps of many years with with no Beach Boys albums which can be filled with solo albums - and, lets face it, if the boys had been on good terms throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s I suspect much of what was on Brian's albums tune-wise (probably not lyrically) would have ended up as Beach Boys material.