Why is everyone talking brian wilson when its johnny rivers who made this song a hit again?I like it better really....I saw the beachboys back in the 80s and there back up band did all the singing and playing !!!Mike love just wanderd around looking lost..none of the real beachboys did anything!!John Stamos played drums.
He could still hit the notes, but it sounds like he was singing backup on MIU.
I wonder if he had surgery because he sounded much better in 1978 than here...
If you listen to bootlegs you can hear Brian's voice was shot in 1974. Child of Winter, anyone? He doesn't sing on that but sounds raspy. Hey Little Tomboy, he sounds awful. He can hit the notes, but doesn't sound like he did in 1972, let alone 1968.
His voice started declining on Pet Sounds, just wasn't too noticeable til Sunflower.
@clibinarius i love his late 60s and early 70s vocals - probably prefer them to anything before pet sounds, really. i wouldn't say they "declined", he just went for a different style.
there's an outtake out there from late '74 called "rollin' up to heaven" where brian's early 70s falsetto is still totally intact. very strange.
I think the 70s vocals sound fine from the early 70s, but I think his voice was declining. He could still hit the notes.
It is really obvious actually on "This Whole World"-he hits the high falsetto, but at the end of the part with no lyrics and singing, you could hear Brian sound FAR closer to how he sounds on MIU on the lower falsetto notes than on Pet Sounds.
Its weird. But its decline. Oddly, his private singing in the 80s (not for Landy or records) is quite good...
@clibinarius *giggles* the vocals on "this whole world" may sound that way because carl does the lead vocal except the opening line ("i'm thinkin' 'bout this whole world.")
@runnersdialzero333 And its easy to laugh at it if you don't know I'm not referring to the lead vocal part but the falsetto harmony. Listen to the voice closely on that though, you can hear that it sounds a bit off. I know Carl sang lead on the song, I wasn't referring to that. Carl does NOT sound like post-75 Brian. On this track, Brian kind of sounds like it though, but only if you listen to the quality of his voice instead of just the notes.
This version is so wimpy and light, it barely counts as a song, The original is so much better (stronger, more interesting, more powerful, and just generally sounds better overall).
I remember being stuck in traffic down at the Seattle Center and there was a radio station van 2 cars in front of us. All of a sudden the van door opened and 2 people jumped out and started handing out free albums. We got one...and it was the LP containing this song. Good memory and good tune.
The sad part is, Brian Wilson produced and sang on this track, too. He's in the background vocals. Think about it, the same guy with the heavenly falsetto on the ORIGINAL Help Me Rhonda and various assorted songs, had his voice degenerated to this point, in less than a year.
A good remake.....I like it more than I though I would.....Johnny Rivers has a way of interpreting others' songs in a way that makes it seem original....
What little bit you can hear of Brian doesn't sound too good. He already is starting to sound like his 15 BO self. No rasp, but the vocals are thin and his falsetto is the whiny one he would have the rest of his career.
Why is everyone talking brian wilson when its johnny rivers who made this song a hit again?I like it better really....I saw the beachboys back in the 80s and there back up band did all the singing and playing !!!Mike love just wanderd around looking lost..none of the real beachboys did anything!!John Stamos played drums.
beatlestoneful 1 month ago
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Rivers can do no wrong - nice!
19chiefs57 6 months ago
He could still hit the notes, but it sounds like he was singing backup on MIU.
I wonder if he had surgery because he sounded much better in 1978 than here...
If you listen to bootlegs you can hear Brian's voice was shot in 1974. Child of Winter, anyone? He doesn't sing on that but sounds raspy. Hey Little Tomboy, he sounds awful. He can hit the notes, but doesn't sound like he did in 1972, let alone 1968.
His voice started declining on Pet Sounds, just wasn't too noticeable til Sunflower.
clibinarius 11 months ago
@clibinarius i love his late 60s and early 70s vocals - probably prefer them to anything before pet sounds, really. i wouldn't say they "declined", he just went for a different style.
there's an outtake out there from late '74 called "rollin' up to heaven" where brian's early 70s falsetto is still totally intact. very strange.
runnersdialzero333 3 months ago
@runnersdialzero333
I think the 70s vocals sound fine from the early 70s, but I think his voice was declining. He could still hit the notes.
It is really obvious actually on "This Whole World"-he hits the high falsetto, but at the end of the part with no lyrics and singing, you could hear Brian sound FAR closer to how he sounds on MIU on the lower falsetto notes than on Pet Sounds.
Its weird. But its decline. Oddly, his private singing in the 80s (not for Landy or records) is quite good...
clibinarius 3 months ago
@clibinarius *giggles* the vocals on "this whole world" may sound that way because carl does the lead vocal except the opening line ("i'm thinkin' 'bout this whole world.")
runnersdialzero333 3 months ago
Comment removed
clibinarius 3 months ago
@runnersdialzero333 And its easy to laugh at it if you don't know I'm not referring to the lead vocal part but the falsetto harmony. Listen to the voice closely on that though, you can hear that it sounds a bit off. I know Carl sang lead on the song, I wasn't referring to that. Carl does NOT sound like post-75 Brian. On this track, Brian kind of sounds like it though, but only if you listen to the quality of his voice instead of just the notes.
clibinarius 3 months ago
@clibinarius Ah, gotcha.
runnersdialzero333 3 months ago
The Beach Boys version is recognizable after about three notes.
taxman9922 11 months ago
This version is so wimpy and light, it barely counts as a song, The original is so much better (stronger, more interesting, more powerful, and just generally sounds better overall).
Replayability 1 year ago
my fav Beach Boys song when seeing them in concert. But this version makes it into the 45 jukebox. Really rockin. thanks.
jimbomacaroni 1 year ago
Brian did his falsetto part in one take, but it does sound thin...1975 was the year he obliterated his original voice.
JDrevolver66 1 year ago
I remember being stuck in traffic down at the Seattle Center and there was a radio station van 2 cars in front of us. All of a sudden the van door opened and 2 people jumped out and started handing out free albums. We got one...and it was the LP containing this song. Good memory and good tune.
mattanddi62 1 year ago
The sad part is, Brian Wilson produced and sang on this track, too. He's in the background vocals. Think about it, the same guy with the heavenly falsetto on the ORIGINAL Help Me Rhonda and various assorted songs, had his voice degenerated to this point, in less than a year.
tehmaster690 1 year ago
This version was on the radio when I was in school, so I prefer it to the Beach Boys version.
chaosgone 1 year ago
It was a good remake, but, even Johnny Rivers, can't match Al Jardine's signature song. This song belongs to Al and the Beach Boys.
jadegreenkaty 1 year ago
I'm so stoked with finding this!!!!! I cannot believe you posted this wonderful version which is better than the beach boys!!!
edmonton67 1 year ago
A good remake.....I like it more than I though I would.....Johnny Rivers has a way of interpreting others' songs in a way that makes it seem original....
toch482 1 year ago
Wow another song I love,thank you for posting
pjtnletsgovols9 1 year ago
My favorite version as well.
kevinomreb 1 year ago
Brian's falsetto started to be shot because of his smokin' habit. What a waste! Anyway, Johnny's version hit #22 in Billboard. God bless!
DaveWollenberg 1 year ago
I've got this song on a 70's compilation CD & didn't know who it was!!! GREAT remake!!!
calligal55 2 years ago
Brian sings background vocals on this track.
mattjackleroy 2 years ago
I guess, he´s often underrated and too less played in the radio.
derwillider 2 years ago
I LOVE THIS VERSION OF HELP ME RHONDA!
YusukeUrameshi100 2 years ago 7
Killer version by Johnny! He also does a great cover of Blue Suede Shoes!
nanajanamike 2 years ago
Nobody does reditions like Johnny Rivers and Linda Ronstadt.......nobody!!!
CASTLE520 3 years ago
If it was possible i'd give it 50 stars man! It sounds awesome!
chrismaster1 3 years ago
I honestly dont even hear Brian.
TheHeadDwellers 3 years ago
What little bit you can hear of Brian doesn't sound too good. He already is starting to sound like his 15 BO self. No rasp, but the vocals are thin and his falsetto is the whiny one he would have the rest of his career.
Fear2Stop 3 years ago
Brian Wilson helped out on Johnny's version.
jaredgetsacookie 3 years ago
Wow I love this version!! Too bad it stalled at #22 in Sept '75
JackZybach 3 years ago
I menat to say (only version) by Johnny Rivers * * * * * 5 Stars baby
DaddyBog 3 years ago
Sirius 60's Vibration played this song 4 hours after it was posted here on You Tube!
musiccuts 3 years ago
this was long "overdue", the only version on The Tube ..... thanks for taking my request. DB
DaddyBog 3 years ago 4
Oh come on DB for requests ya gotta give it five stars. Thanks.
traderfiles 3 years ago 2