|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 29, 2021 11:55:07 GMT
In mid-February 1965, the Beach Boys released a third single including material from their still-upcoming album Today!, "Do You Wanna Dance" backed with "Please Let Me Wonder."
The fourth and fifth songs from Today! to precede its release, the single repeated the rock/ballad A/B sides formula.
"Do You Wanna Dance" was a 1958 hit for Bobby Freeman and a 1962 UK hit for Cliff Richard and the Shadows. The Beach Boys' version featured Dennis Wilson on lead vocals, but with its big arrangement and production values is very much a Brian Wilson product. It climbed to #12 on the Billboard charts.
The B-side, "Please Let Me Wonder," is yet another of Wilson's brilliant ballads of that period. Reportedly the first song Wilson wrote under the influence of marijuana, the ballad showcases the group's harmonies and a large arrangement that includes saxophones, pianos, harmonica, vibraphone, 12-string, acoustic, and classical guitars, organ, timpani and more. Brian (upright piano, Farfisa organ) and Carl (12-string lead guitar) are the only two Beach Boys to appear on the instrumental track.
Please discuss and rate "Do You Wanna Dance" backed with "Please Let Me Wonder."
|
|
|
Post by kds on Mar 29, 2021 13:02:12 GMT
I actually had no idea there was a Cliff Richard and the Shadows version of DYWD. But, I'm a big fan of the BB version.
And, I'm an even bigger fan of the B Side. I first heard it when I bought the Sounds of Summer companion, Warmth of the Sun, around 2008, but like a lot of the songs on that album it failed to really connect on first listen. But, when I saw the Boys in June 2012, they played Please Let Me Wonder, and that lead me to dust off the WOTS comp. PLMW was one of several songs that were in the setlist that appeared on that comp, which lead me to dig beyond the hits that summer.
In particular, I love the interplay between the guitar and organ on the song. In concert, they replaced the organ bit with flute.
And, we're back in the land of tens.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 29, 2021 13:21:47 GMT
My affection for "Do You Wanna Dance" comes and goes. Sometimes it's just another good, fast BB song, and then I'll go through a phase where I love it. The song wants to rock and I guess it does, but the mix is so darn muddy. It wouldn't be long before Brian stopped rocking. Did Brian "throw Dennis a bone", not by giving him the lead vocal, but by giving him the lead vocal on the next single? Really, any of guys could've sung it. No intro and no real tag. Hmm...
"Please Let Me Wonder" is a great one, but I think it's barely, just slightly beneath Brian's greatest ballads. I do like Mike's lyrics; they're among his best. Again, I think a better, clearer mix would've helped, maybe bringing out the guitars more. The guitars sound so much better in Brian's solo live versions.
"Do You Wanna Dance"/"Please Let Me Wonder" is a good to very good single. I never realized until this thread how many Today! songs were released as singles before the album came out. They just couldn't wait to get those Brian Wilson songs out to the public. I'm gonna go with a strong 8, but it very easily could be a low 9. It's still early in the week; maybe I'll re-evaluate the rating later.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 29, 2021 13:30:24 GMT
"Do You Wanna Dance" ... the mix is so darn muddy.
That is what has always held down my opinion of this song.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 29, 2021 14:33:59 GMT
At least initially I'm going with a 9.
"Do You Wanna Dance" really does rock: great energy and a cool arrangement. A little knock for the production, as it is a bit muddy.
"Please Let Me Wonder" is just about as good as it gets, so I'm pretty comfortable going with a 10 on that one. (It's probably about a 9.7 for me, so rounding up...)
Really great addition to a great run of singles, holiday single notwithstanding. For me, this is five straight (minus Xmas) classic double-siders. And they weren't quite done yet.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Mar 29, 2021 17:43:46 GMT
Cliff Richard's 1962 version of "DYWD" is the one I knew first... ...then Bobby Freeman's, then the Boys'. Joshilyn has deftly isolated various instruments on both "DYWD" and the B-side (see my signature). Not crazy about Dennis's version (the instrumental break is pretty cool). But there's a lot of stuff going on behind him -- ye gods! The sublime "Please Let Me Wonder" elevates the 45 from a mere eight to a lucky nine.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 29, 2021 18:46:35 GMT
Love the hand claps in the guitar solo! (I'm a sucker for hand claps.)
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 29, 2021 22:03:23 GMT
Really love this single. "Do You Wanna Dance" is very energetic and I like that Dennis got to sing lead here. It's really almost the perfect song to hand to Dennis to sing the lead. The range and melody aren't too challenging for him--not that I'm saying he's a bad singer, but he's certainly the least technically gifted singer of that band at the time--and the raw power of the track suits his energy really well.
|
|
|
Post by lonelysummer on Mar 31, 2021 6:15:17 GMT
DYWD is pretty good on record, but it's one of those songs that works better live. Last time I saw the Boys, Bruce sang this one. One of the highlights of the show. Please Let Me Wonder was a grower for me. First heard it in the documentary An American Band. It was always a song I saw singled out for praise, but I don't think it really grabbed me until I picked up Beach Boys Today years later - an old worn out copy. Was very happy when it was reissued on vinyl circa 2010. Have a nice, clean copy of that album increased my appreciation for it a trillionfold. Please Let Me Wonder, Kiss Me Baby, She Knows Me Too Well - 3 of the best ballads Brian wrote.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 31, 2021 11:28:32 GMT
The Beach Boys basically performed the "Do You Wanna Dance"/"Please Let Me Wonder" single on Shindig in early 1965. Watching these two videos makes me realize why I love The Beach Boys:
|
|
|
Post by kds on Mar 31, 2021 15:43:08 GMT
DYWD is pretty good on record, but it's one of those songs that works better live. Last time I saw the Boys, Bruce sang this one. One of the highlights of the show. Please Let Me Wonder was a grower for me. First heard it in the documentary An American Band. It was always a song I saw singled out for praise, but I don't think it really grabbed me until I picked up Beach Boys Today years later - an old worn out copy. Was very happy when it was reissued on vinyl circa 2010. Have a nice, clean copy of that album increased my appreciation for it a trillionfold. Please Let Me Wonder, Kiss Me Baby, She Knows Me Too Well - 3 of the best ballads Brian wrote. When was the show that Bruce sang lead on DYWD? I last saw them in 2018, and I'm struggling to remember if they went with live vocals, or were still playing to the Shindig video with Dennis's piped in vocal.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 31, 2021 15:50:06 GMT
The Beach Boys basically performed the "Do You Wanna Dance"/"Please Let Me Wonder" single on Shindig in early 1965. Watching these two videos makes me realize why I love The Beach Boys:
A shame the performances weren't live. Though I suppose they sound better for it.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2021 12:10:02 GMT
Eight voters have rated "Do You Wanna Dance" b/w "Please Let Me Wonder" an average score of 9..0. I'll update the ratings thread and launch our next poll shortly.
Thanks for participating.
|
|
|
Post by lonelysummer on Apr 6, 2021 6:31:41 GMT
DYWD is pretty good on record, but it's one of those songs that works better live. Last time I saw the Boys, Bruce sang this one. One of the highlights of the show. Please Let Me Wonder was a grower for me. First heard it in the documentary An American Band. It was always a song I saw singled out for praise, but I don't think it really grabbed me until I picked up Beach Boys Today years later - an old worn out copy. Was very happy when it was reissued on vinyl circa 2010. Have a nice, clean copy of that album increased my appreciation for it a trillionfold. Please Let Me Wonder, Kiss Me Baby, She Knows Me Too Well - 3 of the best ballads Brian wrote. When was the show that Bruce sang lead on DYWD? I last saw them in 2018, and I'm struggling to remember if they went with live vocals, or were still playing to the Shindig video with Dennis's piped in vocal. September 2019. They played to a photo montage of Dennis.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Apr 6, 2021 12:21:33 GMT
When was the show that Bruce sang lead on DYWD? I last saw them in 2018, and I'm struggling to remember if they went with live vocals, or were still playing to the Shindig video with Dennis's piped in vocal. September 2019. They played to a photo montage of Dennis. Thanks. I'll have to see if there are any clips on YouTube from the 2018 Christmas tour. I think they did live vocals. I know that Christian sang GOK, so if they didn't sing to Carl's vox they probably didn't for Denny.
|
|