Today’s classic song of the day just happens to be another one with a lady’s name in the title: “Wendy” by the Beach Boys. This song was released as a single in June of 1964 and peaked at #44 on the Billboard Hot 100. That rather anemic chart performance is belied by the fact that it’s a bona fide classic today, generally regarded as one the group’s best, at least vocally.
“Wendy” was one of the group’s first hits that wasn’t about surfing or cars. The song, written by Brian Wilson (with an assist by cousin Mike Love on the lyrics), is about mourning the loss of a girlfriend. (“I never thought a guy could cry till you made it with another guy.”) Typical teenage love stuff but delivered with some of the Boys’ most wonderful harmonies.
Here’s what Brian Wilson remembers about the song:
“It was not written about my daughter Wendy. This was way before she was born. It starts with a bass slowed down with a guitar. It was an attempt to flatter the Four Seasons. I wanted to try and imitate the Four Seasons in a way they would like to hear it. ’Cause I like [producer] Bob Crewe and the way they do their vocals.”
So if “Wendy” wasn’t written about his yet-to-be-born daughter, maybe his daughter Wendy was named after the song?
In any case, this song is light years ahead of Brian’s earlier works, both musically and in terms of vocal arrangement. It appears to be one of the last recordings that actually used Carl, Dennis, Al and the rest on instruments before he switched to using Hal Blaine and the Wrecking Crew in the studio. It certainly sounds more like Dennis on drums than Hal; it’s not as precise, not as refined, just a little more amateurish. But that’s okay for this one, especially when you’re focusing on those luscious vocal harmonies.
And here’s your daily bonus of the day, the Beach Boys performing “Wendy” live on The Ed Sullivan Show on September 27, 1964. Dennis does not impress (although those Blue Moire Camcos look really sweet) but the rest of the group does, especially vocally.
