Had to Phone Ya

"Had to Phone Ya" is a song written for the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1976 album 15 Big Ones, and was the b-side to the single "It's O.K.".

"Had to Phone Ya"
Single by The Beach Boys
from the album 15 Big Ones
A-side"It's O.K."
ReleasedJuly 5, 1976 (album)
August 30, 1976 (single)[1]
RecordedMarch 30, 1976,
Brother Studios, California
Length1:43
LabelBrother/Reprise
Songwriter(s)Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Diane Rovell
Producer(s)Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology
"Rock and Roll Music"
(1976)		 "Had to Phone Ya"
(1976)		 "Everyone's in Love with You"
(1976)
Audio sample
"Had to Phone Ya"
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Composition

Brian Wilson and Mike Love wrote the song, with Diane Rovell also contributing.[2] Diane was originally listed as a cowriter, but her name was removed from songwriting credits in subsequent releases.[3] She is still listed as co-writer in the Broadcast Music, Inc. database.[4]

Byron Preiss described the song's creation by Brian Wilson while his wife Marilyn was away in Europe.[5] Brian spoke about the song in 1995:

All I wanted to do was to make a person feel they were free to call at any time-if they felt the world was upside down, they could call and I could correct their world. In other words, I wanted to feel like I can call somebody and tell them, "Look, I’m swamped, I’m scared, I got all these emotions deep inside of me."[6]

All five members of the band take turns on lead vocals, with Mike Love handling the majority. Brian Wilson takes the closing segment, in which the key shifts from A to G. After an extended staccato vamp on a Gmaj7, the final section begins with an unusual chord sequence of Gmaj7, to B♭maj7, and E♭maj7, as Brian sings in a rough but passionate baritone, "Come on / Come on and answer the phone / Come on, come on!"

Lindsay Planer of Allmusic noted "Although the tune may sound uncomplicated, it is part of a larger sonic tapestry that combines the interaction of several simultaneous melodies." noting similarities to earlier Brian Wilson compositions "Good Vibrations" and "Love to Say Dada".[7]

Recording

The Beach Boys' version of "Had to Phone Ya" was recorded on March 30, 1976, at Brother Studios in the middle of the primary sessions for 15 Big Ones.[8] It was produced, arranged and conducted by Brian Wilson.

The instrumental track from was this session was made available on Made in California in 2013.

Personnel
The Beach Boys
Session musicians and production staff

American Spring version
"Had to Phone Ya"
Song by American Spring
from the album Spring
Released1988 (1988)
Recorded1973
Length2:02
Songwriter(s)Brian Wilson, Diane Rovell
Producer(s)Brian Wilson

"Had to Phone Ya" was originally recorded in 1973 by American Spring at Junior's Motel in Otho, Iowa. Their version was released as a bonus track for the CD reissue of the album Spring (1972).

References
  1. Badman, Keith. The Beach Boys. The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band: On Stage and in the Studio Backbeat Books, San Francisco, California, 2004. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6 p. 367
  2. Lambert, Philip (2007). Inside the music of Brian Wilson: the songs, sounds, and influences of the Beach Boys' founding genius. Continuum. p. 311. ISBN 978-0-8264-1876-0.
  3. Diken, Dennis; Buck, Peter (2000). 15 Big Ones/Love You (booklet). The Beach Boys. California: Capitol Records. p. 2. 72435-27945-2-2. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16.
  4. Had to Phone Ya, BMI
  5. Preiss, Byron (1979). The Beach Boys (1st ed.). New York: Ballantine Books. p. 122. ISBN 0345273982.
  6. "Brian Wilson interview". Record Collector. No. 185. January 1995.
  7. Planer, Lindsey. "Had to Phone Ya - The Beach Boys". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
  8. Doe, Andrew G. (2012). "GIGS76". Retrieved October 26, 2012.
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