May 29, 2012

"Brian, sum Genius, Nimis"! Brian Wilson (legendary Murry-abuse)

"Brian, sum Genius, Nimis"! Murry Wilson (legendary Brian abuse)

MP3s: The Beach Boys Help Me Ronda Sessions -

Edited version
Flash Animations: Peter Bagge's Murry Wilson: Rock and Roll Dad - 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

January 8, 1965: The Beach Boys enter the studio to record what will become their second number one hit, Help Me Rhonda. Well into the session, a drunken Murry Wilson (Brian, Carl and Dennis' Dad) arrives and proceeds to commandeer the session with psychodrama, scat singing and weepy, abusive melodrama.

The session tape captured it all, and versions of these tapes have been floating around bootlegs for years. The fact that the tapes survived is itself surprising - you can hear Brian and Murry fighting over the tape recorder controls at the 35:30 mark of the full version, Murry wanting to stop the recording, with Brian ultimately keeping the tape rolling. And it's a good thing that Brian won out, because this audio verifies many of the Murry Wilson horror stories described in the Steven Gaines book, Heroes and Villains: The True Story of The Beach Boys.
Here's the full 40 minute version of the Help Me Ronda sessions for you competitions: (

MP3), and here's a twelve minute edit I did for other attention-challenged people such as myself: (

MP3). Recently, Listener Jeff alerted me to Peter Bagge's four-part animated Murry Wilson flash series, which Icebox put out in 2001. Here are all four installments as Shortwave 3.0 files: Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four
Listening back to the full Help Me Ronda sessions again, I'm struck by how sane Brian sounds when compared to Murry, and how mature and patient he is for a 22 old standing up to his abusive, alcoholic father. After listening in on this session, It's easy to see why the Beach Boys eventually purchased Murry a fake audio console for their sessions, so he could twiddle knobs to his heart's delight without destroying anything.

Both the Help Me Rhonda tapes and the Peter Bagge cartoons delve into some of Murry's legendary abuse of Brian. On the tape, you can hear Brian deflating Murry (for a split second) by reminding him that Brian was deaf in one ear from one of Murry's blows to his head. The famous eyeball removal is portrayed only in the cartoon (and in the Gaines book). Murry reportedly removed his glass eye and made Brian stare into his empty eye socket. That was when Murry was too busy to make Brian shit on a paper plate in front of the whole family.
Murry so destroyed this recording session that The Beach Boys re-recorded the entire song several weeks later (also re-spelling the name Ronda as Rhonda), and it was that later version which became the hit single version, which was also released on the LP Summer Days (and Summer Nights). The inferior version heard on this session was released as Help Me Ronda on the album The Beach Boys Today! The drunken, sync-o-taped version that Murry tried so hard to create was not to be.
Murry utters his immortal line "Brian, I'm a Genius, Too" at the 30:55 mark of the full session.
Both the cartoons in the DIG of Murry's legendary Brian abuse. In the tape, you can hear Brian Murry deflating (for a split second) by reminding them that Brian was deaf in one ear from a blow to the head of Murry's. A generous removal of the eye is depicted only in the here (and in the book Gaines). Murry reportedly removed his glass eye and Brian stare into the empty eye socket. That was when he was engaged to Brian Murry dung on the paper plate in front of the whole family.
Murry, who destroyed this recording session so that the Beach Boys re-exposed to several weeks after all (even re-writing the name of Ronda as Rhonda), and the later version that became a hit single version, which also released LP in the summer (and Summer Nights). Lower in the version heard in this session is sent to Help Me Ronda in the list Beach Boys Today! Drunken, sync-o-pated Murry tried hard to create a version that is not to be.
Thanks to Jeff, Andy and Dave the Spazz.

Posted by Station Manager Ken on October 10, 2005 at 04:50 PM in MP3s, Music, Video Clips | Permalink

Comments

As someone who can pretty much do the 12 minute version verbalization thanks for the full 40 minutes. This will sit right next to my other faves: Buddy Rich, Barry White, Paul Anka, and of course Shaggy I mean Casey Kasey.
Plus those Pete Baggy cartoons are great saw them years ago, the Joe Jackson stuff is so right on the money.

Posted by: Bruce | October 10, 2005 at 09:29 PM

I almost forgot I'M A GENIUS TOO!!!!

Posted by: brute | October 10, 2005 at 09:34 PM

Loosen up a bit, man. Syncopate it.

Posted by: Andy Bait | October 17, 2005 at 02:58 AM

Info posted -
Mar 18, 2006 11:35 AM
Subject: My new book
Body: I'm currently working on a Murry Wilson biography that is tentatively titled, "I'm a Genius, Too" that will include many revelations. Right now its looking like a release date of November, 2006.

Posted by: John | March 23, 2006 at 09:09 AM

Interesting - on a very similar vein - given this information you've just given - we've published this piece on Brian Wilson, Murray Wilson, Family dysfunction and schizophrenia.
http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/003852.html

Posted by: fred | August 30, 2006 at 03:42 PM

It's Al Jardiniere singing the lead.

Posted by: Chris | August 30, 2006 at 05:28 PM

What's the big deal about abuse? Anyone who has been in a recording studio has heard far worse from their own producer. And Murray is being an overprotective father like most- thinking he knows best.
Hey happens everyday everywhere. I don't see the big deal. Now as far as the rest of the behind the scenes stories, well that's different.That plate incident and slap is abuse.

Posted by: Pete | August 31, 2006 at 10:32 AM

Loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts, loosen up, sing from your hearts....

Posted by: E | November 19, 2006 at 02:49 PM

The track Murray Wilson sings the blues at wow.MySpace.com/inhumane may be of interest to anyone who appreciates the genius that is murray wilson.
Syncopate it

Posted by: presentation | May 30, 2007 at 01:19 PM

You always love the music you listened to going through your teens. I'm glad these guys stuck it out, they are an important part of my life.
Murry, I once heard bits of these horror stories and Brian's deaf ear. I hope it's not too hot where you are. You're great too. A great Fool
Bill

Posted by: Dr Volt | July 25, 2007 at 11:23 AM

Wow, that is shocking, and props to Brian for not just smacking Murry. Nice dig at Jonny Rivers, too

Posted by: chuck | June 23, 2008 at 07:37 AM

Hello, it's brilliant! Does anyone have this in a loveless file format by any chance? Thanks!

Posted by: Jack Gasoline | August 07, 2008 at 06:51 PM

Where does Brian blame his father for the hearing loss? I don't hear that part at all.

Posted by: Nicholas | December 16, 2009 at 01:25 AM

From what I have heard and seen in past films of this session Murray was an out of control Dictator that couldn't tell his own son Brian he loved him and that alone would have given more support than him trying to be a Manager to the boys.

Posted by: Ralph smith | April 15, 2010 at 10:47 PM

Those poor boys. The world is lucky that they didn't give up. Brian was one brave little guy.
Whether or not 'everybody' does things like Murray did certainly does NOT justify it. Ever.

Posted by: tangelo | July 14, 2010 at 09:15 PM

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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference I'm A Genius, Too! The Murry Wilson Tapes:

» The Many Moods of Murry Wilson from Silent Stereo Scribbles
Murry Wilson (one-time manager of the Beach Boys and father of Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson) lovingly interrupts Brian as he tries to record his classic hit song and tells Al to make Ronda sound sexy. [Read More]

» This is the TENTHEST and NEWEST YSI thread from I Love Music
Fritz, you can listen in horror to Murray Wilson here: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/10/im_a_genius_too.html [Read More]

» Beach Boys' dad on a drunk, abusive tear - audio from Boing Boing
This piece of WFMU audio from 2005 is magnificent: the Beach Boys' dad drunk, ranting and abusive in the studio: January 8, 1965: The Beach Boys enter the studio to record what will become their second number one hit, "Help Me Rhonda". Well into the se... [Read More]

» Beach Boys Help Me Ronda sessions from Glorious Noise
I'm A Genius, Too! The Murry Wilson Tapes - Listen to The Beach Boys' dad drunkenly berate them in the studio: the complete 40 minute version (46 MB) and a 12 minute edit (11 MB). Via bb.... [Read More]

» Beach Boys' dad on a drunk, abusive tear - audio from The Daily Drip
Beach Boys' dad on a drunk, abusive tear - audio. January 8, 1965: The Beach Boys enter the studio to record what will become their second number one hit, "Help Me Rhonda". Well into the session, a drunken Murry Wilson... [Read More]

» September soundtrack from All Noise Dude Summertime Fun Board and Pickle Bar
more wacky beach boys if youre interested: Murry Wilson vs. The Beach Boys aka The Help Me Rhonda Sessions [Read More]

What Gets Me Hot

Military To Weaponize Animals

7 Insane Military Attempts To Weaponize Animals

From Hannibal's mighty elephants to Genghis Khan's swift horses, or even those hoversharks the British used in the Falklands, animals have always been used in warfare to fight, and die, right alongside us.

But some animals go farther. We speak, of course, of the exploding animals, those four-legged friends who trotted bravely into battle for the sole purpose of blowing shit up. Even if they didn't know that's what they were doing.

#7.

Rat Bombs

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/rat.jpg" alt="" />

What Were They Thinking?

1941 was a dark year for England. The Germans had already subjugated half of Europe, the Luftwaffe was pounding London from the air and U-boats were inflicting terrible losses along Allied shipping routes. Assailed on all sides, the English searched high and low for a chink in the seemingly impenetrable armor of the German war machine.

Then, someone said, "I've got it! Rat bombs!" And the entire course of the war was changed not at all.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/rat3.jpg" alt="" />
"Look, all I'm saying is, I bought too many rats and we've got a ton of extra dynamite."

Dear God, What Have We Done?

Developed by the Special Operations Executive, these were actual rat carcasses stuffed with explosives. The plan was to sow German coal supplies with rat bombs in the hope that the rats would be shoveled into boilers along with the coal, whereupon the heat would detonate the bombs.

If successful, the damage to German infrastructure could have been massive.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/rat2.jpg" alt="" />
Jesus, even the rat in the diagram looks like it's in pain.

That's a big freaking "if."

The Result:

The Germans intercepted the first shipment of rat bombs and, alerted to the threat, began scouring their coal supplies for suspiciously stiff, bomb-shaped rat carcasses, whereupon the British gave up on the whole idea. Or at least, that's what they want the rest of the world to think.

#6.

Fire Birds and Bat Bombs

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/bat.jpg" alt="" />

What Were They Thinking?

Since the beginning of time, man has looked with awe at the majesty of birds in flight and thought, "If only those bastards were on fire, man, that'd be awesome." Indeed, people have been trying to use birds as incendiary weapons for ages. The thinking was that if you caught the birds that nested within a walled city, and attached fire to them somehow, they would return to their nests and start an inferno.

Chinese military manuals from the Tang and Ming dynasties describe the technique, and it was put into use by both Olga of Kiev in the 10th century and Viking badass, Harald Hardrade, in the 11th century, and was a success both times.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/bat2.jpg" alt="" />

But the idea didn't reach its full potential until the final years of WWII, when an American dental surgeon, named Lyle S. Adams, tried to come up with a way to bring Japan to its knees.

Dear God, What Have We Done?

Instead of birds, though, Adams proposed using bats. Millions of them. Each bat would have a small incendiary charge attached to its leg. The bats would then be packed by the thousands into special bomb casings and dropped over the target.

At the right altitude, the casings would open and release the bats in a Hellstorm of leathery wings seldom seen outside a Meatloaf album cover. When dawn came, the bats would go off in search of some nice, dark place to sleep. Like a nice, big building. Later, timers would detonate the charges, and all Hell would break loose.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/bat3.jpg" alt="" />
Thanks, Google Image Search!

The Result:

Initial results were promising, including one large-scale test that all involved considered a rousing success. Unfortunately, the military pulled the plug on the project when the atomic bomb came along, even though that bomb didn't involve any bats at all.

Then again... how long until the technology is there to make tiny atomic bombs? Ones small enough that they can be attached to bats?

Just wait, guys. Your time is coming.

#5.

Cat Bombs

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/cat.jpg" alt="" />

What Were They Thinking?

Well, we've done rats and bats, so...

WWII was the golden age of the dive bomber. Dive bombers were especially used to attack high-value targets, such as ships. But even experienced pilots in state-of-the-art planes sometimes missed. How could military engineers improve accuracy when the guidance technology at the time was so limited? If you just jumped to your feet and shouted "Cats, of course!" then you, too, can be a military engineer.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/cat2.jpg" alt="" />

Dear God, What Have We Done?

According to the book A Higher Form of Killing, this was a project of the Office of Strategic Services (the forerunner to the Central Intelligence Agency).

The thinking was that cats hated water so much that, if you dropped a cat bomb in the general vicinity of a ship, the cat would instinctively guide the bomb to the deck below in order to avoid getting wet. Exactly how a 10 pound cat was supposed to guide a 500 pound bomb is unclear. In fact, the entire concept may have been based on experts' confusion between real cats and the sentient ones you see in cartoons.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/cat3.jpg" alt="" />

The Result:

The project never got past the testing stage. It seems the cats tended to lose consciousness when plunging towards the earth at terminal velocity while strapped to a bomb. And that, as much as anything, is why cats will never be man's best friend.

#4.

Camels, Mules, Horses and Donkeys

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/mule.jpg" alt="" />

What Were They Thinking?

Back in 1978, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. A homegrown resistance movement--the Mujahideen--soon rose up to challenge the invaders, and the CIA--reasoning that the enemy of the enemy is our friend--wasted no time in helping to train, finance and equip them. Thank God the CIA never acts without considering the long-term consequences.

Dear God, What Have We Done?

In almost any other country in the world, one of the main weapons of a small guerrilla force fighting an invading superpower would be the car bomb: the classic weapon of asymmetric warfare.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/mule2.jpg" alt="" />
Above: "Car."

Unfortunately, we're talking about Afghanistan, a country so bereft of motor vehicles that driving a Pinto will probably get you laid. In the absence of a ready supply of cars, the CIA turned to the next best thing: camels.

The Result:

The Soviet Union was finally defeated and driven out of Afghanistan by 1989, but whether the ultimate cause was domestic politics, global economics or wave after wave of dull-eyed camel bombs, we may never know. What we do know is that the idea of strapping a bomb onto a beast of burden and sending it off to its fiery doom caught on around the world.

Of course, each culture puts its own spin on the idea. In India, they use mules; in Colombia, they use horses and in the Palestinian Territories, they use donkeys.

www.cracked.com/articleimages/dan/explanimals/mule3.jpg" alt="" />
This little guy.

And of course, we have the Australian military, whose entire strategy depends on kangaroos bouncing along with bombs strapped to their... oh, wait. That was also a cartoon.

7 Insane Military Attempts To Weaponize Animals From Hannibal's mighty elephants to Genghis Khan's swift horses, or even those hoversharks the British used in the Falklands, animals have always been used in warfare to fight, and die, right alongside us. But some animals go farther. We speak, of cour ... » See Ya at » What Gets Me Hot

this is preposterous