You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone (song)

"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1972 album Carl and the Passions – "So Tough". It was written by Brian Wilson and Jack Rieley, and was issued as the album's lead single with the B-side "Cuddle Up". The single failed to chart.

Background

An earlier, unreleased version of the song was titled "Beatrice from Baltimore".

Asked about the song in 1972, Mike Love commented, "I like the track, it's one that requires a few plays to get into it. A point about a lot of Brian's things is that they are so oblique and often complex. His music is something that you have to listen to, because he'll put in subtleties that you can listen to for a year and not hear."

Record World said "The sound here is a bit confusing the first time around, but after a few listenings it becomes clear what's going on: another superfiine Beach Boys song."

Alternate releases

A track and backing vocals mix of "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" was included on the 2021 box set Feel Flows as a teaser for the band's next archival release, Sail On Sailor – 1972 (2022).

Legacy

In 1993, Saint Etienne adopted the song title for their album You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone.

In 1999, Hefner released a cover of "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" as a bonus track to their single "The Hymn for the Cigarettes".

Personnel

Credits from Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar and Joshilyn Hoisington.

The Beach Boys

Ricky Fataar - drums, tambourine
Al Jardine - backing vocals
Mike Love - backing vocals
Brian Wilson - backing vocals, tack piano, Hammond organ, producer
Carl Wilson - lead and backing vocals, electric lead and rhythm guitars, producer

Additional musicians

Tandyn Almer - bass guitar
Doug Dillard - banjo
Billy Hinsche - electric rhythm guitar
Gordon Marron - electric violin w/ ring modulator

References

Bush, John. "Carl and the Passions - So Tough - The Beach Boys : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-06-11.
Badman 2004, p. 311.
Badman 2004, pp. 301, 307.
Altham, Keith (June 17, 1972). "The Beach Boys: With Love And Good Vibes part 2". New Musical Express.
"Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. May 20, 1972. p. 10. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
Willman, Chris (August 31, 2021). "Beach Boys' Archivists on the 'Feel Flows' Boxed Set, and How the Group Was Peaking — Again — While the World Wasn't Looking". Variety. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
"Sail On Sailor Sessionography". The Beach Boys. Retrieved 2023-02-03.

Bibliography

Badman, Keith (2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6.

External links

You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (Track and Backing Vocals) on YouTube

Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"

Songs

Side one	"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" "Here She Comes" "He Come Down" "Marcella"
Side two	"Hold On Dear Brother" "Make it Good" "All This Is That" "Cuddle Up"

Outtakes

"Body Talk"
"Change Partners"
"Gimme Some Lovin'"
"Out in the Country"
"Rooftop Harry"
"Spark in the Dark"
"Oh Sweet Something"

The Beach Boys singles

1960s

1961	"Surfin'" / "Luau"
1962	"Surfin' Safari" / "409" "Ten Little Indians" / "County Fair"
1963	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "Shut Down" "Surfer Girl" / "Little Deuce Coupe" "Be True to Your School" / "In My Room" "Little Saint Nick" / "The Lord's Prayer"
1964	"Fun, Fun, Fun" / "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" "I Get Around" / "Don't Worry Baby" "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" / "She Knows Me Too Well" "Dance, Dance, Dance" / "The Warmth of the Sun" "The Man with All the Toys" / "Blue Christmas"
1965	"Do You Wanna Dance?" / "Please Let Me Wonder" "Help Me, Rhonda" / "Kiss Me, Baby" "California Girls"/ "Let Him Run Wild" "The Little Girl I Once Knew" / "There's No Other (Like My Baby)" "Barbara Ann" / "Girl Don't Tell Me"
1966	"Sloop John B" / "You're So Good to Me" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "God Only Knows" "Good Vibrations" / "Let's Go Away for Awhile"
1967	"Then I Kissed Her" / "Mountain of Love" "Heroes and Villains" / "You're Welcome" "Wild Honey" / "Wind Chimes" "Darlin'" / "Here Today"
1968	"Friends" / "Little Bird" "Do It Again" / "Wake the World" "Bluebirds over the Mountain" / "Never Learn Not to Love"
1969	"I Can Hear Music" / "All I Want to Do" "Break Away" / "Celebrate the News"

1970s

1970	"Add Some Music to Your Day" / "Susie Cincinnati" "Cottonfields" / "The Nearest Faraway Place" "Slip On Through" / "This Whole World" "Tears in the Morning" / "It's About Time"
1971	"Cool, Cool Water" / "Forever" "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (live) / "The Times They Are a-Changin'" (by Merry Clayton) "Long Promised Road" / "Deirdre" "Long Promised Road" / "'Til I Die" "Student Demonstration Time" / "Don't Go Near the Water" "Surf's Up" / "Don't Go Near the Water"
1972	"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" / "Cuddle Up" "Marcella" / "Hold On Dear Brother"
1973	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You" "California Saga/California" / "Funky Pretty"
1974	"Surfin' U.S.A." / "The Warmth of the Sun" "Child of Winter (Christmas Song)" / "Susie Cincinnati"
1975	"Sail On, Sailor" / "Only with You"
1976	"Rock and Roll Music" / "T M Song" "It's O.K." / "Had to Phone Ya" "Everyone's in Love with You" / "Susie Cincinnati"
1977	"Honkin' Down the Highway" / "Solar System"
1978	"Peggy Sue" / "Hey Little Tomboy"
1979	"Here Comes the Night" / "Baby Blue" "Good Timin'" / "Love Surrounds Me" "Lady Lynda" / "Full Sail" "It's a Beautiful Day" / "Sumahama"

1980s

1980	"Goin' On" / "Endless Harmony" "Livin' with a Heartache" / "Santa Ana Winds"
1981	"The Beach Boys Medley" / "God Only Knows" "Come Go with Me" / "Don't Go Near the Water"
1985	"Getcha Back" / "Male Ego" "It's Gettin' Late" / "It's O.K." "She Believes in Love Again" / "It's Just a Matter of Time"
1986	"Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue" / "Good Vibrations" (live) "California Dreamin'" / "Lady Liberty"
1987	"Happy Endings" (with Little Richard) / "California Girls" (live)
1988	"Kokomo" / "Tutti Frutti" (Little Richard)
1989	"Still Cruisin'" / "Kokomo"

1990s

1990	"Somewhere Near Japan" / "Kokomo" "Problem Child" / "Problem Child (Instrumental)"
1992	"Hot Fun in the Summertime" / "Summer of Love"
1996	"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" / "Wouldn't It Be Nice" / "Here Today"

2010s

2011	"Good Vibrations" / "Heroes and Villains" "Don't Fight the Sea" / "Friends"
2012	"That's Why God Made the Radio" / "That's Why God Made the Radio" (instrumental) "Isn't It Time" / Live in Chicago

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