Brian Wilson Said Elvis Presley Was in the Studio When He Was Making 1 of The Beach Boys’ Songs
Brian Wilson recalls working on one of The Beach Boys’ songs with a famous producer. In addition, Wilson said Elvis Presley came into the studio while he was working on the song. Wilson had a strong reaction to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Notably, some of Wilson’s recollections of the event appear to be false.
Brian Wilson said Elvis Presley was there while he was working on 1 of The Beach Boys’ cover songs
Terry Melcher is a producer known for working on songs such as Bob Dylan’s “Mr. Tambourine Man” and The Beach Boys’ “Kokomo.” During a 2013 interview with Rock Cellar Magazine, Wilson discussed working with Melcher.
“I was recording with Terry Melcher at RCA Victor Records in 1975,” Wilson recalled. “We were working on the song ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love?'” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” is a cover of a song by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers.
“Terry said, ‘Hey, Elvis is in the next studio recording,'” Wilson continued. “That was a big surprise to hear he was in the studio next to me. So I walked into the studio and said, ‘Hi, I’m Brian Wilson’ and he goes, ‘Hello Duke.” I don’t know why he called me ‘Duke.'”
Wilson recalled what happened next. “I said, “Would you like to hear what I’m doing in the studio?’ and he said ‘Yes,'” Wilson remembered. “So we walked over to my studio and listened to what I was doing and then said he had to leave.”
Brian Wilson liked Elvis Presley’s songs but his memories of the singer are at least partially inaccurate
Wilson discussed his impression of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “It was a thrill to meet him and he was real happy to meet me,” he said. “I liked Elvis Presley’s songs. I never saw him live. I thought Elvis was a very underrated singer, he was a very good singer.”
Some of Wilson’s recollections of the event appear to be inaccurate. The Beach Boys released “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” in 1964, not 1975. While it’s possible Melcher worked on the track, he is not listed on the song’s credits.
How The Beach Boys’ ‘Why Do Fools Fall in Love?’ performed on the chart in the United States
The Beach Boys’ cover of “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” was the B side to “Fun, Fun, Fun.” The latter song reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. It stayed on the chart for 11 weeks.
“Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” and “Fun, Fun, Fun” appeared on the album Shut Down Volume 2. The album hit No. 13 on the Billboard 200. Shut Down Volume 2 lasted a total of 38 weeks on the chart.
The Beach Boys’ “Why Do Fools Fall in Love?” is a great cover — even if Wilson’s recollections of making it cannot be entirely accurate.
