The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson Did Something X-Rated While Recording a Song
A lot of the classic rock songs of the 1960s are wholesome, including most of The Beach Boys’ hit singles. During the creation of the song, The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson did something risque in the studio with a woman he met. Another member of the band revealed you can hear what he did on the final song.
Mike Love said 1 of The Beach Boys’ songs is about Dennis Wilson’s obsession with sex
Mike Love is one of the founding members of The Beach Boys. In his 2016 book Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy, Love discussed Wilson. He said Wilson had an “obsession” with sex. Love said Wilson incorporated this obsession into The Beach Boys’ song “All I Want to Do.”
“After the vocal tracks were completed, Dennis wanted to perk up the ending; so according to our sound engineer, Stephen Desper, Dennis walked over Hollywood Boulevard, found a prostitute, and brought her back to the studio (using a side door to avoid the security guards),” Love wrote.
“Desper had arranged a love nest in the middle of the studio, using a carpeted riser as a bed, some acoustic blankets for cushion, and another upended riser for privacy,” Love added. “Two condenser mics, mounted on long booms, hung over this makeshift cove.”
Dennis Wilson and the prostitute had sex twice to get the song just right
Wilson and the prostitute added something to “All I Want to Do” together. “With Desper working the controls, Dennis and his partner disrobed, put on headphones, and listened to the song while providing their own lusty baseline,” Love said.
Wilson wasn’t satisfied with the original version of “All I Want to Do.” “One take provided all the acoustic effects that were needed, but Dennis said he wanted to ‘overdub’ a second pass,” Love recounted. “So they did it again, the song and the sex, and Desper integrated these carnal flourishes into the track, in stereo.”
How The Beach Boys’ ‘All I Want to Do’ performed in the United States and the United Kingdom
“All I Want to Do” was the B-side to The Beach Boys’ “I Can Hear Music.” “I Can Hear Music” reached No. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 10 weeks. Both tunes appeared on The Beach Boys’ album 20/20. The album hit No. 68 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for 11 weeks.
According to The Official Charts Company, “I Can Hear Music” was a much bigger hit in the United Kingdom. There, it reached No. 10 and lasted on the chart for 13 weeks. Meanwhile, 20/20 peaked at No. 3 and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks.
“All I Want to Do” was the B-side of a hit single — but the most interesting thing about it might be its creation.
