Love to Say Dada

<h2 id="background">Background</h2>
Wilson's first wife <a href="/facts/Marilyn_Wilson-Rutherford/RAJwBsI5">Marilyn</a> wrote in the liner notes of <a href="/facts/The_Smile_Sessions/ohpmyCz6">The Smile Sessions</a>: "When he was writing Love to Say Dada he had me buy him a baby bottle and fill it with chocolate milk, and he would sit and write and drink from it. It was hilarious, I thought."<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a> <a href="/facts/Stephen_Desper/TjYVLS08">Stephen Desper</a>, who became the band's engineer in late 1967, wrote in 2012 that "Love to Say Dada" was "a song about a baby ... It was never finished or released. [<a href="/facts/Sic/qB9MUUWF">sic</a>]"<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a>
Music historian Bill Tobelman noted that the song's title could be abbreviated as "<a href="/facts/LSD/o5qq0grH">LSD</a>", a reference to the drug.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a>[better source needed] Biographer <a href="/facts/Byron_Preiss/PbavJWV4">Byron Preiss</a> wrote that the song formed part of the water-themed section of "<a href="/facts/The_Elements_(suite)/qjGhg9Xk">The Elements</a>" and was "briefly considered" to be paired with "<a href="/facts/Surf%2527s_Up_(song)/FYo7dtcX">Surf's Up</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a>

<h2 id="recording">Recording</h2>
On December 22, 1966, Wilson recorded two versions of the track, titled "Da Da", at <a href="/facts/CBS_Columbia_Square/8PSKgcfa">Columbia Studio</a>. One version featured him playing a piano with the strings taped, while the other featured him playing a Fender Rhodes electric piano. No master number was assigned to the tape.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a> "Heroes and Villains: All Day" was recorded on January 27, 1967.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
From May 16 to 18, 1967, Wilson produced three sessions dedicated to the track at <a href="/facts/Gold_Star_Studios/5xu565kg">Gold Star Studios</a>. Another session scheduled for May 19 that would have likely seen further work on the track was cancelled. The session would have employed the musicians Mike Rubini, Bill Pitman, <a href="/facts/Lyle_Ritz/MIQaPm9x">Lyle Ritz</a>, drummers <a href="/facts/Hal_Blaine/lW7lf9Rd">Hal Blaine</a> and <a href="/facts/Jim_Gordon_(musician)/t3ykCEvN">Jim Gordon</a>, and percussionist Alan Estes.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> According to music historian Keith Badman, these occasions marked the final sessions for the Smile album.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h2 id="cool-cool-water">"Cool, Cool Water"</h2>
"Love to Say Dada" later evolved into the song "<a href="/facts/Cool%2c_Cool_Water/MUQ74nXz">Cool, Cool Water</a>".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a> The "Cool Cool Water Chant", which appears as an introduction to The Smile Sessions version of "Love to Say Dada", was recorded in October 1967.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> Vocals recorded by <a href="/facts/Carl_Wilson/ewy0VSWt">Carl Wilson</a> for "Cool, Cool Water" on October 29, 1967 were also combined with this version.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a>

<h2 id="personnel">Personnel</h2>
Per band archivist Craig Slowinski.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>
Part 1 (May 16, 1967)

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Hal_Blaine/lW7lf9Rd">Hal Blaine</a> – drums</li>
<li>Gene Estes – upright piano</li>
<li>Mike Rubini – grand piano</li>
<li>Bill Pitman – <a href="/facts/Danelectro/7vtUAet5">Danelectro</a> bass</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Lyle_Ritz/MIQaPm9x">Lyle Ritz</a> – upright bass</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Brian_Wilson/lHqBFEUI">Brian Wilson</a> – <a href="/facts/Wooden_fish/BeYLt3zo">temple blocks</a></li></ul>

Part 2 (May 17, 1967)

<ul><li>Hal Blaine – drums</li>
<li>Gene Estes – Hammond organ</li>
<li>Jim Horn – clarinet</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Carol_Kaye/mme79qrM">Carol Kaye</a> – electric rhythm guitar (uncertain credit)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Jay_Migliori/b7grjoPz">Jay Migliori</a> – clarinet</li>
<li>Bill Pitman – Danelectro bass (uncertain credit)</li>
<li>Ray Pohlman – 12-string electric lead guitar (uncertain credit)</li>
<li>Lyle Ritz – Fender bass (uncertain credit)</li>
<li>Mike Rubini – grand piano</li>
<li>Brian Wilson – vocals, temple blocks</li></ul>

Part 2 (Second Day) (May 18, 1967)

<ul><li>Frank DeVito – bongos</li>
<li>Gene Estes – Hammond organ</li>
<li>Bill Green – piccolo, whistle</li>
<li>Jay Migliori – piccolo, whistle</li>
<li>Bill Pitman – "gut-string" guitar</li>
<li>Ray Pohlman – Danelectro bass</li>
<li>Mel Pollan – upright bass</li>
<li>Mike Rubini – grand piano</li>
<li>Brian Wilson – piano with taped strings</li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbmnNsAhc9o">Da Da (taped piano strings)</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrYAwq0ylbQ">Da Da (Fender Rhodes)</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBNR_S250No">Heroes and Villains: All Day</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgXc9acBY1A">Love To Say Dada: Part 1</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeXQTOUVkyo">Love To Say Dada: Part 2</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdXrqUxg9lY">Love To Say Dada: Part 2 (Second Day)</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlDO_cs8vg0">Love to Say Dada (2011 The Smile Sessions version)</a> on <a href="/facts/YouTube_video_(identifier)/db276jst">YouTube</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Heiser, Marshall (November 2012). "SMiLE: Brian Wilson's Musical Mosaic". The Journal on the Art of Record Production (7). ISSN 1754-9892. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150415032648/http://arpjournal.com/smile-brian-wilson%E2%80%99s-musical-mosaic/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150415032648/http://arpjournal.com/smile-brian-wilson%E2%80%99s-musical-mosaic/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Desper, Stephen (January 1, 2012). "Re: Surfs Up Coda – Brian's Involvement". smileysmile.net. <a href="/wiki/Stephen_Desper" target="_blank">/wiki/Stephen_Desper</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Tobelman, Bill. "....the ZEN interpretation.. I Love To Say Dada." The Good Humor SMiLE Site!. p. 17. <a href="http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page17.htm" target="_blank">http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page17.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Lambert, Philip (2007). Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: the Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius. Continuum. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-8264-1876-0. <a href="978-0-8264-1876-0" target="_blank">978-0-8264-1876-0</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Badman, Keith (2004). The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band, on Stage and in the Studio. Backbeat Books. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-87930-818-6. <a href="978-0-87930-818-6" target="_blank">978-0-87930-818-6</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Heiser, Marshall (November 2012). "SMiLE: Brian Wilson's Musical Mosaic". The Journal on the Art of Record Production (7). ISSN 1754-9892. Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150415032648/http://arpjournal.com/smile-brian-wilson%E2%80%99s-musical-mosaic/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150415032648/http://arpjournal.com/smile-brian-wilson%E2%80%99s-musical-mosaic/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) <a href="/wiki/The_Beach_Boys" target="_blank">/wiki/The_Beach_Boys</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Love to Say Dada open-in-new

Love to Say Dada