Let Him Run Wild

"Let Him Run Wild" was one of the first songs that Brian Wilson wrote while under the influence of marijuana.{{cite book|last1=Wilson|first1=Brian|author-link1=Brian Wilson|last2=Greenman|first2=Ben|author-link2=Ben Greenman|title=I Am Brian Wilson: A Memoir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9CmiBQAAQBAJ|year=2016|publisher=Da Capo Press|isbn=978-0-306-82307-7|page=191}} According to Wilson, the song is "about a girl who was dating a guy who didn’t stay close to her. The guy singing wants the girl to let her boyfriend run around and eventually leave her so he can come in and get her. He wants a bad thing to happen so that it’ll turn into a good thing."{{Sfn|Wilson|Greenman|2016|p=90}}

Biographer Peter Ames Carlin suggested that the song was inspired by the extramarital affairs of Brian's father Murry.{{cite book|last=Dillon|first=Mark|title=Fifty Sides of the Beach Boys: The Songs That Tell Their Story|url=https://archive.org/details/fiftysidesofbeac0000dill/|year=2012|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-198-8|url-access=registration|page=56}}

A soulful ballad,{{cite book|last1=Bogdanov|first1=Vladimir|last2=Woodstra|first2=Chris|last3=Erlewine|first3=Stephen Thomas|title=All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-pH4i3jXvAC&pg=PA72|year=2002|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-653-3|page=72}} the song is said to have been inspired by Burt Bacharach{{cite book|last1=Kent|first1=Nick|last2=Pop|first2=Iggy|title=The Dark Stuff: Selected Writings on Rock Music Updated Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bPMO0CtuBAsC&pg=PA14|date=2009-03-01|publisher=Perseus Books Group|isbn=978-0-7867-3074-2|page=14}}{{cite book|last=Hoskyns|first=Barney|title=Waiting for the Sun: A Rock 'n' Roll History of Los Angeles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w7oB2UKVxgQC&pg=PA105|year=2009|publisher=Backbeat Books|isbn=978-0-87930-943-5|page=105}} while also foreshadowing the relatively complex music dynamics of Pet Sounds several months later.{{cite web|last1=Greenwalk|first1=Matthew|title=Song review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/let-him-run-wild-mt0032095649|website=Allmusic|accessdate=12 August 2014}} Author Jim Fusilli explained, "[it] is a gorgeous track, albeit a bit busy at the chorus when compared to what's ahead, with major seventh chords that ring beautifully. The song's subtle horn charts, prominent tremolo bass, the vibraphone, and the sweet, pensive section after the chorus portend the sounds of a forthcoming classic."{{cite book|last=Fusilli|first=Jim|title=The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AdqoAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA62|date=2005-02-11|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|isbn=978-1-4411-4099-9|page=62}} MOJO wrote: "With key and tempo changes bolder and weirder than anything before, this was Brian's signpost to the psychedelic country up ahead."{{cite journal|last1=Mojo Staff|title=The Beach Boys' 50 Greatest Songs|journal=MOJO|date=April 24, 2015|url=http://www.mojo4music.com/19908/the-beach-boys-50-greatest-songs/}}

With production by Brian Wilson and engineering by Chuck Britz, the instrumental was recorded on March 20, 1965, at United Western Recorders, Hollywood.{{cite web|title=GIG65|first=Andrew G.|last=Doe|year=2013|accessdate=March 10, 2013 |url=http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs65.html}} A few weeks later, vocals were overdubbed at CBS Columbia Square with a final mix occurring on May 28. Brian later reflected that his vocal on the track was too shrill, saying, "I sounded like a little girl,"{{cite book|last1=Carlin|first1=Peter Ames|title=Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson|page=73}} and "I sounded like a fairy," naming it his least favorite Beach Boys recording.{{cite journal|last1=Sharp|first1=Ken|title=Christmas with Brian Wilson|journal=Record Collector|date=January 2006|pages=72–76|location=United Kingdom}} This caused Brian Wilson to remake the song on Imagination.{{cite web|last1=Bolin|first1=Matthew|title=Over the Covers: Ten Artists Who Covered Their Own Songs |url=https://popdose.com/over-the-covers-ten-artists-who-covered-their-own-songs/ |website=PopDose|date=25 January 2017|access-date=18 April 2022}}

Cash Box described it as an "interesting weeper which blends in generous portions of counterpoint and harmony."{{cite magazine|title=CashBox Record Reviews|date=July 17, 1965|page=12|access-date=2022-01-12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/60s/1965/CB-1965-07-17.pdf |magazine=Cash Box}} Record World called it a "full-sounding number" that would get plays despite being a B-side.{{cite magazine|title=Singles Reviews|magazine=Record World|date=July 17, 1965|page=10|accessdate=2023-07-21|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/60s/65/RW-1965-07-17.pdf}} George Harrison kept the record on his jukebox at the time.{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=William |title=Check out this playlist of George Harrison's jukebox from 1965 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/check-out-this-playlist-of-george-harrisons-jukebox-from-1965-3405092|website=NME|date=February 27, 2023}}

Among the band members, Carl and Dennis Wilson reflected on "Let Him Run Wild" as the point where they began to take notice of their eldest brother's true talents as a writer and arranger.{{cite AV media notes|chapter=Comments by Carl Wilson|title=The Pet Sounds Sessions|others=The Beach Boys|year=1997|publisher=Capitol Records|type=Booklet|chapter-url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Comments_by_Carl_Wilson.html}}{{cite magazine|last1=Felton|first1=David|title=The Healing of Brother Brian: The Rolling Stone Interview With the Beach Boys|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 4, 1976|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-healing-of-brother-brian-the-rolling-stone-interview-with-the-beach-boys-19761104}} Al Jardine expressed a similar sentiment, stating, "In terms of the musical direction Brian was going, I always thought that 'Let Him Run Wild' was the turning point, the beginning of that phase when things began to get more complicated."{{cite AV media notes |chapter=Comments by Al Jardine|title=The Pet Sounds Sessions|others=The Beach Boys|year=1997 |publisher=Capitol Records |type=Booklet|chapter-url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Comments_by_Al_Jardine.html}}

• An instrumental version is found on the 1968 Stack-O-Tracks compilation.
• The 1990/2001 reissue of Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) includes among the bonus tracks a version of the song with alternate backing vocals.{{cite AV media notes|title=Today/Summer Days|others=The Beach Boys|year=1990|first=David|last=Leaf|author-link=David Leaf|publisher=Capitol Records|type=CD Liner|url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Today_Summer_Days.html}}
• The 2007 compilation The Warmth of the Sun featured the first stereo mix of the song.

Sourced from Musician's Union AFM contract sheets and surviving session audio, documented by Craig Slowinski.{{cite web |url=http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/custommusic2/craigslowinskicom.pdf|title=The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys Today!|last=Slowinski|first=Craig|year=2007|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.tiptopwebsite.com/custommusic2/craigslowinskicom3.pdf |title= The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)|last= Slowinski|first=Craig|year=2009|accessdate=October 27, 2012}}

The Beach Boys

• Al Jardine – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps
• Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps
• Mike Love – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps
• Brian Wilson – lead, harmony and backing vocals, handclaps
• Carl Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps, twelve-string guitar
• Dennis Wilson – harmony and backing vocals, handclaps, tambourine

Additional musicians

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• Jerry Cole – electric guitar (uncertain)
• Barney Kessel – acoustic guitar (uncertain)
• Hal Blaine – drums, temple blocks
• Jimmy Bond – acoustic bass
• Al De Lory – piano (uncertain)
• Frank Capp – vibraphone
• Roy Caton – trumpet (uncertain)
• Steve Douglas – tenor saxophone
• Plas Johnson – tenor saxophone (uncertain)
• Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone (uncertain)
• Carol Kaye – bass guitar
• Howard Roberts – archtop acoustic guitar
• Leon Russell – electric piano
• Billy Strange – wood block hit on tambourine
• Ron Swallow – handclaps

}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Summer Days}}

{{The Beach Boys singles}}

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Category:1960s ballads

Category:1965 songs

Category:1965 singles

Category:The Beach Boys songs

Category:Brian Wilson songs

Category:Songs written by Brian Wilson

Category:Songs written by Mike Love

Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Wilson

Category:Song recordings with Wall of Sound arrangements

Category:Pop ballads