B-side "That's All Right" Genre Orchestral pop | Format 7" vinyl Length 2:44 | |
Released June 7, 1965 (1965-06-07) Recorded October 14, 1964 (1964-10-14)–March 8, 1965 (1965-03-08), United Western Recorders, Hollywood | ||
"Guess I'm Dumb" is a 1965 song written by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman for American musician and singer Glen Campbell. Although it has later been called one of the earliest works of Wilson's continued artistic growth that he would later be known for in the 1960s, the single flopped and failed to chart.
Contents
It has been described to have a "surging, elegant Burt Bacharach-inspired string and horn arrangement and Campbell's forlorn Roy Orbison-like vocal." It's also been said that the arrangement later inspired the work of Jimmy Webb. The song was later covered by a wide variety of artists including Jules Shear, Lambchop, Louis Phillipe, Wondermints, and Tatsuro Yamashita.
Composition
The song is one of two written by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman during the early 1960s, the other being "Sherry She Needs Me", an unfinished outtake for the Beach Boys' Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (1965). "Guess I'm Dumb" was written at Wilson's apartment and wife Marilyn's home sometime in 1964.
A portion of the melody is similar to later Wilson composition "Had To Phone Ya".
Recording
The instrumental was recorded at United Western Recorders in late 1964 during sessions for the Beach Boys' Today! (1965). Despite the backing track requiring 23 takes to get right, Wilson accidentally congratulated the sessions players excitedly and audibly toward the end of the recording. Several months after Wilson's bandmates declined to sing the track, Wilson approached Glen Campbell and asked if he wanted to sing on it, which he then agreed. Campbell was at the time filling in for Wilson for their live performances, and had been given the song as a "reward" by Wilson for these performing duties.
Variations
The song is featured on many Glen Campbell compilations, and appears as one of the many Wilson-produced tracks on Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions. In 2013, the instrumental track with backing vocals was released on the Beach Boys compilation Made in California.
Credits and personnel
Sourced from Musician's Union AFM contract sheets and surviving session audio, documented by Craig Slowinski.
Additional musicians
Production