One-Piece Topless Bathing Suit

ONE-PIECE TOPLESS BATHING SUIT

After one more charting single, “One-Piece Topless Bathing Suit” (which appears on neither album), Terry Melcher ceased working with the Rip Chords and in the process turned down what would have been their next single, a Brian Wilson composition called “Help Me, Rhonda”. It was recorded instead by the Beach Boys and became their second Number One song. (Musicians in the surf era were quite generous and often shared songwriters and producers with their strongest competitors).

(July 2011)