Had to Phone Ya

"Had to Phone Ya" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love for the American pop band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1976 album, 15 Big Ones. The song was originally also credited to Diane Rovell, but her name was removed from the songwriting credit in later release albums.

All five members of the band take turns on lead vocals, with Mike Love and Carl Wilson handling the majority. Dennis Wilson, whose voice was ragged from heavy smoking and drinking, is limited to one couplet ("Sometimes you're busy for awhile / But when I get through it makes me smile"). Brian Wilson takes the closing segment, in which the key shifts from A to G. After an extended staccato vamp on a G Major Seventh, the final section begins with an unusual chord sequence of G Major Seventh, to B Flat Major Seventh, and E Flat Major Seventh, as Brian sings in a rough but passionate baritone, "Come on / Come on and answer the phone / Come on, come on!" (The listener is advised to turn the volume up as the song fades out.)

The song's instrumental backing track borrows heavily from the 1966 Pet Sounds outtake Trombone Dixie, which in 1967 was reworked for the Beach Boys' aborted Smile album as "Holiday."

Performers

Brian Wilson: Lead vocals, Backing vocals, Piano
Carl Wilson: Lead vocals, Backing vocals
Dennis Wilson: Lead vocals, Backing vocals, drums
Mike Love: Lead vocals, Backing vocals
Al Jardine: Lead vocals, Backing vocals
Marilyn Wilson: Backing vocals
Steve Douglas: Saxophone
Jay Migliori: Saxophone
Dennis Dreith: Clarinet
Jules Jacobs: Clarinet
Lyle Ritz: Bass
Sidney Sharp: Violin
Arnold Belnick: Violin
Henry Ferber: Violin
Bobby Shew: Trumpet
Ed Carter: Guitar
Billy Hinsche: Guitar