"Cuddle Up" is a song by American rock band

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

that was written by

Dennis Wilson Dennis Carl Wilson (December 4, 1944 – December 28, 1983) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He is best remembered as their drummer and as the middle brother of bandmates Brian and Carl Wilson. ...

and

Daryl Dragon Daryl Frank Dragon (August 27, 1942 – January 2, 2019) was an American musician, known as Captain from the pop musical duo Captain & Tennille with his then-wife, Toni Tennille. Career Born into a musical family, Dragon was the son of E ...

. It was concurrently released in two formats on May 15, 1972. One version was released on the album ''

Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" ''Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"'' is the 18th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released May 15, 1972 on Brother/Reprise. The album is a significant musical departure for the band and is the first to feature the F ...

'', and another as the b-side to " You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone".

Recording

Following the release of the Beach Boys album '' Surf's Up'' in August 1971, Dennis Wilson collaborated with Daryl Dragon, intending to record a solo album. ''Cuddle Up'' was initially recorded for this project in late 1971 under the working title ''Old Movie''. After the idea for producing this solo album was abandoned, Dennis re-recorded "Cuddle Up" at his brother Brian's home studio in

Bel Air, California Bel Air (or Bel-Air) is a residential neighborhood on the Westside of Los Angeles, California, in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. Founded in 1923, it is the home of the Hannah Carter Japanese Garden and the American Jewish Univers ...

on May 15, 1972 for the Beach Boys. The lead vocal on ''Cuddle Up'' is performed by Dennis and production is credited to the Beach Boys. A slightly different mix of ''Cuddle Up'' was pressed on the b-side to " You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone". It features alternate mixing, additional string overdubs and backing vocals.

Reception

Matthew Greenwald of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...

stated ""Cuddle Up" is a somewhat top-heavy, classically influenced ballad. However, the lyrics and Dennis Wilson's excellent vocals render this an emotional masterpiece, closing the album out with style" and noted that it is essential listening for those exploring Dennis Wilson's talents.

Personnel

Credits from Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar and Joshilyn Hoisington The Beach Boys *

Blondie Chaplin Terrence William "Blondie" Chaplin (born 7 July 1951) is a South African singer and guitarist from Durban, where he played in the band the Flames in the mid to late 1960s. From 1972 to 1973, he was a member of the Beach Boys and contributed t ...

- backing vocals *

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

- arrangement *

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

- backing vocals, acoustic guitar *

- lead and backing vocals, Hammond organ, arrangement, producer Additional musicians *Norman Botnick - viola *David Burk - viola *

Frank Capp Francis Cappuccio (August 20, 1931 – September 12, 2017), known professionally as Frank Capp, was an American jazz drummer. Capp also played on numerous rock and roll sessions and is considered to be a member of The Wrecking Crew. Biography ...

- timpani *Bonnie Douglas - violin *Assa Drori - violin *

- grand piano, co-arrangement, orchestra producer *Irving Geller - violin *Nathan Gershman - cello *James D. Hughart - arco double bass *JoAnn Johannsen - cello *Jan Kelley - cello *Richard F. Kelley Sr. - arco double bass *Stephen LaFever - bass guitar *Alfred Lustgarten - violin *Leonard Malarsky - violin *Joseph Reilich - viola *Jay Rosen - violin *Nathan Ross - violin *Meyer Rubin - arco double bass *Sheldon Sanov - violin *Victor Sazer - cello *David Schwartz - viola *Leonard Selic - violin *Spiro Stamos - violin *

Toni Tennille Cathryn Antoinette "Toni" Tennille (born May 8, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter and keyboardist, best known as one-half of the 1970s duo Captain & Tennille with her former husband Daryl Dragon; their signature song is " Love Will Keep U ...

- backing vocals *Dorothy Wade - violin *Shari Zippert - violin

Cover versions

* 1975 –

Captain & Tennille Captain & Tennille were American recording artists whose primary success occurred in the 1970s. The husband-and-wife team were "Captain" Daryl Dragon (1942–2019) and Toni Tennille (born 1940). They have five albums certified gold or platinu ...

, ''Love Will Keep Us Together''

References

{{authority control 1972 songs The Beach Boys songs Songs written by Dennis Wilson Reprise Records singles