With "California Girls" on the "A" side, this was easy to overlook when the record came out in July of 1965.

But "Let Him Run Wild" has much to recommend it. There are the group's soaring harmonies, of course. Then there are the clear allusions to sex. And it acknowledged the existence of a familiar character every kid had heard about -- the lying lothario.

In addition, and perhaps most importantly, it offered boys a vision of the Emotional Rescue Guy -- a role offering potentially sweet rewards. For some future squires, envisioning oneself as a shoulder to cry on had a heady appeal.

No mere throwaway, this was Brian Wilson near the height of his powers.

www.45cat.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFJLkC4Hd7M

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