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Post by Kapitan on May 31, 2021 13:13:27 GMT
It took about nine months after "Good Vibrations" for the Beach Boys to give birth to their next single, "Heroes and Villains;" but it took just three months for the group to follow up on that. In October 1967, the band released "Wild Honey" in advance of their album of the same name, with the B-side "Wind Chimes" coming off their recently released Smiley Smile.
If Smiley Smile, only released in September, surprised listeners, "Wild Honey" must have confused them even more. Had the band already left the psychedelic scene they'd only recently entered in the first place? While the single kept the stripped-down production approach of the group's new album--and so was still a departure from most of their previous few years' output--that approach was now used on an R&B-inflected rock and roller. In two months, when the corresponding album would be released, listeners would realize that the band had recorded a full album along those lines.
The group performed this Wilson/Love number itself, recording in Brian's home and nearly completing the recording in a single day.
"Wind Chimes," taken from Smiley Smile, was a sharp departure from the A-side, not only lacking the danceable beat of the A-side, but with Carl's eerie vocal, Brian's prominent organ, and sound effects making for an uneasy, almost creepy sound.
"Wild Honey" performed decently, if considered in a vacuum: it reached #29 in the UK and #31 in the US, and did better in the major Oceanic countries. But for the Beach Boys, it must have felt like a disappointment. They hadn't had an A-side do so poorly on the charts since "Little St. Nick" hit #47 in 1963.
Please rate and discuss "Wild Honey" backed with "Wind Chimes."
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Post by carllove on May 31, 2021 17:58:29 GMT
This gets an 8 from me, mostly because I love Wind Chimes. Such a beautiful, unique soothing song. I am not a fan of this version of Wild Honey. Probably the only Carl vocal I hate. He is screeching as he sings. The tempo is also just a bit too fast to adequately feel the groove. The first time I saw a video of Blondie singing the lead live, I was blown away. I love that version of Wild Honey. Just not this one.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2021 18:09:53 GMT
A very good A-side backed with a very weak B-side. As Kapitan points out, there is pretty much no connection between the two. Wild Honey is an energetic rocker which should easily have played well on 1967 radio. Wind Chimes (particularly the Smiley version) is just a downer.
So, what would have been a better B-side? Maybe With Me Tonight? It too is a mellow song, but at least there are some really nice harmonies and a pleasant vibe rather than weirdness.
This one comes out to an 8 for me.
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Post by jk on May 31, 2021 18:11:49 GMT
This gets an 8 from me, mostly because I love Wind Chimes. Such a beautiful, unique soothing song. I am not a fan of this version of Wild Honey. Probably the only Carl vocal I hate. He is screeching as he sings. The tempo is also just a bit too fast to adequately feel the groove. The first time I saw a video of Blondie singing the lead live, I was blown away. I love that version of Wild Honey. Just not this one. Hi, cl. Agreed on "Wind Chimes"! I heard it on French radio around the time Smiley Smile was released and was completely floored. This was about as psychedelic as one could get! Now "Wild Honey" I heard a little later and loved it too ("those Beach Boys certainly ring the changes!"). I have no trouble with Carl's vocals -- I understand he had a ball singing it, while knowing full well it was partly out of his range. The combination is easily worth ten in my book.
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Post by Kapitan on May 31, 2021 21:56:59 GMT
I'm starting with a 6. But it is a high 6, and I could go to 7.
I like the song "Wild Honey" (and the spirit of the album) much more than I do the recording of "Wild Honey" as we have it on this single. In that way, it is a lot like "Heroes and Villains." It's a better concept than it is a recording.
"Wind Chimes," in this particular rendition, does very little for me. I think there is a beautiful song there, and some wonderful earlier versions. This one is, to me, wildly inferior.
The Beach Boys henceforth are not a great singles band.
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Post by kds on Jun 1, 2021 0:21:38 GMT
I'm starting with a 6. But it is a high 6, and I could go to 7.
I like the song "Wild Honey" (and the spirit of the album) much more than I do the recording of "Wild Honey" as we have it on this single. In that way, it is a lot like "Heroes and Villains." It's a better concept than it is a recording.
"Wind Chimes," in this particular rendition, does very little for me. I think there is a beautiful song there, and some wonderful earlier versions. This one is, to me, wildly inferior.
The Beach Boys henceforth are not a great singles band.
I pretty much agree with everything here. I'm going with a seven because I do think Wild Honey is a great song, even if this isn't a great version. Although, Bruce's organ solo is great. I hate this version of Wind Chimes. Its hard for me to believe they'd even release this version, let alone put in on a single.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 1, 2021 2:14:29 GMT
"Wild Honey" is one of the most overrated BB songs in the catalogue. The melody is only average, the theremin is grating, Carl's lead vocal is bad, and I have to respectfully disagree with carllove in that I find the tempo too slow. Other than that it's a fine song. When Blondie Chaplin came along a few years later, he improved the song immensely with his live performances of the song. Blondie breathed life into "Wild Honey" and turned it into a rocker. It's interesting that Carl stepped aside and allowed Blondie to take over the lead vocal. That tells me something.
"Wind Chimes", the Smiley Smile version, is also overrated. The acapella tag is tremendous; one of Brian's most beautiful moments. However, the rest of the song is a stoned and scattered production. I think I know what Brian was going for. I can kinda appreciate it, but I appreciate the SMiLE version more. My personal SMiLE mix utilizes a version of the SMiLE track with "Whispering Winds" tacked on the end. I wanted the best of both worlds.
I'm going with a 6 on this one and that's being charitable. There's very little Brian Wilson and Beach Boys' magic here.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 1, 2021 19:59:20 GMT
I rate it a five. The group had completely lost touch with what was right for the singles market. H&V did well enough - if far below expectations - that a followup single could have done very well, but they blew it with this one. As an album track, it's okay, but not strong singles material.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 2, 2021 13:46:44 GMT
I rate it a five. The group had completely lost touch with what was right for the singles market. H&V did well enough - if far below expectations - that a followup single could have done very well, but they blew it with this one. As an album track, it's okay, but not strong singles material. They were definitely leaking oil. For about five years, Brian's music and the audience were on the same page, but things were changing. The Top Ten singles and albums were now a thing of the past. Brian was determined to follow his heart, his vision, and his art, and thus we got Wild Honey and Friends. I'm not exactly sure that's what the fans, the record company - or the guys - wanted, though.
I don't want to get ahead of the thread, but the Beach Boys' days at or near the top of the charts were over ("Kokomo" excepted). Oh, there were would be more...successes...but things were now different. Very different.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 6, 2021 21:29:51 GMT
Reminder: this is your last day to vote on "Wild Honey"/"Wind Chimes." Tomorrow we forge ahead.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 6, 2021 22:27:39 GMT
I'm a pretty big fan of both songs, especially "Wild Honey", so I went with a '9'. That said, this is our 22nd single we've rated/ranked and I'm slotting this in at #16. The competition, of course, is steep! And the moment Brian pulled out of the production race, well, some of the magic was lost...
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 7, 2021 11:21:41 GMT
Twelve voters on the board have rated "Wild Honey" backed with "Wind Chimes" an average of 7.9. I'll update the ratings thread and shortly will launch our next single.
Thanks for your participation.
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