Wild Honey

About Wild Honey

Wild Honey is the 13th studio album by American rock band the Beach Boys, released December 18, 1967 on Capitol Records. It was the group's first foray into soul music and was heavily influenced by the R&B of Motown and Stax Records (artists such as Stevie Wonder). Lead single and opening track, "Wild Honey", became a minor hit with only a short chart stay. Its follow-up "Darlin'" reached the US Top 20. The album itself reached number 24 in the US and number seven in the UK. The album's sessions began immediately after the abandonment of Lei'd in Hawaii, a failed live album, and the release of Smiley Smile, their previous studio album. Like Smiley Smile, Wild Honey's core instrumental combo consists of organ, honky-tonk piano, and electric bass. The Beach Boys were inspired to regroup as a self-contained rock band, partly in response to critical assertions that they were "ball-less choir boys". They also purposely distanced themselves from the prevailing rock trends of the time (psychedelia and high-scale recording or thematic conceits). The production was once again credited to the group rather than Brian Wilson alone, who gradually abdicated the band's musical leadership following the difficult sessions for the aborted Smile LP. At Brian's request, his younger brother Carl began contributing more to the recording process, a trend that continued on subsequent albums. more »