The Beach Boys: Wild Honey - 1967

Coming after the abomination that was Smiley Smile and its half baked, often disturbing puerility, it comes as a blessed relief to hear a PROPER track kick off the album in Wild Honey. The track is admittedly unusual, innovative and experimental, but at least it is a full creation, unlike the tosh served up on Smiley Smile. 

Aren't You Glad continues the album in its organ, bass and brass 60s fashion which led many to say this was The Beach Boys' soul album, an impression continued with a belting cover of Stevie Wonder's 1967 hit I Was Made To Love Her. The new thing of "country rock" is experienced in the pleasing Country Air as they go all Byrds. A Thing Or Two is pure late 60s pop-rock, with some jazzy parts for good measure, using the riff later to be used on Do It Again. 

These five opening tracks show clearly that the drug-fuelled, irritating excess and lack of finished product on Smiley Smile was put firmly in the past. Just listen to Aren't You Glad and you realise The Beach Boys are back on solid ground again. It is a much-underrated track in their canon. 

Darlin' is classic Beach Boys and deservedly is on every "Greatest Hits" package. I'd Love Just Once To See You is as beautiful as anything on Pet Sounds. Here Comes The Night with its beautiful bass line and Let The Wind Blow continue in the same vein. The former would have made a great single, in my opinion. The latter is an example of how many of the "semi songs" from the Smile sessions should have ended up. 

How She Boogalooed It could be from 1962-65 in its "surfy" rocking feel. Beautifully upbeat. Things are fine again. Maybe. Give me this over Smiley Smile any day. No comparison. They are light and day apart. One is an unlistenable disgrace. The other is a welcome relief and most enjoyable. Proper songs. Thankfully. What is amazing about the album, though, is that it only lasts twenty-three minutes!

Secondary, 7 of 8

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