The Beach Boys / Wild Honey [mono] (US, Capitol Records, T 2859) <December 18, 1967>

The Beach Boys / Wild Honey [mono] (US, Capitol Records, T 2859) <December 18, 1967>
(1) T-1-2859-F1
(2) T-2-2859-G2 2

"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 number 11. The album itself reached number 24 in the US and number seven in the UK.

The album's sessions began immediately after the recording of Lei'd in Hawaii, a failed live album, and the release of Smiley Smile, their previous LP. 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).

It was the second album to credit "the Beach Boys" as producer instead of Brian, who gradually withdrew from the band following the difficult sessions for the aborted Smile project. At Brian's request, his younger brother Carl began contributing more to the recording process, a trend that continued on subsequent albums. Mike Love also returned as Brian's main songwriting collaborator for the first time since "The Beach Boys Today!" (1965).

Wild Honey became the Beach Boys' lowest-selling album at that point and remained on the US charts for only 15 weeks. Critics initially viewed it as another inconsequential record from the band. The album also alienated others whose expectations had been raised by Smile. After a 1974 reissue, Wild Honey was reevaluated by fans and critics who highlighted the record for its simplicity and charm. It was the last Beach Boys album to feature Brian as a primary composer until The Beach Boys Love You (1977). The track "Here Comes the Night" was redone by the group as a disco single in the late 1970s. In 2017, a complete stereo mix of Wild Honey was released for the first time on the rarities compilation 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uAK0Ws6TwY