Little Honda
{{Infobox song
| name = Little Honda
| cover =
| alt =
| type =
| artist = the Beach Boys
| album = All Summer Long
| released = {{Start date|1964|07|13}}
| format =
| recorded = April 2 & 10, 1964
| studio = Western, Hollywood
| venue =
| genre =
- Pop rock
- hot rod rock{{cite web|last1=Guarisco|first1=Donald A.|title=Song review|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/little-honda-t908489|publisher=Allmusic|url-status=bot: unknown|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110323045218/http://www.allmusic.com/song/little-honda-t908489|archivedate=2011-03-23}}
- garage rock{{cite web|first= Alexis|last= Petridis|title= The Beach Boys' 40 greatest songs – ranked!|website= The Guardian|date= January 27, 2022|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jan/27/the-beach-boys-40-greatest-songs-ranked|accessdate= August 3, 2024}}
- car song{{cite book|last1=Hoffmann|first1=Frank W.|last2=Bailey|first2=William G.|title=Arts & Entertainment Fads, Volume 1|date=1990|publisher=Haworth Press|location=Binghamton|isbn=9780866568814|pages=61–62|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_tR1owszUR0C&pg=PA61}}
| length = {{Duration|m=1|s=52}}
| label = Capitol
| writer = {{hlist|Brian Wilson|Mike Love}}
| producer = Brian Wilson
| misc = {{External music video|type=song|header=Licensed audio|{{YouTube|BvOWI53K2iY|"Little Honda"}}}}
}}
"Little Honda" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1964 album All Summer Long. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it pays tribute to the small Honda motorcycle and its ease of operation, specifically the Honda 50.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSxTaoGagKoC&pg=PA42 | title= Honda Motorcycles | first= Aaron | last= Frank | publisher= MotorBooks International | year= 2003 | isbn=978-0-7603-1077-9 |accessdate=3 January 2016 }}
At 21 seconds into the song the definite sound of guitar feedback can be heard. The recording on April 2 & 10, 1964 of the song predates the Beatles' "I Feel Fine" by several months. While buried under vocals on the original release, with the 1968 instrumental track release on the Beach Boys LP "Stack-o-Tracks", this high-pitched feeback howl can be heard.
Immediately following its appearance on All Summer Long, the song was covered by the Hondells, whose recording produced by Gary Usher peaked at No. 9 on the U.S. Billboard 100.{{cn|date=May 2022}}
Recording
In a 1976 interview, Carl Wilson recounted an anecdote about "Little Honda",
{{quote|[Brian] does exactly what he wants to do. I remember [sits back and laughs] — this is so funny — when we did "Little Honda," Brian wanted me to get this real distorted guitar sound, real fuzzy. "This guitar sounds like shit," I said. "Brian, I hate this." And he goes, "Would you fucking do it? Just do it." When I heard it, I felt like an asshole. It sounded really hot. That was before fuzz became a big deal.{{cite magazine|last=Felton|first=David|title=The Healing of Brother Brian|magazine=Rolling Stone|year=1976|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-healing-of-brother-brian-the-rolling-stone-interview-with-the-beach-boys-19761104}}}}
Alternate version
In 2014, a compilation album of studio and live recordings of the Beach Boys was released entitled, Keep an Eye on Summer – The Beach Boys Sessions 1964. It was released exclusively through the iTunes Store.{{cite AV media notes| title = Keep an Eye on Summer 1964 | others= The Beach Boys| year = 2014|first1=Alan|last1=Boyd|first2=Mark|last2=Linette|first3=Craig|last3=Slowinski|authorlink1=Alan Boyd|authorlink2=Mark Linett|publisher=Capitol Records|type=Digital Liner|url=http://www.thebeachboys.com/#?news=4111}} ([http://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-beach-boys-1964-keep-eye-on-summer.html Mirror]) On that album, another version of the song was heard, with the major difference being that the background refrain was, "Go little Honda, faster little Honda" instead of, "Honda, Honda, go faster, faster." The third verse also had slightly different lyrics (e.g., "Champ" was used instead of "Matchless").{{YouTube|id=Jkd1n_zpFHk|title="Little Honda (Alternate Version)"}}
Personnel
Per Craig Slowinski.{{cite AV media notes| title = Keep an Eye on Summer 1964 | others= The Beach Boys| year = 2014|first1=Alan|last1=Boyd|first2=Mark|last2=Linette|first3=Craig|last3=Slowinski|authorlink1=Alan Boyd|authorlink2=Mark Linett|publisher=Capitol Records|type=Digital Liner|url=http://www.thebeachboys.com/#?news=4111}} ([http://fridaynightboys300.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/the-beach-boys-1964-keep-eye-on-summer.html Mirror])
;The Beach Boys
- Al Jardine – backing vocals, electric rhythm guitars, electric bass guitar
- Mike Love – lead vocals
- Brian Wilson – backing vocals, upright or grand piano, Hammond B3 organ
- Carl Wilson – backing vocals, electric lead guitars, electric rhythm guitars
- Dennis Wilson – opening voice, backing vocals, drums
;Additional musicians and production staff
- Brian Wilson – arranger, producer
- Chuck Britz – engineer
- Ray Pohlman – 6-string electric bass guitars
Charts
;The Beach Boys
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (1964–65)
!Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles |15 |chartid=4684 |publishdate=October 26, 1964}} |
| {{single chart|Norway|8|artist=The Beach Boys |song=Little Honda}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|65|artist=The Beach Boys}} |
| {{single chart|West Germany|44|artist=The Beach Boys |song=Little Honda|songid=42701 }} |
Covers
{{See also|List of cover versions of Beach Boys songs}}
- 1964 – The Hondells, single "Little Honda" (#5 CAN{{cite web|url=http://chumtribute.com/64-11-02-chart.jpg| title=CHUM Hit Parade - November 2, 1964}}
- 1965 – Jan & Dean, Command Performance
- 1973 – Dove, single "Little Honda"
- 1974 – The Carpenters, ‘’Live In Japan’’ (Live concert recording)
- 1996 – The Queers, Bubblegum Dreams 7", Lookout!
- 1997 – Yo La Tengo, I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One
- 2003 – Travoltas, Party!
References
{{reflist}}
{{All Summer Long}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Brian Wilson
Category:Songs written by Mike Love
Category:Song recordings produced by Brian Wilson
Category:Songs about transport