It's interesting that my favorite period of The Beach Boys is from their least commercially successful period ('66-'73). If this era was played on the radio more often, I might have become a fan a lot sooner than I did. As it turned out, they were a lot more than just surfing and hot rods.

Carl's lead vocals were amazing on this album!!!

This has always been one of my favorite Beach Boys albums. I love the title track. Carl's singing on this album is superb! Wish they had continued with the sound on this album (a lot of organ/piano, not much lead guitar) for more than just this album. Not much harmonizing on the songs, but the lead vocals are fine. Let The Wind Blow is such a pretty ballad. How She Boogalooed It is a cool little rocker from Al! I think the group at the time were trying to develop a new sound (both instrument/vocally) that would start selling their records again. Smiley Smile hadn't sold too well, and it had been at least 8-9 months since Good Vibrations had reached number 1. Wish Dennis had some lead vocals on some of the songs, but that would have to wait until the next album, Friends (along with his own songs!).

Fun fact: In nature, honey NEVER goes bad. Great review of a brilliant album.

Thanks! I absolutely love this album. I grew up with Beach Boys hits as a child in the 1960's. As a teenager in the 1970s, I first became familiar with the Beach Boys full catalogue. I remember wondering why I'd never heard these songs on the radio. I'm so glad that people continue to discover these songs - generation after generation.

It took me a long time to really get to like this album. Now with the the stereo release I have a whole new appreciation for it.

“Here comes the night”..... I will publicly state that this has been my favorite song for the past few years.

Mine and Jim Morrison’s favourite Beach Boys album

“It feels weird to call this a great record--it's so slight. But it's perfect and full of pleasure; it does what it sets out to do almost without a bad second (except for "Let the Wind Blow," each of the 11 tunes--total time: 23:54--ends before you wish it would). And what does it set out to do? To convey the troubled innocence of the Beach Boys through a time of attractive but perilous psychedelic sturm und drang. Its method is whimsy, candor, and carefully modulated amateurishness, all of which comes through as humor. Tell me, what other pop seer was inspired enough to cover a Stevie Wonder song in 1967?” - Robert Christgau on Wild Honey The grade he gave the album? A+! 🤗

You mentioned there was never a true stereo version of this album and how cool that would be, and then just eight months after you posted this video, a full stereo version was indeed released as part of 1967 Sunshine Tomorrow. 😃

Well done mate. I’ve had these albums since the seventies. Good to see that a younger chap appreciates this stuff. Your review is spot on.

Picked up an interesting UK "twofer" at a local used shop that pairs Wild Honey with Friends.... Two of the best in one gatefold LP!

I was very lucky that this was the first Beach Boys album I heard thanks to my sister in law (who is 10 years older than me) who lent me her original mono album. I loved it and still do 40 years later. So many classics as well as the title track, Country Air, Let the Wind Blow, Aren't you Glad etc etc

This is a great LP. The stereo version is going to be released in June!!! This isn't technically Duophonic. Like Smiley Smile, it's minimally fake stereo. Capitol Records abandoned that process when mono LPs were being phased out, because the Duophonic process sounded awful when folded down. On Magical Mystery Tour we had a much more intense fake stereo for Penny Lane, Baby You're a Rich Man and All You Need is Love, with heavy bass on the left and ultra highs on the right, but no delay between the channels. It was originally supposed to be Brother Records release 9003 with a different track listing. Allegedly it was to have a version of The Letter and Game of Love. Cool Cool Water was also to be included. Brother 9002 was to have been the live LP you mentioned. Great job on these reviews. I'm glad i stumbled upon your channel tonight.

Your channel is great, I especially like your Beach Boys reviews/discussions. Please keep doing what you’re doing Giggens my man, incredibly interesting and nicely articulated content!!

The Beach Boys are the honey on my cornflakes of life!

I agree with you that Wild Honey is one of their best albums. Specifically, as a serious Beach Boys fan myself, I rank it as their seventh best studio album. The Cabinessence website ranks it (by combining album ratings and average fan votes) their tenth best studio album, so I guess I like it more than the average fan. But you say you rank it fourth? Wow, that is surprisingly high. I'd like to hear which are the only three albums you think has it beat. The six I rank higher are Pet Sounds, Summer Days, Sunflower, Surf's Up, 20/20, and Today. I'm guessing you'd put 20/20 below since I tend to also be a bigger fan of that album than most fans are, but which other two would you pull out?

Great review. Love this record, and never tire of it!!! Carls vocals make it for me!

Here Comes The Night (NON DISCO)! I was made to love her! Country Air! Darlin! How She Boogalooed it! GREAT ALBUM. Too short.

"Darlin'" sounds like it was from the '70's instead of 67. Perhaps that is why it didnt do as well. In fact, I have a very early childhood memory of hearing that song around 1974--I would have been about 5 years old at the time. I actually thought it was from that time until a few weeks ago.

Great review of this great album!!! You echo my thoughts verbatim!! I've spent years trying to convince people how great this album is!!

Darlin/Here today is my favorite beach boy single if not my favorite single in general. My second favorite tho is, do you want to dance/please let me wonder, I love that single cause it shows their transformation from their fun fun fun summer time music (do you want to dance). To their more Awesome slow and beautiful (please let me wonder)

Probably the best band possible to rank and discuss out of hundreds. Great in depth critiques of the Beach Boy's extensive catalog.

Very good album. The title track is one of the coolest pieces of music they ever put out. Enjoy your reviews 😎

I just received Wild Honey for Valentine's Day, which was a couple days ago. What an album! Wow!! My girlfriend had bought it for me a month ago, and kept it a secret. Meanwhile, for some reason about 2 weeks ago I had become obsessed with this one BB song: Darlin'. I didn't know what album it was on, but I listened to every live version I could find on youtube. I played it for my gf, saying "I don't know why but I'm obsessed with this. I LOVE this song!" Imagine how she must have felt knowing it was on the record she had just bought for me. Thank you Giggens. Spot on review!

Fantastic Review

Defintly one of my favourite beach boys record. It was the first bb album of the "gold period" i listened. A really 10/10 for id just love once to see you : chill lyrics with some kinks vibes (do you agree ? ). I really love when brian sings lower than usual. Its a pity that he didnt sing more often like that (as in buisy doin nothing). Let the wind blow is ..... Woaaaaaah !!!! The live version of beach boys in concert album is just wonderfull wirh carl on lead vocals but i guess you've already list to it. Did you make a review of this live album ? Because it realy is one of the best 70's live album Ive listened. (Special mention to al vocals in this effort : he sings more often in live and it is a good idee. He sings H and V so good)

A great stripped down album.....one of my favorites. The reissue, 1967 Sunshine Tomorrow is frickin' awesome!

"I was made to love her" was a great cover!

I got this album coupled with Friends on vinyl, absolutely awesome albums, both too short but very sweet

Just been getting into this! As far as I'm concerned "Darlin'" is a Carl classic!

I have to concur with your opinion of this album. I've loved it since the first listen. The last of their really consistent albums, imho. Summer Days(Summer Nights), Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile and this sum up the Boys for me.

I love lo-fi Beach Boys. This album in particular.

just come across ya channel top man

I just came from your Off The Wall review and wanted to ask Do you think you'll do any more MJ album reviews? love the channel

Been hunting for the Darlin' pic sleeve for ages

Great.song

Where do you get yer info on the Beach Boyz? - Very knowledgeable... Keep uploading "mo Beach Boyz album reviews.

yeah this is a great album Here Comes The Night is great love Brian's vocal

They're finally releasing a true stereo mix of the album! Are you gonna pick it up when it comes out?

Great work sir. Have you seen the beach boys knebworth gig on dvd? If not i want to hear your thoughts please.

Another excellent and largely un-biased review. I do take slight exception to one thing ~ you suggested that The Beach Boys didn't really venture into R&B territory in prior years. Take a look at the Beach Boys vocal lineup from the very beginning...A falsetto Soprano lead vocalist; Two (three if you count Dennis) harmonizing back-ground singers and a guy singing deep bass parts (mike, of course he also sang lead). THAT, my friend is the classic Do-Wop vocal line-up. When the BB's sang, 'Why do fools fall in love', 'Hush-a-by'...that's Do-Wop. When the BB's sang 'Louie Louie', that's pure R&B. Even instrumentals like 'Carls Big Chance' and 'Boogie Woodie' were very R&B influenced IF you take the time to examine them. Then there's 'Don't Worry Baby' which derives directly from the huge Motown hit 'Be My Baby'. Brian's awesome live performances of 'What'd I Say' (Ray Charles), and 'Papa-Ooo-Mow Mow' (Rivingtons) are totally R&B. I submit to you that The Beach Boys, actually were an ultra-modern supersonic Do-Wop/R&B group all along. People just weren't getting past the lyrics and the striped shirts (as usual).

often cited as my favorite Beach Boys' LP :) Except for . . . ;)

Wild Honey, the song, was the third time The Beach Boys had used a theramin on a track. Can you name the other two? Lol.

Why was this only released in mono?

Al actually played the bass on a number of the BB's recordings in the early 60's, he was probably equal to Brian, though neither was a virtuoso bass player by any means.

It did better in the UK because in Brian Wilson the British recognize a true artistic genius. Just my opinion.

Darlin not being a smash is insanely disappointing. Mind blowing. It’s Chicago before Chicago