Customer Reviews

The Hondells - Greatest Hits

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Producer Gary Usher assembled a group of studio musicians [himself and Chuck Girard of The Castells on vocals, Glen Campbell - yes, THAT Glen Campbell - and Richie Podolor on guitars, Hal Blaine on drums and Ritchie Burns on backing vocals] and took a Brian Wilson [Beach Boys] song, Little Honda, to # 9 Billboard Pop Hot 100 in October 1964 b/w Hot Rod High - sounding more like The Beach Boys than ,,, well ,,, The Beach Boys.

In fact, when it first came out many thought it WAS The Beach Boys. which may have done a lot to sell the record. Because, by December, with Usher, Burns and drummer Wayne Edwards, and varying other musicians on the road as The Hondells, My Buddy Seat [also written by Wilson] only made it to # 87 Hot 100 b/w You're Gonna Ride With Me.

After that nothing worked until May 1966 when a cover of a Lovin' Spoonful original [from their debut LP], Younger Girl, made it to # 52 Hot 100 with Randy Thomas singing lead, and b/w All American Girl. And that was all she wrote insofar as charted hits were concerned.

Usher, who passed away on May 25, 1990 at age 51, went on to form Sagittarius and had two more hits in 1967 [My World Fell Down] and 1969 [In My Room].

I'm kind of ambivalent about this CD. On the one hand you get the original versions of all three of their charted hits, but on the other there are just nine selections, none of which are the b-sides of the hits.

I suppose three stars is just about the right assessment although, if there were portions thereof, I'd give it 2.5.

This C.D. is worth it if only for two songs: "Little Honda" which was also done by the Beach Boys, and "Younger Girl" by The Lovin' Spoonful.
The Hondells actually had bigger hits with each, and I prefer their versions, even though I'm a fan of the other groups.
It must also be noted that the lead singer was Chuck Girard who formed Love Song then had a prestigious solo career in Contemporary Christian Music.

There are other Hondell Greatest Hits options out there. Make sure the one you buy has the "b" side to Little Honda, which is Hot Rod High, which in my estimation was the best song on the album and a great production.