The Hondells

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The Hondells were an American surf rock band that formed in 1964, and was the product of record producer Gary Usher.

Their biggest hit, "Little Honda", was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love of The Beach Boys. The Beach Boys album called All Summer Long which contained their version of the song had already been released, and Usher gave Chuck Girard , the lead singer on the Hondells version, a copy of the album and instructed him to learn the song. Usher then called in a group of studio musicians – including Glen Campbell and Hal Blaine – and recorded an album of songs that summer, officially produced by Nik Venet, (but really by Usher) who had been commissioned by Venet to make the album for Mercury Records. Most of the songs on the album were written by Usher and KFWB disc jockey and lyricist, Roger Christian, and concerned Honda motorcycles ("Hon-da Beach Party", "Haulin' Honda", "Two Wheel Show Stopper", "A Guy Without Wheels" ...) Its picture sleeve showed a four-member group and its liner notes contained an elaborate back story, penned by Christian, which posited one Ritchie Burns as the founder and leader of the band. The album crept its way to the lower reaches of the U.S. pop albums chart. At the time the album was delivered, the name of the group had not even been decided. Under consideration were the name "The Rising Sons", or "The Hondells". Venet decided on "The Hondells", and released "Little Honda" as a single. As the song climbed the charts, Usher assembled a band which toured extensively in support of "Little Honda", which eventually peaked at #9 on the U.S. pop singles chart. As soon as they saw the Hondells version on the charts, The Beach Boys released their version and scored a minor hit as well.

The band later released another full-length LP, and also scored another modest hit single with the Lovin' Spoonful song "A Younger Girl". The Hondells, such as they were, disbanded in 1965.

Member Chuck Girard had been in The Castells and in the 1970s became a popular and pioneering CCM artist.

Indie rock band Yo La Tengo covered the song "Little Honda" on their album I Can Hear the Heart Beating as One.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  • Go Little Honda (1964) US: #119
  • The Hondells (1964)
  • Greatest Hits (1996)

[edit] Singles

  • "Little Honda" (1964) U.S.: #9
  • "My Buddy Seat" (1965) U.S.: #87
  • "Younger Girl" (1966) U.S.: #52
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