Song#: 0824
Date: 11/21/1981
Debut: 89
Peak: 18
Weeks: 15
Genre: Pop
Pop Bits: The recent "Beach Boys Medley" (#12) compilation single sparked some renewed interest in the group. Unfortunately, the Boys were quite fractured at the time so trying to get them together to record new material was just not going to happen. So instead of anything new, a double-album compilation of previously released songs titled "Ten Years of Harmony" was thrown together. It covered their 1970-1980 era in which they only had one significant hit, 1976's #5 "Rock and Roll Music." To promote the album, this song was issued as a single. It originally appeared on their 1978 LP "The M.I.U. Album," but it was not released as a single at that time. Thanks to the wave of nostalgia after the "Medley" hit, the single found its way into the Top 20.
ReduxReview: This was a real low period for the group. Fighting, craziness, alcohol, etc., left them as a dysfunctional mess of a family. The music was often scattered and disconnected as well. "Ten Years of Harmony" was probably not the most appropriate title to describe the period. Had it not been for the "Medley," I don't think this song would have gotten off the ground. It kind of sounds Beach Boys-ee, but there is just something missing. It almost sounds depressing in a way. The original (see below) was a fun and bubbly hit that can still elicit nostalgic smiles. But the Boys just kind of plod their way through the tune and it sounds rather joyless.
ReduxRating: 3/10
Trivia: This song is a remake of a hit originally done by the Dell-Vikings. Their version reached #4 in 1957. It was revived in 1963 in a version by Dion that reached #48. It has been written that when Paul McCartney first saw John Lennon perform, Lennon was covering this song with his band The Quarrymen.
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6/10, it had the makings of a good rendition of the Del-Vikings classic but unfortunately it came across way too rushed, I was very disappointed they skipped the final verse of the Del-Vikings version and went straight to the chorus after the instrumental section which IMO made the song very rushed & hurried.
ReplyDeleteThey could have knocked this one out of the park, but it was just the wrong time in their career. Too much chaos and it came across in this dreary remake.
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