"It's Gettin' Late" by The Beach Boys

Song#:  2409
Date:  08/03/1985
Debut:  90
Peak:  82
Weeks:  5
Genre:  Pop, Adult Contemporary



Pop Bits:  After regrouping and issuing their first proper studio album in five years, The Beach Boys found themselves back on the charts with the single "Getcha Back" (#26 Pop/#2 AC). For a follow-up, this next track was selected. It didn't do nearly as well getting to #20 at AC while spending a few weeks near the bottom of the Pop chart. Even though both songs got a lot of airplay at AC, that didn't necessarily make the album fly off shelves. It ended up peaking at a lackluster #52. Apparently, the results didn't impress their label, CBS, who decided to let the band's contract run out. After recording hit songs and albums for over twenty years, the Beach Boys were without a home label.

ReduxReview:  The updating of The Beach Boys' sound to the 80s continues with this track. While it sounds slick and the band's trademark harmonies are present, it just sounds odd. The song itself is pretty good despite not having a definitive, catchy chorus, yet it all just sounds so forced and overdone. The track could have greatly benefited from being produced in a more classic style by Brian Wilson. It still most likely would not have been a good single candidate, but I think it would have sounded far better and could have been remember as one of their better album tracks. As is, it sounds like someone forced The Beach Boys through a Play-Doh Fun Factory of 80s processors.

ReduxRating:  5/10

Trivia:  Beach Boy Carl Wilson co-wrote this song with Myrna Smith and Robert Johnson. Smith had collaborated with Wilson on songs for his 1981 self-titled solo debut album. Nothing much came from the LP except a #20 AC single, "Heaven." Smith and Wilson also did some songs for his 1983 follow-up, Youngblood. Again, the album came out to little notice and could only manage the #72 Pop single "What You Do to Me," which was not written by the pair. In the 60s and 70s, Smith also maintained a singing career. She was a member of the R&B vocal group The Sweet Inspirations. In addition to recording their own records, the group was famous for backing up many artists over the years both on recordings and on tours. Their biggest hit came in 1968 with the #5 R&B/#18 Pop hit "Sweet Inspiration." The group was initially founded by Cissy Houston, the mother of superstar Whitney Houston, and Cissy's sister Lee Warrick, mother of Dionne Warwick. Smith joined them in 1965. Smith had her own connection to the family as she was the cousin of Whitney and Dionne.

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