The Smiley Smile Message Board

I was listening to an oldie station the other day and caught California Sun by The Rivieras from 1961. My immediate reaction was that the chorus to Little Honda seems to bear a strong resemblance, especially to the organ riff in the Rivieras piece:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yy57Xdk9u0o

Has this been noted/queried before? Seems curious, especially as co-writer Morris Levy sued Lennon over Come Together.

Original Joe Jones version:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5PbPKQonoU

I certainly hear the similarity. No doubt.

Yeah, good observation!


And don't forget:


Brian Wilson - California Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E47cPnGAHJk

Don't remember that one. Do you know when that was recorded? Sounds like it would be around the Lucky Sun sessions.

Never heard Brian's version of "California Sun" either.  Huh... the band really cooks!

Not strictly on topic here, but I happened to see an episode of Mad Men recently in which WW2 vet Roger Sterling sabotaged a potential advertising contract with Honda because he wasn't going to be doing business with any stinking Jap bastards. The Beatles had just come on to the scene, so the episode was set in the very year Little Honda came out. This caused me to wonder if Little Honda was an entirely politically correct move on the BBs' part, and if they might have copped flak for not promoting American businesses instead.

That song is a part of the 'Curious George 2" soundtrack, released in 2010 - I'm not sure if it was specifically recorded for that movie, but it definitely sounds like it was recorded around then.

Brian's covers like these have me excited as hell for his rock n roll album.

I think it was recorded specifically for the soundtrack.
And I agree, it really rocks. Something like this and Brian's version of "You've got a friend in me" are what makes me hope a Rock'n'Roll album would be a homerun.









Not sure but they had to change the title to "Little cycle" for their appearance on Andy Williams' show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7duppJOm3NE

That and 'Nothing But Love' from BWRG - great rockin tune. I hope Brian throws in an original or two on the r&r album. I had an idea for it being a concept album of a radio station; where there are fake ads (a 'Radiant Radish' ad would make this the best album haha), Brian could be interviewed at one point, and a DJ could introduce the tracks, the album would open with some radio static and a fake radio station jingle written by Brian.

Fantastic idea, Rab! :woot

Small correction: The Rivieras' version of "CS" (an all-time favourite of mine) went US top five in early 1964. It was recorded and first released as a B-side some time in 1963 (which is why I could have sworn I heard it on French radio in that year).

Might Brian have felt the similarity to the extent of then recording an "alternate" version of "LH"----but eventually deciding against it?

Thanks for the correction. The song was published in 1961, when Joe Jones recorded the original.

Little Honda was recorded April 2 / 10, 1964, when California Sun was still on the Billboard chart, so I think the case is very strong on at least an unconscious influence.