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"Honkin' Down the Highway"
"Honkin' Down the Highway"
Single by the Beach Boys
from the album The Beach Boys Love You
B-side	"Solar System"
Released	May 30, 1977
Recorded	1976–1977
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	2:48
Label	Brother
Songwriter(s)	Brian Wilson
Producer(s)	Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys singles chronology

"Honkin' Down the Highway" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1977 album The Beach Boys Love You. It was written by Brian Wilson and sung by Al Jardine. The lyrics describe a man driving to a woman, at her father's behest, for an engagement that the narrator states will conclude with himself "Takin' one little inch at a time, now / 'Til we're feelin' fine, now".^[2]

Background and recording

Asked if the song was influenced by country music, Wilson responded, "It was to a certain degree – but just to a certain degree though. I remember when I wrote that I was thinkin' 'truckin' down the highway' – just some kind of a country western kind of an idea. The actual song itself wasn't that country though."^[3]

The song was originally going to be sung by touring musician Billy Hinsche. Hinsche later said that Eugene Landy had convinced Wilson to discard the lead vocal that Hinsche had recorded.^[4]

Engineer Earle Mankey recalled that Wizzard frontman Roy Wood contributed to the recording.^[5]

An edited version appeared on the 1991 CD reissue of The Beach Boys Love You,^[6] in which the drum intro is cut off.^{[citation needed]}

Single mix

The German single mix runs shorter than the album release, cutting the instrumental bridge.^[7]

Reception

Cash Box said of the single, "the vocals and darkly colored instruments are blended into one thick soup, but the warm summer feelings come through."^[8] Record World called it a "rock-ribbed driving song.."^[9]

Cover versions

In the mid-1980s, Alex Chilton played "Honkin' Down the Highway" in concert with revised lyrics.^[10]^{[better source needed]}
A remake of this song was included on Jardine's 2010 album A Postcard from California, with Wilson making a guest appearance.^[11]

References

^ Dillon 2012, p. 232.
^ Carlin 2006, p. 214.
^ "Brian Wilson – Caroline Now! Interview". Marina Records. April 20, 2000. Archived from the original on November 19, 2008.
^ Dillon 2012, p. 230.
^ Beard, David (Spring 2007). "Ding Dang". Endless Summer Quarterly.
^ Doe, Andrew G. "1970-78". Bellagio 10452. The Beach Boys Love You. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
^ The Beach Boys (July 1977). Honkin' Down the Highway (Single). Germany: Brother Publishing Co. Event occurs at 1:53. (Length: 2:31). REP 14 479.
^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. June 18, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
^ "Single Picks" (PDF). Record World. June 18, 1977. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
^ "Alex Chilton Setlist at VFW Hall, Baton Rouge, LA, USA". setlist.fm. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
^ A Postcard From California (booklet). Al Jardine. Japan: Yamaha Music & Visuals. 2012 [2010]. track 11. YMCP-10032.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)