"Gettin' Hungry" is a song by the American rock band
the Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and their f ...
from their 1967 album ''
Smiley Smile
''Smiley Smile'' is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on September 18, 1967. Conceived as a simpler and more relaxed version of their unfinished ''Smile'' album, ''Smiley Smile'' is distinguished for i ...
''. Credited on the label to
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025) was an American musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop compositio ...
and
Mike Love
Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who is one of the vocalists of the Beach Boys, of which he was an original member alongside his cousins Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson and their frien ...
, it was released as a single on August 28, 1967, the second and last released on the original iteration of
Brother Records
Brother Records, Inc. (BRI) is an American holding company and record label established in 1966 that owns the intellectual property rights of the Beach Boys, including "The Beach Boys" trademark. It was founded by brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Ca ...
.
Background
Asked for comment, Wilson said that he "just thought it would be a good single".
It is one of the few songs on ''Smiley Smile'' that lack a definite connection to the aborted ''
Smile
A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.
Among humans, a smile expresses d ...
'' project.
Recording
"Gettin' Hungry" was recorded at Brian Wilson's
Bellagio home studio on July 14, 1967.
Reception
''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' reviewed "Gettin' Hungry" as an "unusual piece of material — as off-beat as their current '
Heroes and Villains
"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1967 album ''Smiley Smile'' and their unfinished ''Smile (The Beach Boys album), Smile'' project. Written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, Wilson envisioned ...
' smash. Should prove to be an important chart item."
''
Cash Box
''Cashbox'', also known as ''Cash Box'', is an American music industry trade magazine, originally published weekly from July 1942 to November 1996. Ten years after its dissolution, it was revived and continues as ''Cashbox Magazine'', an online ...
'' said that the "use of abrupt changes of speed, overwhelming organ atmosphere and the sort of 'soul' sound that is Beach Boys" make the song "distinctive."
Among biographers,
Byron Preiss characterized it as "an odd combination of energetic chorus, electric bass, and bluesy meandering".
Mark Dillon noted the song as a "flop single".
Cover versions
*1979 –
Celebration, ''
Celebration''
*1974 –
The Faces
Faces are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. They were formed by members of Small Faces after lead singer and guitarist Steve Marriott left to form Humble Pie. The remaining Small Faces; Ian McLagan (keyboards), Ronnie Lane (bass, ...
*2012 – Keith Haman - from the album ''Total Electric''
*2013 –
Seth Mankowski, ''Portland Sings The Beach Boys "Smiley Smile"''
References
External links
*
1967 singles
The Beach Boys songs
Songs written by Brian Wilson
Songs written by Mike Love
Capitol Records singles
1967 songs
American soul songs
Rhythm and blues songs
Song recordings produced by the Beach Boys
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