I Can Hear Music
| "I Can Hear Music" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Ronettes | ||||
| B-side | "When I Saw You" | |||
| Released | October 1966[1] | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:00 | |||
| Label | Philles | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Jeff Barry | |||
| The Ronettes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "I Can Hear Music" on YouTube | ||||
"I Can Hear Music" is a song written by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich and Phil Spector[2] for American girl group the Ronettes (credited as The Ronettes Featuring Veronica) in 1966. This version spent one week on the Billboard Pop chart at number 100.[3] In early 1969, the Beach Boys released a cover version as a single from their album 20/20 (1969), peaking at number 24 in the US.
Cash Box said that "Ronnie sings a strong lead throughout the teen-oriented, emotion filled tune which is effectively backed by throbbing sounds."[4] Record World described it as a "slow but torrid goodie."[5]
The Beach Boys version
| "I Can Hear Music" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by the Beach Boys | ||||
| from the album 20/20 | ||||
| B-side | "All I Want to Do" | |||
| Released | March 3, 1969[6] | |||
| Recorded | October 1, 1968 | |||
| Length | 2:36 | |||
| Label | Capitol | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Carl Wilson | |||
| The Beach Boys singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "I Can Hear Music" on YouTube | ||||
"I Can Hear Music" was covered by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on their 1969 album 20/20 with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. This version peaked at No. 24 on the US Billboard Hot 100 (their final top 40 hit until 1976). The song did best in Europe, reaching number 10 in the United Kingdom.[7]
Within the US and Canada, it peaked on playlists in the top 5 in Boston, Houston and Dallas; No. 7 in New York and Chicago (WCFL); No. 8 in Toronto and San Diego, No. 9 in Seattle; No. 10 in Vancouver and Indianapolis; No. 11 in Los Angeles, Louisville, Providence, and Chicago (WLS); No. 12 in Milwaukee and Columbus.[8][citation needed]
Personnel
Credits from Craig Slowinski.[9][10][11]
The Beach Boys
- Al Jardine – backing vocals, guitar, handclaps
- Mike Love – backing vocals, handclaps
- Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar, handclaps, producer, tambourine?
- Dennis Wilson — drums, piano, handclaps
- Bruce Johnston – backing vocals, bass, Fender Rhodes electric piano, handclaps
Session musicians
- Mike Kowalski – snare drum, sleigh bells
Chart history
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Go-Set) | 13 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[12] | 34 |
| Chile | 12 |
| Germany | 13 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[13] | 15 |
| Malaysia | 6 |
| Netherlands | 6 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[14] | 11 |
| Poland | 7 |
| Sweden | 5 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[7] | 10 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[15] | 24 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 20 |
| U.S. Record World | 20 |
Larry Lurex version
| "I Can Hear Music" | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Single by Larry Lurex | |
| B-side | "Goin' Back" |
| Released | 29 June 1973 (US) |
| Studio | Trident, London |
| Genre | |
| Length | 3:22 |
| Label | EMI |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | Robin Geoffrey Cable |
| Official Lyric Video | |
| "I Can Hear Music" on YouTube | |
In 1973, Larry Lurex, the solo stage name of Freddie Mercury, recorded "I Can Hear Music" on the EMI label.[16] His version peaked at #115 on the U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under the Hot 100 chart.[17]
Kathy Troccoli version
In 1996, the Beach Boys rerecorded the song, with contemporary Christian singer Kathy Troccoli on lead vocals, for their country album Stars and Stripes Vol. 1.
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