Windy (song)

Friedman was introduced to the Association by her friend and Beach Boys lyricist Van Dyke Parks. She wrote "Windy" in waltz time, but the group's producer Bones Howe changed it to the more common Time signature| to ensure the song's commercial appeal. In an interview with Songfacts, she said: However, in another interview with Songfacts in 2014, she explained that the song was about herself: A demo of the song, recorded by Ruthann Friedman appears on her album, Windy: A Ruthann Friedman Songbook. ==Recording==

The process of recording the vocals was exhausting. The session started in the early afternoon and ended at 6:30 a.m. the next day, and the group then took an 8:30 a.m. flight to a live performance in Virginia. The band was so tired of recording that producer Bones Howe gathered everyone in the studio to sing the track's ending, including songwriter Ruthann Friedman. Because of the poor sales of the Association's last album Renaissance, on which the group performed all of the songs, Howe recruited session musicians (later known as the Wrecking Crew) for "Windy" and the rest of the Insight Out album in order to achieve a radio-friendly sound. The identity of the session musicians who played on the final version of the single is uncertain because the song was recorded during several sessions, but it is likely that Hal Blaine played drums, Joe Osborn played bass, Ray Pohlman played guitar and Larry Knechtel played keyboards. ==Personnel==

According to the AFM contract sheet, the following musicians played on the track. • Ray Pohlman • Hal Blaine • Dennis Budimir • Al Casey • Mike Deasy • Bones Howe • Larry Knechtel • Joe Osborn • Gary Coleman • Bill Holman • Bud Shank • Gene Cipriano • Vincent DeRosa • Richard Perissi ==Chart history==

Weekly charts Year-end charts All-time charts ==Notable cover versions==

• Later in 1967, an instrumental version by jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery became his highest-charting Hot 100 hit when it peaked at No. 44. It also reached No. 10 on the Billboard Easy Listening chart. Andy Williams also recorded the song. ==See also==