Written by: Scott-Marlow
Recorded: 11 February 1963
Producer: George Martin
Engineer: Norman Smith
Released: 22 March 1963 (UK), 22 July 1963 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals, bass
John Lennon: backing vocals, rhythm guitar
George Harrison: backing vocals, lead guitar
Ringo Starr: drums
Available on:
Please Please Me
Live At The BBC
A favourite of Paul McCartney's, A Taste Of Honey was originally the theme tune for the 1961 film version of Shelagh Delaney's play of the same name, starring Rita Tushingham.
A Taste Of Honey had previously been recorded by a number of artists, mostly in instrumental versions. The Beatles adapted the arrangement from the first vocal version, released by Lenny Welch on 17 September 1962. They did, however, make some minor lyrical changes to the chorus - Welch's version contains the lines "A taste of honey/A taste much sweeter than wine".
While the wholesomeness of the song was to McCartney's liking (similarities can be drawn with Besame Mucho and Till There Was You), its sentimental tone sat uneasily with the raw energy evident on songs such as Twist And Shout and I Saw Her Standing There.
It did, however, demonstrate The Beatles' versatility as a group, something they were keen to push as they sought to establish a name for themselves. A Taste Of Honey was part of The Beatles' live repertoire in 1962 and 1963.
A Taste Of Honey was one of my big numbers in Hamburg - a bit of a ballad. It was different, but it used to get requested a lot. We sang close harmonies on the little echo mikes, and we made a fairly good job of it. It used to sound pretty good, actually.
Anthology
The song was included on Please Please Me, and on the US LPs Introducing The Beatles and The Early Beatles. It was also one of four songs on The Beatles' first UK EP, Twist And Shout, released on 12 July 1963.
In the studio
The Beatles recorded it on 11 February 1963, the day 10 songs were recorded for the Please Please Me album.
A Taste Of Honey was the first song recorded during the day's afternoon session, which took place between 2.30pm and 6pm. They recorded five takes, and - following the recording of Do You Want To Know A Secret - Paul McCartney double-tracked his lead vocals, the only such instance on the Please Please Me album.
The overdub took the number of takes up to seven. Mono and stereo mixes were made on 25 February, without The Beatles being present in the studio.
BBC sessions
The Beatles recorded A Taste Of Honey seven times for BBC radio, one of which pre-dated the EMI version.
- Here We Go; recorded 25 October 1962; first broadcast the following day.
- Side By Side; recorded 1 April 1963; broadcast 13 May.
- Pop Go The Beatles, episode three; recorded 1 June 1963; broadcast 6 June.
- Easy Beat; recorded 19 June 1963; broadcast 23 June.
- Beat Show; recorded 3 July 1963; broadcast the following day.
- Pop Go The Beatles, episode six; recorded 10 July 1963; broadcast 23 July.
- Pop Go The Beatles, episode 13; recorded 3 September 1963; broadcast 10 September.
The 10 July 1963 version for Pop Go The Beatles, recorded at the Aeolian Hall, London, was included on the 1994 collection Live At The BBC.
Lyrics
A taste of honey
Tasting much sweeter than wine
I dream of your first kiss and then
I feel upon my lips again
A taste of honey
Tasting much sweeter than wine
I will return, yes I will return
I'll come back for the honey and you
Yours was the kiss that awoke my heart
There lingers still, though we're far apart
That taste of honey
Tasting much sweeter than wine
Oh I will return, yes I will return
I'll come back (he'll come back)
For the honey (for the honey)
And you
one of my favorite cover songs.... it's just a weird piece but there's something great about it... it's hard to explain. i've always loved this song
It always sounded to me like it was Ringo and Paul...idk why but the A Taste of Honey... part sounded like them.
I've always liked this one too, especially those descending guitarpeggios and the effortless way they switch from 3/4 to 4/4 during the bridge.
This song always makes me smile. Those who were just boys when the Herb Alpert album featuring this song came out, know what I mean. I believe my fondness for whipped cream started at the same time!