A Taste of Honey

Written by Bobby ScottRic Marlow

Album This song officially appears on the Please Please Me (Mono) LP.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1963

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions



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Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“A Taste of Honey” is a pop standard written by Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow. It was originally an instrumental track (or recurring theme) written for the 1960 Broadway version of the 1958 British play A Taste of Honey (which was also made into the film of the same name in 1961). Both the original and a later recording by Herb Alpert in 1965 earned the song four Grammy Awards. A vocal version of the song—first recorded by Billy Dee Williams (and released in 1961 on the Prestige label), and then recorded very successfully by Lenny Welch in the summer of 1962—was also recorded by the Beatles for their first album in 1963. Barbra Streisand performed the song as part of her cabaret act during 1962, and recorded it in January 1963 for her debut album The Barbra Streisand Album on Columbia, which won a Grammy for Album of the Year (1963). […]

The Beatles

The Beatles performed Lenny Welch’s adaptation, slightly changing the lyrics in the chorus, as part of their repertoire in 1962 and as the instrumental version by Acker Bilk was popular in the United Kingdom at the time, the song was chosen to be recorded for their 1963 debut album, Please Please Me. A version from this time was released in 1977 on the album Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962.

In the US, this song first appeared on the Vee-Jay Records album Introducing… The Beatles. They also performed “A Taste of Honey” seven times for BBC radio shows, including Here We Go, Side by Side, and Easy Beat. In 1967, McCartney was inspired to compose “Your Mother Should Know” based on a line taken from the screenplay. […]

From The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

[a] mono 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PMC 1202 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJLP 1062 Introducing 1963.
CD: EMI CDP 7 46435 2 Please Please Me 1987.

[b] stereo 25 Feb 1963.
UK: Parlophone PCS 3042 Please Please Me 1963.
US: Vee Jay VJSR 1062 Introducing 1963.

[b1] stereo remixed from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol ST 2309 The Early 1965.

[b2] mono made from [b] 1965, by Capitol.
US: Capitol T 2309 The Early 1965.

Cover of the 1964 Germany single for “A Taste Of Honey”

Last updated on May 21, 2021

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

Variations


A Mono version • From "Please Please Me (Mono)"

A2009 2009 mono remaster • From "The Beatles in Mono (2009)"


B Stereo version • From "Please Please Me (Stereo)"

B1 Stereo remixed from [B] by Capitol • From "The Early Beatles (Stereo)"


B2 Mono made from [B] by Capitol • From "The Early Beatles (Mono)"



C Take 6 • From "Bootleg Recordings 1963"

L1 Live version • "Pop Go The Beatles" • Aug 13, 1963 • From "Live At The BBC"

L1.2013 Live version • "Pop Go The Beatles" • Aug 13, 1963 • From "Live At The BBC (2013 remaster)"

L2 Live version • "Easy Beat" • Jun 23, 1963 • From "Bootleg Recordings 1963"

L3 Live version • "Pop Go The Beatles" • Jun 18, 1963 • From "Bootleg Recordings 1963"

L4 Live version • "Pop Go The Beatles" • Sep 10, 1963 • From "Bootleg Recordings 1963"

L5 Live version • "Side By Side" • May 13, 1963 • From "Bootleg Recordings 1963"

Officially appears on


Please Please Me (Mono)

LP • Released in 1963

2:03 • Studio versionA • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Please Please Me (Stereo)

LP • Released in 1963

2:03 • Studio versionB • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Twist and Shout

EP • Released in 1963

2:06 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


The Early Beatles (Mono)

Official album • Released in 1965

2:06 • Studio versionB2 • Mono • Mono made from [B] by Capitol

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


The Early Beatles (Stereo)

Official album • Released in 1965

2:05 • Studio versionB1 • Stereo • Stereo remixed from [B] by Capitol

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Live At The BBC

Official live • Released in 1994

1:58 • Radio showL1 • The Lenny Welch recording of this popular standard had inspired the Beatles version for the ‘Please Please Me’ LP.

Concert From "Pop Go The Beatles" in London, United Kingdom on Aug 13, 1963


The Early Beatles (2006 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2006

2:05 • Studio versionB1.2006 • Stereo • 2006 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


The Early Beatles (2006 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2006

2:06 • Studio versionB2.2006 • Mono • 2006 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Please Please Me (Mono - 2009 remaster)

CD • Released in 2009

2:03 • Studio versionA2009 • Mono • 2009 mono remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer
Paul Hicks :
Remastering
Guy Massey :
Remastering
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Allan Rouse :
Project co-ordinator

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Please Please Me (Stereo - 2009 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2009

2:03 • Studio versionB2009 • Stereo • 2009 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass, Vocals
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Backing vocals, Rhythm guitar
George Harrison :
Backing vocals, Lead guitar
George Martin :
Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
A.B. Lincoln :
Second engineer
Paul Hicks :
Remastering
Guy Massey :
Remastering
Steve Rooke :
Remastering
Allan Rouse :
Project co-ordinator

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Mixing:
Feb 25, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio One, Abbey Road


Bootlegs


Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962

Unofficial live

1:58 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.


Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962

Unofficial live

3:04 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.


Star Club - Hamburg, Germany - December 1962

Unofficial live

2:09 • Live • The recording date is a guess - all we now for certain is that the Star-Club tapes were recorded between December 18 and 31, 1962.


Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 1 (1962-1963)

Unofficial album • Released in 1989

2:10 • Outtake • Take 6 (track 2)

Session Recording:
Feb 11, 1963
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 1

Unofficial live • Released in 2003


Live performances

“A Taste of Honey” has been played in 35 concerts.

Latest concerts where A Taste of Honey has been played


Pop Go The Beatles

Sep 10, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions



Pop Go The Beatles

Jul 23, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions


The Beat Show

Jul 04, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions


Pop Go The Beatles

Jun 25, 1963 • Part of BBC Sessions


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‘A Taste of Honey’: o livro que inspirou os Beatles e Morrissey 5 years ago

[…] instrumental para um musical da Broadway. Na versão de Welch, além dos compositores originais, aparece o nome de Lee Morris, um indicativo de que tenha sido ele o responsável pela composição da […]


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