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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

Songwriters Bobby Scott and Ric Marlow wrote this as the theme to a play by Shelagh Delaney that was made into a movie in 1961. This instrumental version was recorded by piano player Martin Denny and won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Theme.

The play is about a young white woman who gets pregnant after a one night stand with a black sailor. Her best friend, who is a gay man, agrees to help raise the child.

Marlow added lyrics so Tony Bennett could sing it. Alpert's version is instrumental.

In 1966, Alpert received Grammys with his version for 3 different categories: Best Instrumental Arrangement; Best Instrumental Performance, Non-Jazz; and Record Of The Year. In addition, Larry Levine (the engineer for this song) received a Grammy with Alpert's version for Best Engineered Recording - Non-Classical. (thanks, Jerro - New Alexandria, PA)

The Beatles recorded this for their first UK album, Please Please Me. It was part of their concert repertoire in 1962 and 1963.

This has also been recorded by Lionel Hampton, Bobby Darin, The Hollies, Peggy Lee, The Temptations, and The Ventures.

In 1962, Alpert formed Carnival Records with Jerry Moss, which later became A&M (based on their initials) and was eventually sold to Seagram for $500 million in 1989. (thanks, Edward Pearce - Ashford, Kent, England)

Honey was used in many ancient Egyptian households as a sweetening agent. It was valued highly and was used to feed sacred animals and as a tribute or payment. Confectioners used honey as a sweetener and mixed it with various fruits, herbs, nuts and spices. The candy was then used as an offering to the Egyptian gods. (From the book Food for Thought: Extraordinary Little Chronicles of the World by Ed Pearce)

Whipped Cream & Other Delights has one of the most recognizable covers ever printed - you can see it in the Song Images. The album was re-released in 2005 with re-mastered sound and extensive liner notes from Alpert. It's available here.

Comments:

"A Taste Of Honey" has been recorded by approximately 200 artists, internationally, including The Beatles, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Johnny Mathis just to name a few. Herb Alpert was one of the artist that made it big. Ric Marlow recently performed an Author's rendition on his recent CD album "Tastes of Honey." I can verify facts - I'm one of his stepsons
- Dalton, Shelley, ID

Thank you for your kind compliments about the song on behalf of my dad Ric Marlow :)
- Dalton, Shelley, ID

Alpert's version works well, cause it has different levels of tempos...first starting rubatoish....and then having that bass drum kick in and the faster tempo...then back to the slow rubato again......
- steve dotstar, los angeles, CA

A great song! hats off to Hal Blaine on drums.
- Daevid, Glendale, CA

As a side note: I live in Herb Alpert's building. He sold it a few years ago but it was and still is called A Taste Of Honey. I even have the giant sign that used to hang in front before he sold it. The new owner took it down. Just a plaque remains on the wall outside.
- Dommy, Los angeles, CA

I'm not sure if herb alpert got any writer's along with scott and marlow but he did record the instrumental version which was great and i do believe it was a grammy winner. I also believe that the great studio musicians hal blaine and guitarist tommy tedesco were involved that recording
- louis rodriguez, lancaster, CA

Here are the lyrics to the Tony Bennett version: Winds may blow over the icy sea...I'll take with me the warmth of thee...A taste of honey...A taste much sweeter than wine...I will return...I'll return...I'll come back for the honey and you...I'll leave behind my heart to wear...And may it e'er remind you of...A taste of honey...A taste much sweeter than wine...I will return...I'll return...I'll come back for the honey and you...He ne'er came back to his love so fair...And so she died dreaming of his kiss...His kiss of honey...A taste more bitter than wine...I will return...I will return...I'll come back for the honey and you...I'll come back for the honey and you!
- Camille, Toronto, OH

If this version was released in 1965, like the top part says, then it couldn't be the same as The Beatles version, because their's came out first.
- Reg, Pottstown, PA

i like the Beatles version ... never heard this version YET. o_O
- M, Smithtown, NY

I Love the Beatles cover on this its awsome
- Bianca Sanchez, Alburquerque, NM

Allan Sherman parodied this song with "A Waste of Money."
- Bryan, Atlanta, GA

I think the Beatles did a wonderful job of covering this sweet song! (No pun intended, ha ha!)
- Meredith, Wauwatosa, WI

The "Whipped Cream Lady" is Dolores Erickson, not Lani Hall.
- Bob, Oceanside, CA

The Intials in A&M are not Alpert&Mendez, They are Alpert&Moss. (Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss) These two not only started but sold the largest independent record company in the world. Herb Was born on March 31st 1935. Herb was the Musician, and Jerry was the business brains behind the company. Herb recruited the talent, and Jerry took care of the distribution of the product.
- Jesse, Lilburn, GA

If memory serves correctly, TONY BENNETT also had a hit with A TASTE OF HONEY but I'm thinking it pre-dates the version by Herb Alpert & TJ Brass. *scratching head*
- Mike, Knoxville, TN

As I understand it, Alpert's wife is Lani Hall, the (former?) lead singer for Sergio Mendez' group Brazil '66. The A and M in the title "A&M Records" stands for Alpert and Mendez. Streisand did a nice cover of this song as well; it's slow and beautiful.
- Scotty, Cheyenne, WY

The credits are that way because Scott and Marlow wrote the song. It says so in the songfacts.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

The first vocal version was released by Lenny Welch on september 17, 1962
- Alexandre Medina, São Paulo, Brazil

The whipped cream lady is said to be Alpert's wife.
- Ted, Indianapolis, IN

I think Vickie is right! I only know the Beatles' song, and the credits for that song is given to Scott/Marlow, and not Alpert. It seems to me that it must be two different songs?
- Martin, Copenhagen, Denmark

In the Beatles' version of this song, both the singers in the duet were Paul. He could change his voice (as in Lady Maddonna and You Never Give Me Your Money)
- Mark, Barrow-in-Furness, England

Lizz Wright Did a remake of this song released June 14, 2005. I for one liked it.
- Heimer, Albert Lea, MN

Does anyone have lyrics to this song? On a episode of Drew Carey, Kate was singing to this song.
- Steve, BINGHAMTON, NY

Whipped Cream and Other Delights- one of the sexiest album covers ever. Pretty daring for the time I might ad.
- Matt, Charleston, SC

Thanks for straightening me out on this. I still think that it's not totally surprising that I thought these were two separate songs, since the arrangements are so very different. However, I'm glad that you ("Attila") took the time to clear this matter up.
- Vickie, Philadelphia, PA

The Beatles most definitely not only sang but recorded A Taste of Honey. You can hear a snippet of their version here: http://www.1950s60s.com/Discography/Beatles.html
- Attila, Dublin, Ireland

You know what, folks -- I've been thinking this over, and maybe I am wrong. I guess that the Beatles song might be the same tune, but the much faster tempo and much different arrangement of the Alpert song confused me. I've really liked the Alpert arrangement since I was a kid, and I'm also a die-hard Beatles fan -- so this is kind of embarrassing. I just always thought that the two songs happened to have the same title (a title, I believe, cannot be copyrighted).
- Vickie, Philadelphia, PA

I could be wrong, but I don't believe that the Beatles song "A Taste of Honey" is the same song as the tune done by Herb Alpert. By the way, folks, that's "Alpert," with a "p." By the way, this site is a great idea.
- Vickie, Philadelphia, PA

This is much better than Herb Albert's.
- Shirley, Ocean, NJ

Don, the song you're thinking of is 'Til There Was You". That was in "The Music Man", not "A Taste of Honey"
- Brittanie, Liverpool, England

This song, I believe but am not certain, was originally in the movie "The Music Man". I would greatly appreciate it if somebody out there could let me know about this.
- don, rapid city, SD

I hereby stand corrected. The song I was thinking about is "Til There Was You". Sorry.
- don, rapid city, SD

There was a British film called "A Taste of Honey" starring Rita Tushingham, released about 1962. I believe this tune was used in the film, but I am certain the Beatles were not the performers.
- Charles, Charlotte, NC

East coast rapper Lil Marquee Has been quoted as saying The Beatles Version is much better than Herb Albert's version because Herb's sound like nothing more than Jamesway music.
- jonathan, saratoga sorings, NY