A Taste of Honey

Album: Whipped Cream & Other Delights (1965)
Charted: 7
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Songfacts®:

  • 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 of the song in three 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. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA
  • This was one of six cover songs The Beatles included on 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.
  • 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. The album was re-released in 2005 with re-mastered sound and extensive liner notes from Alpert.
  • Excluding soundtracks, the only artists to have #1 LPs in 1965 in the US were Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Herb Alpert. His Whipped Cream and Other Delights remained at peak position from November 27, 1965 to January 7, 1966. It then returned to the top on February 19th spending another fortnight at the summit.

Comments: 45

  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenA few fun factoids are that the cover model, Delores Erickson, was 3 months pregnant when that photo was taken. The "whipped cream," except what was on her fingertips, was actually shaving cream, because whipped cream melted under the hot lights and attracted flies.

    On the song itself, the solo drum beat heard before the rest of the band kicks in was put there as a guide for timing and was going to be removed upon completion of the tune, but Alpert decided he liked it there.
  • Steveeeej from MaWho played bass on the recording?
  • Kev from Rogers, ArI just loved this song. It was featured in a local commercial, but I didn't hear it in its entirety until the Tijuana Brass TV special, which I think was broadcast in 1969 in the US.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1966 {March 27th} Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass had four of the ten top 10 albums on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart:
    At #1 was "Ballads of the Green Berets" by Sgt. Barry Sadler
    #2. "Whipped Cream & Other Delights" by Alpert & the TB
    #3. "Going Places" by Alpert & the TB
    #4. "The Sound Of Music" Film Soundtrack
    #5. "Just Like Us" by Paul Revere & the Raiders
    #6. "The Best Of The Animals" by the Animals
    #7. "Rubber Soul" by the Beatles
    #8. "Boots" BY Nancy Sinatra
    #9. "South Of The Border" by Alpert & the TB
    #10. "The Lonely Bull" by Alpert & the TB
    Plus Herb and the guys also had the #20 album on the chart with "Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass,Volume Two"...
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 11th 1965, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass and Johnny Mathis performed at the Hollywood Bowl in Hollywood, CA...
    At the time the Tijuana Brass' album 'Whipped Cream and Other Delights' was at #26 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart, and the album's first track, "A Taste of Honey", would peak at #1 {for 5 weeks} on October 24th on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    And Johnny Mathis' album 'Johnny's Greatest Hits' was at #133 on the Top 200 Albums chart, and was also its 362nd* week on the chart...
    * 'Johnny's Greatest Hits' would stay on the Top 200 Albums chart for another 128 weeks, for a grand total of 490 weeks on the chart.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 7th 1965, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass performed "Taste of Honey" on the CBS-TV program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    At the time the song was at #9 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; and fourteen days later on November 21st, 1965 it peaked at #7 {for 2 weeks}...
    {See the next post below}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn September 19th 1965, "A Taste of Honey" by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #89; and on November 21st, 1965 it peaked at #7 {for 2 weeks} and spent 16 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #1 (for 5 weeks) on October 24th, 1965 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    The record's B-side, "3rd Man Theme", also made the Top 100 at position #47 {#7 on the Adult chart}...
    "A Taste of Honey" was track one of side one from the band's fourth studio album, 'Whipped Cream & Other Delights', and the album peaked at #1 {for 8 non-consecutive weeks} on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart {after its 8th week at #1 the band knocked itself out of the top spot with its own 'Goin' Places' album}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 26th 1962, "The Taste of Honey" by the Victor Feldman Quartet entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart for a one week stayed at position #88...
    It was the quartet's only Top 100 record...
    R.I.P. Mr. Feldman {1934 - 1987}.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn August 16th 1964, "A Taste of Honey" by Tony Bennett entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 for a three week stay; it debut at #100 and for the next two weeks was at #94, then fell off the chart...
    The record's flip-side, "Its A Sin to Tell a Lie", also made the Top 100, and that was for one week at position #99...
    Anthony Dominick 'Tony' Benedetto celebrated his 88th birthday thirteen days ago on August 3rd, 2014...
    God Bless Him!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn July 8th 1962, "A Taste of Honey" by The Exotic Sounds of Martin Denny entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #95; and on August 26th, 1962 it peaked at #50 (for 1 week) and spent 15 weeks on the Top 100...
    Three other versions of the song also made the Top 100 in the 1960s; the Victor Feldman Quartet (#88 in 1962), Tony Bennett (#94 in 1964), and Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass (#7 in 1965)...
    And the Tijuana Brass version reached #1 (for 5 weeks) on October 24th, 1965 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Tracks chart...
    Between 1959 and 1962 Martin Denny had four Top 100 records; with one reaching the Top 10, "Quiet Village" peaked at #4 (for 1 week) on June 1st, 1959...
    R.I.P. Mr. Denny (1911 - 2005).
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI recently heard a version of this song by singer Lenny Welch who's best known for recording a version of another song which became a pop standard: Since I fell for You. When I first heard his version of A Taste of Honey, I was amazed at how similar it was too the Beatles' version. Apparently, Paul McCartney mentioned being inspired by hearing Welch's version of this song. Welch has mentioned this in at least one interview; he heard about how McCartney's recording of the song from a piano player who worked with them both.
  • Dalton from Shelley, IdThank you for your kind compliments about the song on behalf of my dad Ric Marlow :)
  • Dalton from Shelley, Id"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
  • Steve Dotstar from Los Angeles, CaAlpert'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......
  • Daevid from Glendale, CaA great song! hats off to Hal Blaine on drums.
  • Dommy from Los Angeles, CaAs 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.
  • Louis Rodriguez from Lancaster, CaI'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
  • Camille from Toronto, OhHere 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!
  • Reg from Pottstown, PaIf 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.
  • M from Smithtown, Nyi like the Beatles version ... never heard this version YET. o_O
  • Bianca Sanchez from Alburquerque, NmI Love the Beatles cover on this its awsome
  • Bryan from Atlanta, GaAllan Sherman parodied this song with "A Waste of Money."
  • Meredith from Wauwatosa, WiI think the Beatles did a wonderful job of covering this sweet song! (No pun intended, ha ha!)
  • Bob from Oceanside, CaThe "Whipped Cream Lady" is Dolores Erickson, not Lani Hall.
  • Jesse from Lilburn, GaThe 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.
  • Mike from Knoxville, TnIf 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*
  • Scotty from Cheyenne, WyAs 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.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScThe credits are that way because Scott and Marlow wrote the song. It says so in the songfacts.
  • Alexandre Medina from São Paulo, BrazilThe first vocal version was released by Lenny Welch on september 17, 1962
  • Ted from Indianapolis, InThe whipped cream lady is said to be Alpert's wife.
  • Martin from Copenhagen, DenmarkI 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?
  • Mark from Barrow-in-furness, EnglandIn 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)
  • Heimer from Albert Lea, MnLizz Wright Did a remake of this song released June 14, 2005. I for one liked it.
  • Steve from Binghamton, NyDoes anyone have lyrics to this song? On a episode of Drew Carey, Kate was singing to this
    song.
  • Matt from Charleston, ScWhipped Cream and Other Delights- one of the sexiest album covers ever. Pretty daring for the time I might ad.
  • Vickie from Philadelphia, PaThanks 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.
  • Attila from Dublin, IrelandThe 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
  • Vickie from Philadelphia, PaYou 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 from Philadelphia, PaI 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.
  • Shirley from Ocean, NjThis is much better than Herb Albert's.
  • Brittanie from Liverpool, EnglandDon, the song you're thinking of is 'Til There Was You". That was in "The Music Man", not "A Taste of Honey"
  • Don from Rapid City, SdI hereby stand corrected. The song I was thinking about is "Til There Was You". Sorry.
  • Don from Rapid City, SdThis 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.
  • Charles from Charlotte, NcThere 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.
  • Jonathan from Saratoga Sorings, NyEast 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.
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