A Taste of Honey Lyrics By Herb Alpert Songs Album: Whipped Cream & Other Delights Year: 1965 Lyrics: Not Found Available: A Taste of Honey Youtube Music Video
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. (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.
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.
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 summit on February 19th spending another fortnight at the summit.
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