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Overview
A Taste of Honey is the first play by the English playwright and screenwriter Shelagh Delaney, written when she was 19. It was adapted into 1961 film of the same title which won four BAFTAs at the 15th British Academy Film Awards. [Wikipedia]
Background
A Taste of Honey is a song by The Beatles, written by Scott–Marlow and led on vocal by Paul McCartney. Pre-existing pop standard; Paul's tender torch reading. Within the catalogue, its cover thread connects it to Anna (Go to Him), Chains, Boys; its standard thread connects it to Till There Was You. The Ric Marlow standard, recorded with Paul McCartney on lead vocal, represents the Beatles' jazz-ballad cover tradition. The song's soft, melodic arrangement provided counterweight to the hard-driving rock numbers surrounding it on Please Please Me. Paul's intimate vocal phrasing on the Marlow composition influenced later interpretations of ballad material, establishing his facility with sophisticated pop standards (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
What's distinctive
At 2:02 it's bottom fifth by length. One of 65 songs led primarily by Paul. A non-original — one of 23 cover versions in the canon. Recorded approximately 11 of 67 into the Beatlemania (1962–1964) sessions. Carries the unique tag 'torch' — no other song shares it. Take count: 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)).Opening line — "A taste of honey…" (brief identification excerpt; full lyrics © Sony Music Publishing — see Genius link in References.)
Pattern analysis
Recording
The session work falls within the band's Beatlemania (1962–1964) period, recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road. George Martin produced; Norman Smith engineered. For session-by-session detail, see Mark Lewisohn's account on p.24 of The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions (excerpt below). Take 7 was selected for the final version, suggesting multiple attempts to achieve the delicate vocal balance required. The song's lack of drums or percussion, apart from subtle string-like guitar work, distinguished it as among the sparsest Beatles recordings of the era. George Martin's use of compression on the vocal, combined with minimal accompaniment, created an intimate studio presence that anticipated later chamber-pop arrangements (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
| Studio | EMI Studios, Abbey Road — predominantly Studio Two |
|---|---|
| Tape machine | Twin-track BTR-2 (1962); Studer J37 four-track from late-1963 |
| Console | REDD.37 / REDD.51 valve consoles |
| Microphones | Neumann U47, U48; AKG D19 (drums); STC 4038 (overheads) |
| Outboard / effects | EMI RS124 compressor (Altec 436B mod), EMT 140 plate reverb, STEED tape echo |
| Guitars | Rickenbacker 325 (Lennon), Gretsch Country Gent / Tennessean (Harrison), Höfner 500/1 violin bass (McCartney), Ludwig Oyster Black Pearl kit (Starr) |
| Amplifiers | Vox AC30 (TB & non-Top-Boost variants) |
| Producer | George Martin |
| Engineer / 2nd | Norman Smith • Richard Langham, Geoff Emerick (2nd) |
| Estimated takes | 16 (highest take number documented in Lewisohn (1988)) |
Legacy & release history
In the canonical discography it appears on the LP Please Please Me; on the EP Twist and Shout. Mono and stereo histories vary by era — see the dedicated section below. Paul McCartney lead vocals appear in 65 canon songs (14 in Beatlemania), making this track representative of his ballad-led work in the period. As a cover of a 1960 standard, the recording demonstrated the Beatles' range beyond rock-and-roll and rhythm-and-blues idioms, establishing them as capable interpreters of sophisticated pop material beyond their primary audience expectations (Lewisohn 1988, p.27).
Mono & stereo
- Mixed primarily in mono at Abbey Road; the Beatles attended only the mono mixes through Sgt Pepper.
- Stereo mixes from this period were prepared (often without the band present) and are now considered secondary by purists.
Documented alternate versions
No documented alternate versions.
Released on
- Please Please Me — LP, 22 March 1963
- Twist and Shout — EP, 12 July 1963
Cross-references
Other songs sharing themes (cover, standard, torch)
Other songs led by the same vocalist
Other songs from this era
coverstandardtorch
References & external databases
Frequently asked
Who wrote A Taste of Honey?
“A Taste of Honey” was written by Scott–Marlow.
Who sings lead on A Taste of Honey?
The lead vocal on “A Taste of Honey” is by Paul McCartney.
When was A Taste of Honey recorded?
“A Taste of Honey” was recorded 11 Feb 1963 at EMI Studios, Abbey Road.
How many takes did A Taste of Honey require?
Mark Lewisohn's session log documents up to 16 numbered takes for “A Taste of Honey”.