The band's main composers were Dello and Ray Cane although Colin Hare also contributed songs.[2] The group's supporters and critics, amongst them Kenny Everett, compared the band to Rubber Soul-era Beatles.
"I Can't Let Maggie Go" was also a top 10 hit in Italy, with a version made by Equipe 84, entitled "Un angelo blu" ("A blue angel"). It enjoyed an unexpected return in popularity in the 1970s, when it was used in the iconic TV jingle commercial for "Nimble", a bread produced for slimmers.[3]
Dello resigned in August 1968.[2][4] The band recruited Jim Kelly on guitar and vocals to replace him and Cane began songwriting and performing lead vocals.[2] This line-up scored minor successes with "She Sold Blackpool Rock" and "Girl Of Independent Means". Honeybus eventually disbanded late in 1969. Their 1970 albumStory, without an active band to promote it, failed to chart.[2] However, it is now highly collectable and has sold around £1,000 in mint condition.[5] It has since been re-issued on compact disc.
Kircher left the group in the summer of 1969 and went on tour with Engelbert Humperdinck. He was replaced by drummer Lloyd Courtney for the remainder of the sessions for their debut album.
The Dello line-up of the band reunited in 1971 to record a new body of songs for the Bell Recordslabel and a complete LP, Recital, for the British division of Warner Bros. Records. A change in management at Warner Brothers meant that Recital was never issued.[2] It was, however released finally on vinyl by Hanky Panky & Mapache records in 2018.
The band were the subject of a 2003 documentary on the Dutch TV show "Single Luck", a show about the careers of artists who are considered one hit wonders in the Netherlands; interviews by Dello, Kircher, Hare, Terry Noon (band manager) and Neville Mackinder (bassoon player on "I Can't Let Maggie Go") were filmed.
Aftermath
Dello, Hare and Kelly all went on to record solo material in the early 1970s that was critically acclaimed but failed to achieve significant commercial success.[2]
Jim Kelly:
Kelly released a solo single in 1969 on Deram entitled "Mary Mary" b/w "Rev. Richard Bailey", both written by Cane, but it failed to chart. Kelly joined the Sleaz Band in the 1970s and they released "All I Want Is You" on the Fontana label. An album was also recorded, but never released. He died on Boxing Day in 1995 following a long illness.
Pete Dello and Colin Hare both recorded solo albums for “Penny farthing” “Into your ears” and “March Hare” respectively. Featuring members of the Honeybus. ”Into your ears being re-issued years later by Hanky Panky records. “March Hare has enjoyed at least five re-issues in Tokyo, Korea, Spain and UK. Kelly’s single “Mary Mary”/ “Reverend Richard Bailey” written and produced by Cane was also released around the same time.
After a number of years out of the spotlight, Hare, having accompanied Dello at the Felipop music festival in Galicia, Spain in 2002 recorded new solo material in 2004. Also, later an EP “Down from Pitswood” featuring two original and long forgotten Honeybus songs, “Incredibly bad” and “Follow the plan” which were first recorded for BBC Radio sessions in the late 1960’s. - In 2007, Hare performed at several venues including Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao and Madrid with Duncan Maitland and Jon Wigg.
↑ unreleased by Warner Bros. although promo copies exist which have sold for $800 or even £2761,[2] Finally issued on the Hanky Panky & Mapache record label in July 2018
Other sources
Mojo Collection 3rd. Edition - Story; Honeybus - Best albums of the '70s.
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