The Honeydrippers

Last updated

The Honeydrippers
OriginEngland
Genres
Years active1981–1985, 2006
Labels Es Paranza/Atlantic
Past members

The Honeydrippers were an English rock and roll band of the 1980s. Former Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant formed the group in 1981 to satisfy his long-time goal of having a rock band with a heavy rhythm and blues basis. Formed originally in Worcestershire from an existing cover band, it has had many members come and go, including fellow former Led Zeppelin member Jimmy Page; Jeff Beck (a former Yardbirds member like Page); and other friends and well-known studio musicians including original Judas Priest guitarist Ernest Chataway. [1] The band released only one recording, an EP titled The Honeydrippers: Volume One , on 12 November 1984. [2]

Contents

The Honeydrippers peaked at number 3 [3] in early 1985 on the Billboard Hot 100 with a remake of the Phil Phillips' tune "Sea of Love", [4] and hit number 25 with "Rockin' at Midnight", [5] originally a Roy Brown recording and a rewrite of "Good Rockin' Tonight." With the EP's success, Plant stated that a full album would be recorded, but it never was. [4]

Origins

There are a number of views on the origin(s) of the name Honeydrippers. Paul Stenning (2008) says Plant joined a Midlands blues cover band called "The Honeydrippers". In this telling, the band and its name existed prior to Plant: it is unstated who came up with the name and what it means. [6] In Paul Rees's 2013 biography, Plant joined a "makeshift" cover band, and Plant gave the band its name, inspired by Roosevelt Sykes, an American blues singer known as "Honeydripper". [7] Jean-Michael Guesdon in his 2018 book Led Zeppelin, All the Songs says the name is an allusion to the Led Zeppelin song Black Dog, which contains the lyric "Watch your honey drip, can't keep away". [8] Another theory is it's derived from ‘40s R&B star Joe Liggins, his most popular song was The Honeydripper, and it was also the name of his backing band. [9] The term "honeydripper" is black slang for the vagina or a female lover; it can also mean a male lover who frequently says ("drips") sweet nothings to his female lover. [10]

Members

Original lineup (1981)

The Honeydrippers: Volume One lineup (1984)

Discography

Related Research Articles

<i>The Honeydrippers: Volume One</i> 1984 studio album (mini-album) by The Honeydrippers

The Honeydrippers: Volume One is a mini-album released on 24 September 1984, by a band led by rock singer Robert Plant. The project originated when Atlantic Records president Ahmet Ertegun wanted to record an album of his favourite songs from the 1950s. Plant was chosen because Ertegun had seen his pick-up band the Honeydrippers performing 1950s standards. Included in the band were Chic front man Nile Rodgers, Late Night with David Letterman bandleader Paul Shaffer, and former Yardbirds guitarists Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page—the latter was also Plant's former bandmate in Led Zeppelin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Dog (Led Zeppelin song)</span> 1971 single by Led Zeppelin

"Black Dog" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is the first track on the band's untitled fourth album (1971), which has become one of the best-selling albums of all time. The lyrics contain typical bluesman themes of lust, eroticism and betrayal. The song was released as a single and reached the charts in many countries. It is "one of the most instantly recognisable Zeppelin tracks", and was included in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list (US), and ranked No. 1 in Q magazine's (UK) "20 Greatest Guitar Tracks".

"Kashmir" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. Featured on their sixth studio album Physical Graffiti (1975), it was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant with contributions from John Bonham over a period of three years with lyrics dating to 1973. John Paul Jones was late arriving to the studio for the recording sessions, so did not receive a writers credit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trampled Under Foot</span> 1975 single by Led Zeppelin

"Trampled Under Foot" is a song by English rock group Led Zeppelin. A funk-influenced piece with John Paul Jones on clavinet, it was included on their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. The song was released as a single in several countries and was frequently performed in concert.

"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" is a folk song written by Anne Bredon in the late 1950s. Joan Baez, who learned the song from a student at Oberlin College, recorded the first published version for her 1962 album Joan Baez in Concert and a variety of musicians subsequently adapted it to a variety of styles, including the Association (1965), Quicksilver Messenger Service (1968), and Led Zeppelin (1969). Following the credit on Baez's 1962 release as "traditional, arranged by Baez", subsequent releases did not name Bredon until 1990 when, following Bredon's approach to Led Zeppelin, she received credit and royalties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)</span> 1969 single by Led Zeppelin

"Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their album Led Zeppelin II, released in 1969. It was also released as a single in Japan and as the B-side of the single "Whole Lotta Love" in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Sticks</span> 1972 single by Led Zeppelin

"Four Sticks" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their untitled fourth album. The title reflects drummer John Bonham's performance with two sets of two drumsticks, totaling four.

"Since I've Been Loving You" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in 1970 on the album Led Zeppelin III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heartbreaker (Led Zeppelin song)</span> 1969 song by Led Zeppelin

"Heartbreaker" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1969 album, Led Zeppelin II. It was credited to all four members of the band, recorded at A&R Recording and Atlantic Studios in New York City during the band's second concert tour of North America, and engineered by Eddie Kramer.

"What Is and What Should Never Be" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and was included as the second track on Led Zeppelin II (1969).

"Carouselambra" is the fifth song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. The title refers to the first section of the song that has similarities to carousel music. At more than 10 minutes in length, the song is the second-longest the band recorded in the studio. John Paul Jones' synthesizers dominate the song, with Jimmy Page's guitar playing a supporting role.

"Thank You" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin from their second studio album Led Zeppelin II (1969). It was written by Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and produced by Page.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramble On</span> 1969 song by Led Zeppelin

"Ramble On" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. Co-written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant and produced by Page, and recorded in 1969 at Juggy Sound Studio, New York City and A & R Recording, Manhattan, it serves as the seventh track of their second studio album Led Zeppelin II. The song's lyrics were influenced by J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fool in the Rain</span> 1979 single by Led Zeppelin

"Fool in the Rain" is the third song on Led Zeppelin's 1979 album In Through the Out Door. It was the last single released in the US before they formally disbanded in 1980. The song reached number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 16 February 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bring It On Home (Sonny Boy Williamson II song)</span> 1966 single by Sonny Boy Williamson II

"Bring It On Home" is a blues song written by American music arranger and songwriter Willie Dixon. Sonny Boy Williamson II recorded it in 1963, but the song was not released until 1966. Led Zeppelin adapted it in part as a homage to Williamson in 1969 and subsequently, the song has been recorded by several artists.

"How Many More Times" is the ninth and final track on English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. The song is credited in the album liner to Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, but Robert Plant was later added to the ASCAP credits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bron-Y-Aur Stomp</span> 1970 song by Led Zeppelin

"Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" is a song recorded by English rock band Led Zeppelin for their third album, Led Zeppelin III, released in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Come On Home</span> 1993 single by Led Zeppelin

"Baby Come On Home" is a soul song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded during sessions for the band's debut album but remained unreleased until 1993, when it was included on the compilation Boxed Set 2. The song was also included as a bonus track on some CD editions of the band's ninth studio album Coda as included in The Complete Studio Recordings (1993) and Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica CD Boxset (2008). In 2015, the song was included on disc one of the two companion discs of the reissue of Coda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Over the Hills and Far Away (Led Zeppelin song)</span> 1973 single by Led Zeppelin

"Over the Hills and Far Away" is the third track from English rock band Led Zeppelin's 1973 album Houses of the Holy. In the US, it was released as a single, with "Dancing Days" as the B-side.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Times Bad Times</span> 1969 single by Led Zeppelin

"Good Times Bad Times" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, featured as the opening track on their 1969 debut album Led Zeppelin. The song was Led Zeppelin's first single released in the US, where it reached the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

References

  1. ↑ Kielty, Martin (14 May 2014). "First Priest guitarist Chataway dies". Loudersound.com . Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Huey, Steve (2011). "The Honeydrippers Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  3. ↑ "Week of January 05, 1985". Billboard . Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  4. 1 2 Larkin, Colin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 618. ISBN   1-85227-745-9.
  5. ↑ "Reviews: Pop - Picks". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 12 January 1985. p. 60. ISSN   0006-2510.
  6. ↑ Stenning, Paul (2008). "The Honeydrippers". Robert Plant: Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and the Solo Years. Church Stretton: Independent Music. p. 99. ISBN   978-0-9552822-7-0.
  7. ↑ Rees, Paul (2013). Robert Plant: A Life. It Books. p.  203.
  8. ↑ Guesdon, Jean-Michael; Margotin, Philippe (2018). Led Zeppelin, All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. New York: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. p.  244.
  9. ↑ Allen, Jim (9 March 2016). "Revisiting the Day Robert Plant Debuted the Honeydrippers". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  10. ↑ Green, Jonathon (2023). "Bumblebee n. (2)". Green's Dictionary of Slang . Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "Bev Smith Memorial Concert: Aura, Billy Bowel & The Movements | Kidderminster King & Castle | Live Review |". Record Collector . 28 September 2007. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 258. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.