A Taste of Honey -

A Taste of Honey was an American soul-funk band from Los Angeles, best known for their disco hit “Boogie Oogie Oogie” and their cover of the Japanese ballad “Sukiyaki.” They released four albums between 1978 and 1982 on Capitol.

Members: Greg Walker (vocals, 1971-76), Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, bass, guitar, 1971-present), Perry Kibble (keyboards, 1971-80), Hazel P. Payne (guitar, vocals, 1971-?), Donald Ray Johnson (drums, 1971-80), Suzanne Thomas (guitar, 1996-?)

Background

A Taste of Honey originated in 1972 from a musical partnership between bassist/singer Janice-Marie Johnson and keyboardist Perry Kibble, who formed the group in Los Angeles after stints in local bands. Early lineups also included guitarist Carlita Dorhan and drummer Donald Ray Johnson. Greg Walker sang with the group before leaving in 1975 to join Santana. Dorhan exited in early 1976, and Hazel Payne joined on guitar and vocals.

The band spent several years on club dates and USO tours through Spain, Morocco, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan. Producers Fonce and Larry Mizell saw the group in a Los Angeles nightclub and helped secure an audition with Capitol executive Larkin Arnold, which led to a recording contract. The group took its name from the Bobby Scott–Ric Marlow standard “A Taste of Honey.”

A Taste of Honey

A Taste of Honey released their self-titled debut album on May 15, 1978, on Capitol.

The album centers on bass, guitar, keyboards, and drums. Johnson’s bass drives much of the motion, Payne shifts between rhythm parts and sharper lead lines, and the arrangements stay close to the group’s own playing. Strings enter in selected passages, but the pulse stays with the band.

“Boogie Oogie Oogie” turns Johnson’s bass line into the track’s central event. “Distant” settles into a lower, steadier funk pulse shaped by sliding bass figures. “World Spin” opens room for more fluid lead guitar. “You” hits harder through guitar and rhythmic counterpoint. “Sky High” and “You’re in Good Hands” engages in slower, softer vibes.

A1. “Boogie Oogie Oogie” (5:37) — Janice-Marie Johnson, Perry Kibble
A2. “This Love of Ours” (3:20) — Janice-Marie Johnson, Hazel Payne
A3. “Distant” (4:38) — Janice-Marie Johnson, Perry Kibble
A4. “World Spin” (3:42) — Perry Kibble, Thurman Aldridge

B1. “Disco Dancin’” (3:42) — Allan Barnes, John Malone
B2. “You” (3:20) — Donald Ray Johnson, Hazel Payne
B3. “If We Loved” (4:24) — Perry Kibble, Thurman Aldridge
B4. “Sky High” (5:04) — Janice-Marie Johnson, Hazel Payne
B5. “You’re in Good Hands” (3:52) — Fonce Mizell

A Taste of Honey recorded the album at Pasadena Sounds and Sound Factory West in Los Angeles with Fonce and Larry Mizell. Wade Marcus arranged strings, and Larkin Arnold served as executive producer.

“Boogie Oogie Oogie” dropped in April 1978 as the lead single backed with “World Spin.” In a disco-dominated year on the Billboard charts, the song entered the Hot 100 on the week of June 24 and climbed ten spots each week. By the week of August 10, it entered the Top 10 at No. 6 and climbed four further weeks until September 9, when “Boogie Oogie Oogie” claimed the No. 1 spot, ousting “Grease” by Frankie Valli. It held the top spot for three weeks then bowed to “Kiss You All Over” by Exile. “Boogie Oogie Oogie” also topped the Hot Soul Singles chart.

Abroad, “Boogie Oogie Oogie” reached No. 2 in Canada and New Zealand and No. 3 in the UK, where (in lieu of the band’s presence) Leg & Co. did a dance skit in pink wardrobes for Top of the Pops.

In October, Capitol lifted “Distant” as a second single (b/w “You’re in Good Hands”) followed by “Disco Dancin’” (b/w “Sky High”). A Taste of Honey reached No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B album chart.

Another Taste

A Taste of Honey released their second album, Another Taste, on June 16, 1979, on Capitol.

The album moves between fast dance tracks and slower love songs. Bass and drums keep the pulse direct, keyboards fill the upper register, and strings appear most clearly at the close.

“Dance” and “Race” drive the quicker side of the set. “The Rainbow’s End” and “I Love You” ease into softer vocal writing. “Let’s Begin” and “Your Love” slow the pace further, with “Your Love” closing under strings. “Take the Boogae or Leave It” pushes the album’s most direct party-track title.

A1. “Do It Good” (5:32)
A2. “The Rainbow’s End” (3:47)
A3. “Dance” (4:10)
A4. “I Love You” (5:11)

B1. “Race” (4:59)
B2. “Let’s Begin” (3:51)
B3. “Take the Boogae or Leave It” (4:42)
B4. “Your Love” (5:20)

Sessions occurred at Golden Sounds Studio and Sound Factory in Hollywood with co-producers Larry and Fonce Mizell.

A Taste of Honey reached reached No. 13 on the R&B Singles chart with the June single “Do It Good” (b/w “I Love You”), followed in September by “Race” (b/w “Let’s Begin”). Another Taste reached No. 26 on the R&B album chart.

Twice as Sweet

A Taste of Honey released their third album, Twice as Sweet, on July 14, 1980, on Capitol.

George Duke produced the album and played keyboards. Johnson and Payne remained at the front, and the arrangements spread keyboards and horn charts across the set. Johnson’s bass still anchors much of the material, but the record leans more heavily on studio-built surfaces.

“Rescue Me” holds a steady mid-tempo dance pulse. “I’m Talkin’ ’Bout You” rides a walking-bass pattern. “Say That You’ll Stay” opens from a slow, mesmeric groove before the arrangement widens. Payne takes the lead on “Superstar Superman,” which moves with a buoyant bounce. Hiroshima koto player June Kuramoto guests on “Sukiyaki,” a light rendition of the Japanese pop oldie.

A1. “Ain’t Nothin’ But a Party” (4:54) — George Duke, Janice-Marie Johnson
A2. “Rescue Me” (3:50) — Byron Miller, Roland Bautista, Janice-Marie Johnson
A3. “Superstar Superman” (3:03) — Hazel Payne
A4. “I’m Talkin’ ’Bout You” (5:15) — George Duke, Janice-Marie Johnson

B1. “She’s a Dancer” (3:07) — Toshiyuki Kimori, Casey Rankin, Hazel Payne, Janice-Marie Johnson
B2. “Don’t You Lead Me On” (3:19) — George Duke, Janice-Marie Johnson
B3. “Goodbye Baby” (4:01) — George Duke, Janice-Marie Johnson
B4. “Say That You’ll Stay” (4:25) — George Duke, Hazel Payne, Janice-Marie Johnson
B5. “Sukiyaki” (3:44) — originated as a 1961 single by Japanese crooner Kyu Sakamoto, written by Hachidai Nakamura and Rokusuke Ei. In 1963, his version reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Janice wrote new English lyrics for this version.

Duke produced Twice as Sweet in sequence with his 1980 album, A Brazilian Love Affair, and titles by Seawind, The Blackbyrds, and the Brecker Brothers.

Capitol issued “Rescue Me” in June 1980 as an advance single (b/w “Say That You’ll Stay”), which reached No. 16 on the R&B chart. “I’m Talkin’ ’Bout You” followed in September (b/w “Don’t You Lead Me On”) and reached No 64 R&B.

In January 1981, “Sukiyaki” emerged as the third single (b/w “Don’t You Lead Me On”) and rose to No. 1 on the R&B and Adult Contemporary charts and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Abroad, the single reached No. 3 in the UK and No. 4 in Canada. Twice as Sweet reached No. 12 on the R&B Albums chart.

Ladies of the Eighties

A Taste of Honey released their fourth album, Ladies of the Eighties, on April 5, 1982, on Capitol.

Johnson remains on bass and vocals, Payne remains on guitar and vocals, and most of the album comes through Al McKay’s production and writing. The uptempo tracks lean on synth bass and keyboard-led arrangements, while the slower and midtempo cuts leave more room for the vocals.

“We’ve Got the Groove” sets the tone with a synth-driven pulse and returns in reprise form. “I’ll Try Something New” places Johnson at the front of the Smokey Robinson song. “Lies” brings a simpler, more direct funk setup and gives Payne the album’s clearest guitar-led moment. “Midnight Snack” thickens the rhythm track, and “Leavin’ Tomorrow” closes the album at a slower pace.

A1. “Sayonara” (4:06) — Al McKay, David Paul Bryant, Tony Haynes
A2. “We’ve Got The Groove” (5:42) — Al McKay, Janice-Marie Johnson
A3. “I’ll Try Something New” (4:11) — originated as an April 1962 Tamla a-side by The Miracles, whose version reached No. 11 on the R&B chart.
A4. “We’ve Got The Groove (Reprise)” (0:21) — Al McKay, Janice-Marie Johnson
A5. “Lies” (4:12) — Hazel Payne

B1. “Diamond Real” (4:22) — Al McKay, David Paul Bryant, Janice-Marie Johnson
B2. “Never Go Wrong” (4:10) — Al McKay, David Paul Bryant, Janice-Marie Johnson
B3. “We’ve Got The Groove (Reprise)” (0:21) — Al McKay, Janice-Marie Johnson
B4. “Midnight Snack” (4:05) — Larry King, Ronald LaPread, Taliaferro Harris
B5. “Leavin’ Tomorrow” (4:37) — Wayne Tweed

Watts 103rd alumnus Al McKay produced all but the final two tracks, recorded with Brick soundman Duane Scott.

Capitol lifted “I’ll Try Something New” as a February 1982 single (“Good-Bye Baby”). It reached No. 9 on the R&B chart and No. 29 on the AC chart. “We’ve Got the Groove” followed in June (b/w “This Love of Ours”). Ladies of the Eighties reached No. 14 on the R&B albums chart.

One Taste of Honey

Janice-Marie Johnson released a solo album, One Taste of Honey, in 1984 on Capitol.

The album runs on synth-led dance tracks, programmed rhythms, and a larger studio cast. Johnson foregrounds her vocals in the keyboard-dominated arrangements.

“Baby Sister” and “Last Chance Romeo” push forward on dense synthesizer patterns. “Love Me Tonight” slows the pace for the album’s main ballad. “Back with My Boogie” ties Johnson to the earlier catalog in title, but the arrangement stays within the same 1984 studio format. She closes the set with the Jackson 5 cover “I’ll Be There.”

A1. “Who’s It Gonna Be” (4:14) — Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
A2. “Baby Sister” (3:50) — Gary Goetzman, Mike Piccirillo
A3. “Last Chance Romeo” (3:18) — Gary Goetzman, Janice-Marie Johnson, Mike Piccirillo
A4. “Beverly Hills” (3:47) — Gary Goetzman, Janice-Marie Johnson, Mike Piccirillo
A5. “She’s So Popular” (4:27) — Frank Musker, Trevor Lawrence

B1. “Back with My Boogie” (4:08) — Frank “Rusty” Hamilton, Janice-Marie Johnson
B2. “Love Me Tonight” (4:08) — Janice-Marie Johnson, Trevor Lawrence
B3. “Givin’ It Up” (4:06) — Gary Goetzman, Janice-Marie Johnson, Mike Piccirillo
B4. “Catch 22” (3:16) — Gary Goetzman, Janice-Marie Johnson, Mike Piccirillo
B5. “I’ll Be There” (3:51) — Berry Gordy, Bob West, Hal Davis, Willie Hutch

Johnson recorded One Taste of Honey in 1983 and 1984 with producers Mike Piccirillo and Gary Goetzman. The album’s backing cast includes guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. bassist Abe Laboriel, drummer John Robinson, percussionist Darryl Jackson, and saxophonist Joel Peskin on saxophone and electronic woodwind.

As a single, “Love Me Tonight” reached No. 67 on the R&B chart.

Discography: