My Kind of Country

Country music from a fan's point of view since 2008

Classic Rewind: Bobby Goldsboro – ‘Honey’

11 Comments Posted by on May 9, 2016

Classic Rewind

11 responses to “Classic Rewind: Bobby Goldsboro – ‘Honey’”

  1. luckyoldsun May 9, 2016 at 7:49 pm

    Bobby Goldsboro’s rendition of this song has been a perennial on “Worst Songs of All-Time” lists complied in magazines or on blogs for many years. Now, to be fair, a record has to be very successful to be accorded such a designation and there are always newer songs–“Ice Baby,””Achy Breaky Heart,” “Who Let the Dogs Out” that occasionally win on of these contexts, but “Honey” has amazing staying power in that area. Sort of like Abe Vigoda, in the last decade of his life, drew more attention for the false rumors of his death than for his work, I think “Honey” is now known more for allegedly being the worst song of all-time than for anything else.

    CNN.com – The worst song of all time – Apr 21, 2006
    http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/04/19/…worstsong/index.html?..

    http://www.cs.umd.edu/~gasarch/HUMOR/worstsongs.html

    Reply
    • Ken May 9, 2016 at 9:16 pm

      Once again you are the first in line to throw stones at something posted here. Do you think the folks from this site only post articles & videos so that YOU can insult them? I’ll wager that when Jonathan selected this video his first thought was not “This is one of the WORST songs of all time so I’ll post it today so that luckyoldsun – who doesn’t like ANYTHING – will hopefully write something negative about it.” I’m sure that you made his day.

      Not every song or topic appeals to everyone. But there seems to be very little on this site that you ever like. So the question is why do you come here?

      Reply
      • luckyoldsun May 10, 2016 at 7:05 pm

        There’s plenty I like on this site. I even like listening to “Honey”–once every several years. The fact is, the song receives a lot of mentions for being awful–has to do, I believe, with the protagonist’s seemingly condescending attitude toward his dead lover in the lyrics, as well as Goldsboro’s somewhat cloying delivery–and I pointed it out to get other people’s take on it. You’re the only baby who throws a tantrum over it.

        Reply
        • Ken May 10, 2016 at 9:50 pm

          No tantrum. Just an honest observation. You’re the original “negative nellie.”

          And from what website did you paste “the protagonist’s seemingly condescending attitude toward his dead lover in the lyrics, as well as Goldsboro’s somewhat cloying delivery?”
          Wow!

          How about this? Some folks simply do not like sad, sentimental songs. Or slow songs. Or songs about trees. Or they just don’t like Bobby Goldsboro. But more than nine million folks did like it well enough to purchase a 45 or an LP.

  2. Paul W Dennis May 9, 2016 at 10:42 pm

    White this song is a bit on the syrupy side, it was a huge hit virtually everywhere and was recorded by hundreds of acts across all genres of music. I believe that the Kingston Trio recorded the song before Goldsboro but couldn’t get their label (I think it was Decca) to release the song

    This is far from the worst song ever recorded – in fact, where I to rate the song I’d give it a B

    Reply
  3. Ken May 10, 2016 at 10:27 am

    Bobby was not convinced to record this song the first time that he heard it. When writer Bobby Russell played a recording made by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio Goldsboro did not care for it. His impression was that it sounded overproduced and the too-loud drum track overpowered the lyrics. But days later while reviewing potential songs for his next recording session with producer Bob Montgomery another version of “Honey” was played. It was a stripped-down demo with only guitar accompaniment that firmly convinced Bobby and his producer of the song’s potential. They requested permission to record it but were told Bob Shane’s Decca recording was about to be released so they could only release their version as an album track.

    Montgomery’s superb production featuring Don Tweedy’s inspired arrangement surrounding Goldboro’s emotional vocal impressed even the musicians on the session. All agreed it could be a number one record. When Shane’s record failed to catch fire permission was granted for a single and United Artists rush-released Bobby’s version which raced to the top of the pop chart within four weeks. “Honey” earned Bobby Goldsboro a number one country hit [3 weeks] a number one single on the Billboard Hot 100 survey [5 weeks] and a number one record on the Adult Contemporary chart [2 weeks]

    Beyond the fundamental appeal of the sad love story there was a timely implication of the lines from the chorus:

    And honey I miss you and I’m being good
    And I’d love to be with you if only I could

    In the Spring of 1968 the Vietnam War had affected many young couples as thousands of men had been drafted separating them from wives and girlfriends. Those lyrics held special meaning for those missing their loved ones.

    Almost 50 years later I still think that it is one of the best -produced records to ever come out of Nashville. Take a listen to Bobby’s studio version.

    And here’s the original version of the song as released by Bob Shane as a Decca single

    One final note. Not every hit song has across the board appeal. Some songs attract a younger constituency while others appeal to a more mature audience. A gender difference often occurs especially for heartfelt and sensitive love songs which usually appeal more to women. This song appealed mostly to female listeners who purchased the single in incredible numbers. During it’s first three weeks it sold a million copies. That may not seem like a lot for a popular song in comparison to today’s internet/download marketplace but in 1968 that meant that a million people had to go out to a store to purchase their copy. It was not just a couple of clicks away on a computer. Ultimately that recording sold SIX million singles and the “Honey” album sold more than FIVE million copies.

    Reply
  4. Tyler Pappas May 10, 2016 at 11:05 pm

    Ken I have no Idea who you are but I notice on a lot of your comments that you are in fact the one who posts negatively. You attack people when they weren’t even arguing with you or posting negatively and you type in a way that makes it seem like you think your opinion is the only one that is right and the only one that matters. I don’t think luckyoldsun was insulting Bobby. He has a point, this song is on a bunch of “Worst Songs of All Time” lists. Nobody was agreeing with that lists, just sharing some information. Relax and enjoy the music.

    Reply
    • luckyoldsun May 11, 2016 at 12:08 am

      Tyler,
      Thanks for the post. I don’t know if you’re related to Milt Pappas, a quite good pitcher in the late ’50s-to-early-’70s era, who played for four major league teams and won over 200 games…and who passed away just last month. He was also known for speaking his mind! If you are, or if you knew him, I’d love to read any comment about him.

      Reply
    • Ken May 11, 2016 at 9:21 am

      Perhaps if you read more of his posts from this site you would see that there is a constant pattern of negativity. I am not the only one who has grown tired of it. He often does not indicate that his comments are opinion but rather that they have some basis in fact when they do not. He seems to possess little knowledge of most topics but is quick to offer off base conjecture and warped perceptions. If there is even a slight opportunity to post anything negative about videos or articles posted here I guarantee that you will see his name attached to it. Worse yet his rationale for the comment usually does not make logical sense.
      I suggest that you visit this board more often and you too will witness for yourself his tedious and misdirected observations. I’ve seen his name on other sites and it’s pretty much the same oddball commentary. When he posts comments that are factually untrue I challenge him and he usually is not able to defend them.

      On the positive side there is a lot of interesting material available on this site. The staff does an excellent job presenting fresh content each every day and they deserve better than being harassed by one individual who constantly throws stones at their efforts. Most folks that come here offer intelligent comments and worthwhile and interesting observations. That’s why you don’t often see their comments receiving negative responses from me or others.

      Reply

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