Honey Don't

"Honey Don't" is a song written by Carl Perkins, originally released on January 1, 1956[2] as the B-side of the "Blue Suede Shoes"[1] single, Sun 234. Both songs became rockabilly classics. Bill Dahl of Allmusic praised the song saying, "'Honey Don't' actually outclasses its more celebrated platter-mate in some ways."[3] It has been covered by more than 20 other artists, including The Beatles, Ronnie Hawkins and Johnny Rivers.[4] The song also appeared in the movies Prince of Tides, Diner, and Perfect Sisters.

"Honey Don't"
Single by Carl Perkins
A-side"Blue Suede Shoes"
ReleasedJanuary 1, 1956
RecordedDecember 1955, Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee
GenreRockabilly[1]
Length2:53
LabelSun
Songwriter(s)Carl Perkins
Producer(s)Sam Phillips

Background

According to David McGee, author of Go, Cat, Go! The Life and Times of Carl Perkins, the King of Rockabilly, Carl Perkins first brought the song to a rehearsal with his band which at the time comprised the Perkins brothers and W.S. Holland:

  • Carl Perkins – lead guitar and vocals
  • Jay Perkins – acoustic guitar and backing vocals
  • Clayton Perkins – standup bass
  • W. S. Holland – drums

When Carl first played the song to Jay Perkins, Jay protested what sounded to him like an odd chord choice, going to a C7 chord after the E instead of the natural blues progression choice of A. At first, Jay refused to go along, but Carl convinced him it was something different, and today the chord choice is one of the most interesting aspects of the song.

Perkins and his band performed the song, along with "Blue Suede Shoes", during their television debut on ABC-TV's Ozark Jubilee on March 17, 1956.

1956 sheet music cover, Hill and Range Songs, Inc., New York.

The Beatles version
"Honey Don't"
Label of Australian 7-inch single
Song by the Beatles
from the album Beatles for Sale
Released4 December 1964 (mono and stereo)
Recorded26 October 1964
StudioEMI, London
GenreRockabilly
Length2:55
LabelParlophone
Songwriter(s)Carl Perkins
Producer(s)George Martin

The Beatles recorded their version on 26 October 1964[5] one of the last songs recorded for Beatles for Sale, which was released in the United Kingdom on 4 December 1964.[6] The North American release was on 15 December on Beatles '65.[7]

Although John Lennon had previously sung the song live, Ringo Starr performed it for the album,[1] his usual one lead vocal per album (although he sang two lead vocals on The Beatles double album and none on A Hard Day's Night, Magical Mystery Tour, and Let It Be).[5] During the song, he makes self-referential remarks leading into George Harrison's guitar riffs, saying, "Rock on George, one time for me!" and then "Rock on, George, for Ringo one time!" The Monkees referenced the latter remark leading into the instrumental break of their song "No Time" from their 1967 album Headquarters.

The Beatles performed the song twice for the BBC for the From Us To You and Top Gear programs.[8] A version sung by Lennon is available on Live at the BBC.[9] and a version sung by Starr was released on On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2.

Starr performed a live version of the song, as a tribute to Harrison for their fondness of Perkins, at the Concert for George at London's Royal Albert Hall in 2002.

Along with "Matchbox", "Honey Don't" is one of the rare songs that all four Beatles have separately recorded or performed on stage (see section below).

Personnel
Personnel per Ian MacDonald[10]

Other covers
  • Johnzo West recorded the song for the 2014 Perfect Sisters movie soundtrack.
  • Ronnie Hawkins on Mr. Dynamo album, 1960.
  • Billy "Crash" Craddock covered the song on his 1986 album Crash Craddock.
  • Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, 1989, Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band 1990 live album, 1995, 2003, 2006, 2010-2011 tours, Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session, 1985, and The Concert For George, 2003.[11]
  • Johnny Rivers covered the song on his album Memphis Sun Recordings, released in 1991.
  • Gene Summers performed "Honey Don't", during a live concert, that was filmed and broadcast by Warner Amex Television in 1983.
  • Ben Folds Five on the collection Vault Volume II (1998-2003).
  • Raul Seixas covered the song on his 1975 album Novo Aeon.
  • T. Rex featuring Marc Bolan recorded the song in 1971; Electric Warrior Sessions album, 1997.
  • Wanda Jackson covered the song on her 1964 album Two Sides of Wanda Jackson.
  • John Lennon recorded the song in the 1970s, released on the 2010 remasters collection, John Lennon Signature Box.
  • Lee Rocker on the 2012 album Night Train to Memphis.
  • Homer and the Dont's on the 1965 album Shindig, as "Homer Don't".
  • Shakin' Stevens and The Sunsets, CBS single, I'm No J.D. album, 1971
  • Glen Glenn and The Maddox Brothers live on the Squeakin' Deacon Show in 1957.
  • Vince Taylor recorded the song in 1965.
  • Rhythm and Blues, Inc. released the song in 1964 as a B side single on Fontana.
  • Tyrone Schmidling released the song as a 45 single in 1958 on Andex, 3-4022.
  • George Harrison performed the song live on stage in 1987 with the Silver Wilburys at the Palomino Club in Hollywood and with Carl Perkins in 1988.
  • Paul McCartney has performed the song in sound checks during the On the Run Tour in 2011 and the One on One Tour in 2016.
  • Eugene Chadbourne, There'll Be No Tears Tonight album, 1980.
  • Memphis Rockabilly, Boston Does The Beatles, 1988
  • Skitzo, Terminal Damage, 1988
  • Blinkit on the 2000 album Rock Billy Boogie!
  • Johnny Devlin on the Prestige album How Would Ya Be.
  • Mac Curtis in 1970 as a 45 single on Epic Records, 5-10574.
  • Elvis Costello performed it with Ricky Skaggs, Brian Setzer, and Marty Stuart at a 1997-02-05 taping for Ricky Skaggs' TV show on TNN.
  • Joe Walsh with Steve Earle for the motion picture The Beverly Hillbillies, 1993

Notes
  1. Carl Perkins interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  2. ""Blue Suede Shoes" story". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2011-08-21.
  3. Dahl, Bill. "Review of "Honey Don't"". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  4. Dahl, Bill. "All performers for "Honey Don't"". Allmusic. Retrieved 2007-03-16.
  5. Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
  6. Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. New York: Harmony Books. p. 53. ISBN 0-517-57066-1.
  7. Lewisohn, Mark (1988). The Beatles Recording Sessions. p. 201.
  8. "Honey Don't. About.com". Archived from the original on 2013-09-25. Retrieved 2013-09-21.
  9. Live at the BBC (booklet). The Beatles. London: Apple Records. 1996. p. 46. 34448.CS1 maint: others (link)
  10. MacDonald, Ian (2005). Revolution in the Head: The Beatles' Records and the Sixties (Second Revised ed.). London: Pimlico (Rand). p. 141. ISBN 1-84413-828-3.
  11. Concert for George (booklet). Various artists. Los Angeles: Warner Brothers. 2003. p. 25. R2 74546.CS1 maint: others (link)
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