Taste Of Honey was a cool female duo which is best known for their disco hit "Boogie Oogie Oogie" from 78. But, a song that I REALLY dig is their overlooked song "Sukiyaki" from their 1980 album "Twice As Sweet". Produced by George Duke, this ballad was completey different from ANYTHING at that time in pop music, and was #1 on the charts. As a kid, I remember seeing them do this song wearing their kimono's. I was really impressed because they looked cool and sounded cool. Very cool song. Who else digs "Sukiyaki"?

Love it! have the album and the 7inch single... this is from my Casey Kasem period 'twas a remake from the Japanese hit by Kyu Sakamoto from 1963


SUKIYAKI

It's all because of you, I'm feeling sad and blue
You went away now, My love is just a rainy day
I love you so, how much you'll never know
You've gone away and left me lonely

Unintentional memory Seemed to depart to me
Of love that's true
That one day turned my gray skies blue
But you disappeared
Now my eyes are filled with tears
I wishin you were here with me


Stop this love that I have for you
Now that you're gone I don't know what to do

If only you were here, You'd wash away my tears
The sun would shine and Once again you'd be mine
But in reality, I know it will never be
Cause you took your love away from me, ..


A little something about A Taste of Honey
A popular US disco/funk group of the late 70s and early 80s, A Taste Of Honey was formed in Los Angeles, California, USA, in 1972 when an earlier band featuring Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, guitar, bass) and Perry Kimble (keyboards) disbanded. After numerous personnel changes the group solidified as a quartet featuring Johnson, Kimble, Hazel Payne (guitar, vocals) and Donald Johnson (drums). The group was signed to Capitol Records and in 1978 recorded the US number 1 and UK number 3 dance single, "Boogie Oogie Oogie". The self-titled album from which the single was drawn reached the US Top 10 and was certified platinum. They became the first black group to win a Best New Artist Grammy at the 1979 awards. In 1980 they were reduced to a duo of Johnson and Payne. A remake of the 1963 Kyu Sakamoto hit "Sukiyaki", with new English words completely unrelated to the original Japanese lyric, became their only other major US chart hit, reaching number 3 in March 1981. The band split in 1984, although they did briefly revisit the UK charts in 1985 with a remixed version of their original hit.


[Edited 5/10/05 11:53am]

I've always loved this song. I appreciate the nods to it I've heard sampled in various songs throughout the years, but nothing holds a candle to the original. Beautiful!

Great song. I love the Asian sound of it.

Taste Of Honey was a cool female duo which is best known for their disco hit "Boogie Oogie Oogie" from 78. But, a song that I REALLY dig is their overlooked song "Sukiyaki" from their 1980 album "Twice As Sweet". Produced by George Duke, this ballad was completey different from ANYTHING at that time in pop music, and was #1 on the charts. As a kid, I remember seeing them do this song wearing their kimono's. I was really impressed because they looked cool and sounded cool. Very cool song. Who else digs "Sukiyaki"?

I saw A Taste Of Honey recently on a PBS 70's music fundraiser recently. They performed this song and the other hits. They looked and sounded great. The guitarist (Hazel Scott?) looked younger now than she did back then. According to Janice (the bassist), that remake gave them a whole new huge fanbase in Europe. Good to see them still out there.

I saw A Taste Of Honey recently on a PBS 70's music fundraiser recently. They performed this song and the other hits. They looked and sounded great. The guitarist (Hazel Scott?) looked younger now than she did back then. According to Janice (the bassist), that remake gave them a whole new huge fanbase in Europe. Good to see them still out there.