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A TASTE OF HONEY APPRECIATION THREAD 
When I was younger, I thought these were the two most gorgeous women. Years later, they still are. But that's for another time ... Los Angeles-based duo of Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, bass) and Hazel Payne (vocals, guitar) actually had two other members in the original lineup -- Perry Kibble (keyboards) and Donald Johnson (drums). Their first single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, went platinum and won a Grammy for Best New Artist. The band became a duo of Johnson and Payne by the early 1980s, when they covered version the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki," which was their final major hit. The song topped the Billboard R&B Singles charts and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. [Edited 9/1/07 7:41am] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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Najee said:
When I was younger, I thought these were the two most gorgeous women. Years later, they still are. But that's for another time ... Los Angeles-based duo of Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, bass) and Hazel Payne (vocals, guitar) actually had two other members in the original lineup -- Perry Kibble (keyboards) and Donald Johnson (drums). Their first single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" spent three weeks at number one ( No. 1) on the Hot 100 in 1978, went platinum and won a Grammy for Best New Artist. The band became a duo of Johnson and Payne by they covered version the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki," which was their final major hit. The song topped the Billboard R&B Singles charts and peaked at No.3 on the Billboard Hot 100. [Edited 8/29/07 18:04pm] I had no idea that they covered the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki." Cool. | |
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Get down, boogie oogie oogie....
I think this has one of the best intros of all time and it brings back a load of good memories of when I used to DJ in this 1970s themed club - I used to play it every week. It is such a shame their follow up hits didn't chart so well here in UK because 'Boogie oogie oogie' is one of the best disco songs EVER. | |
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Rodya24 said: I had no idea that they covered the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki." Cool.
There is a very interesting story Janice Marie Johnson told about the development of "Sukiyaki." She wanted to write an English version of the song and she got permission from one of the original writers to update it. She asked three different people to translate the lyrics and she got back three different interpretations -- a man headed to his death march; a song about life in general; and a love gone bad. She chose the third interpretation. After recording the song, the original writer who gave permission to record the song actually had given away his rights years ago. Johnson had to give up any claim to "Sukiyaki" before the publisher would allow it to be placed on their third album, "Twice as Sweet." Capitol Records originally wanted to remove the song from the album (producer George Duke also tried to add an uptempo beat at the end to make it disco-like) and then did not want to release it as a single. Capitol finally released it as a third single to appease Johnson ... and it became a chart-topping hit. [Edited 8/29/07 18:24pm] THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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I loved "Sukiyaki" from them!  | |
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...
 Yes Ndeed!! Fun songs, and I loved the guitar/bass interplay...
Funny, as much as I liked the first album with their big hit, I liked the second and third albums better: Another Taste (produced by the Mizell brothers) and Twice As Sweet (produced by George Duke)...that second album may have flopped, but it contains some of my favorite songs from the group....of course, that third album contained their hit cover of "Sukiyaki", but that was just one of the Kool tracks on the album. IMO, they had some really nice "Quiet Storm" ballads, even though that wasn't really the direction in which they were marketed....  
My favorites: Your Love Don't You Lead Me On I Love You Rescue Me Let's Begin Sukiyaki Say That You'll Stay Rainbow's End I'm Talkin Bout You I'll Try Something New Dance Goodbye Baby World Spin Superstar, Superman ... [Edited 8/29/07 18:36pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Here is a recent picture of Janice Marie Johnson on her Web site:
She looks GREAT for someone who is in at least her early 50s! THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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Najee said: Here is a recent picture of Janice Marie Johnson on her Web site:
She looks GREAT for someone who is in at least her early 50s!  Yes LAWD!!!!!
... " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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Najee said: Here is a recent picture of Janice Marie Johnson on her Web site:
She looks GREAT for someone who is in at least her early 50s! DAYUM!!!!   | |
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...
another photo of Janice, circa 2002.... 
shoot, here's a recent shot of Hazel Payne the other half of the duo , for that matter... 
... [Edited 8/29/07 18:55pm] " I've got six things on my mind --you're no longer one of them." - Paddy McAloon, Prefab Sprout | |
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paligap said: ...
another photo of Janice, circa 2002....
shoot, here's a recent shot of Hazel Payne the other half of the duo , for that matter...
I told you, I thought these were the two most gorgeous women ... and they still are. Plus they are more than competent musicians. THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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Wow, I'm glad this thread came up! I want to hear more of their music
I LOVE female bands, and I also love Boogie Oogie Oogie If you will, so will I | |
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Najee said: paligap said: ...
another photo of Janice, circa 2002....
shoot, here's a recent shot of Hazel Payne the other half of the duo , for that matter...
I told you, I thought these were the two most gorgeous women ... and they still are. Plus they are more than competent musicians. I agree. Both of them are drop-dead sexy and talented to MATCH, can't beat that! I get scared a little when I see these mamas PLAY their instruments the way they do... I got chills when I saw Hazel play that guitar on "Boogie Oogie-Oogie" and when Janice played that bass... (((SHUDDERS))) That's some FUNK FO YO ASS!!!   | |
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paligap said: Funny, as much as I liked the first album with their big hit, I liked the second album better: Another Taste (produced by the Mizell brothers)...that second album may have flopped, but it contains some of my favorite songs from the group...
I agree!!! The second album is EXCELLENT.Last year,I finally found it on vinyl.In mint condition,too.For years,I had been looking for it.The first single "Do It Good" is even funkier than "Boogie Oogie Oogie",and I think the hypnotic "Dance" is their best disco song.I also like "The Rainbow's End".I don't see why this album wasn't as successful as the debut. It ticks me off that the first and the third album are available as 2-CD set,but the second album is nowhere to be found on CD  | |
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I received an e-mail from Janice-Marie Johnson (she is a member of Youtube and she responds to questions occasionally):
Thanks for your kind words. I am just finishing up performing with the 2007 Solid Gold Dance Party tour. There are only couple of private dates left on the tour. I am working solo as "A Taste of Honey" and as "A Taste of Honey" featuring Janice-Marie Johnson. Suzanne Thomas replaced Hazel for a while. She has since formed her own group called Suzanne and The Blues Church. She in more at home playing the Blues...and she is very good at it. Hazel and I got together for the first time in 20 years, to perform for the 2004 PBS special. We have not work together since. Hazel is doing her own thing. I am still A Taste of Honey (smile). In fact, I have never played bass under any other name, since I formed the group back in 1971. No need to stop now. Too many dues paid. Let love rain down, Janice-Marie Johnson THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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did you let her know about this thread?  | |
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SoulAlive said: did you let her know about this thread?
No, I'm keeping Janice-Marie to myself. I will e-mail her about this Web site and see if she wants to post here, though.THE TRAFFIC JAMMERS, The Org's house band: VAINANDY -- lead singer; NAJEE -- bass; THE AUDIENCE -- guitar; PHUNKDADDY -- rhythm guitar; ALEX de PARIS -- keyboards; Da PRETTYMAN -- keyboards; FUNKENSTEIN -- drums. HOLD ON TO YOUR DRAWERS! |
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Najee said:
When I was younger, I thought these were the two most gorgeous women. Years later, they still are. But that's for another time ... Los Angeles-based duo of Janice Marie Johnson (vocals, bass) and Hazel Payne (vocals, guitar) actually had two other members in the original lineup -- Perry Kibble (keyboards) and Donald Johnson (drums). Their first single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978, went platinum and won a Grammy for Best New Artist. The band became a duo of Johnson and Payne by they covered version the Kyu Sakamoto song "Sukiyaki," which was their final major hit. The song topped the Billboard R&B Singles charts and peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. [Edited 8/29/07 18:38pm] Yeah, I appreciated those two hits they had. I reminds me of my childhood. Ms. Janice Johnson could play the hell out of some bass! | |
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paligap said: Najee said: Here is a recent picture of Janice Marie Johnson on her Web site:
She looks GREAT for someone who is in at least her early 50s! Yes LAWD!!!!!
... Oh, she still fine, but that bass is one of the ugliest basses I've ever seen. It is not known why FuNkeNsteiN capitalizes his name as he does, though some speculate sunlight deficiency caused by the most pimpified white guy afro in Nordic history.
- Lammastide | |
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Taste of honey were good. I'll admit i am not familiar with a whole lot of
their tunes. Boogie Oogie Oogie is obviously the shit. I also like sukiyaki and do it good. There are a couple of others i know but can't remember the name. Janice looks very much like a young alicia keys on that cd cover. Don't laugh at my funk
This funk is a serious joint | |
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danpartyman86 said: Get down, boogie oogie oogie....
I think this has one of the best intros of all time and it brings back a load of good memories of when I used to DJ in this 1970s themed club - I used to play it every week. It is such a shame their follow up hits didn't chart so well here in UK because 'Boogie oogie oogie' is one of the best disco songs EVER. "Boogie Oogie Oogie" always makes me smile It takes me right back to the summer of 1978.I remember hearing it when it first came out.This song EXPLODED and quickly became the summer anthem,lol.I really miss those days!! | |
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paligap said: ...
another photo of Janice, circa 2002....
shoot, here's a recent shot of Hazel Payne the other half of the duo , for that matter...
... [Edited 8/29/07 18:55pm] They both look amazing! I have seen that Classic masters CD for $5.99 at Amazon. I'll have to snatch it up before they change the price. [Edited 8/31/07 11:17am] | |
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that Classic Masters CD is great,containing all the hits.I only wish it included the full-length album version of "Boogie Oogie Oogie",though. | |
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SoulAlive said: that Classic Masters CD is great,containing all the hits.I only wish it included the full-length album version of "Boogie Oogie Oogie",though. I want that "Classic Masters" CD but I can't find it in any of the stores in my area. I only have two of their albums. The one with "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and the one with "Sukiyaki". I do remember them having some other funky tunes though. Andy is a four letter word. | |
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vainandy said: I want that "Classic Masters" CD but I can't find it in any of the stores in my area. I only have two of their albums. The one with "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and the one with "Sukiyaki". I do remember them having some other funky tunes though.
The first album and the third album are available as a 2-CD set.That's the one that you have I wish the second album was on CD! | |
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SoulAlive said: vainandy said: I want that "Classic Masters" CD but I can't find it in any of the stores in my area. I only have two of their albums. The one with "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and the one with "Sukiyaki". I do remember them having some other funky tunes though.
The first album and the third album are available as a 2-CD set.That's the one that you have I wish the second album was on CD!Well, damn. Those are the two I already have on vinyl. Those two must have been the most popular albums I guess. Andy is a four letter word. | |
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vainandy said: Well, damn. Those are the two I already have on vinyl. Those two must have been the most popular albums I guess.
Yes,those are their two most popular albums.The first album contains their signature hit "Boogie Oogie Oogie" while the third album contains "Sukiyaki".You really need to hear their second album.It's superb. | |
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