Customer Reviews

Soulful Sugar

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When Holland Dozier Holland left Motown in the late '60s and started their Invictus/Hot Wax labels, they wanted a girl group in their stable to continue the legacy they started with the Supremes. They approached Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) about forming a group and she put together Honey Cone with fellow session singers Shellie Clark and Carolyn Willis.

The Cone's early feminist singles "Girls It Ain't Easy" and "While You're Out Looking For Sugar" were hits in 1970 on the r & b charts only. The following year, however, they exploded on the pop and r & b charts with the Jackson Five knockoff "Want Ads" followed by the similar sounding "Stick Up" (about a man who stole a woman's love and knocked her up!) and the latin-flavored "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (arriba!)."

In 1972, the Honey Cone's chart placements dropped, but not because of a reduction in quality. "The Day I Found Myself" is a touching ballad that shows Edna Wright could caress a slow song as effectively as she belted out all of those up-tempo hits. It's follow-up "Sittin' On A Time Bomb (Waitin' For The Hurt To Come)" was the artistic apex for the group. From Wright's opening wail of "Mercy!", a desperate mood is established that builds to a frantically, feverish climax. I find "Sittin' On A Time Bomb" quite cathartic and feel it should be required listening for all people going through a rough relationship. That it only reached # 99 on the pop charts is a crime!

By 1973, the Cone weren't even denting the charts anymore, although the urgent single "If I Can't Fly" definitely ranks among their best recordings. At this time, Invictus/Hot Wax was collapsing, promotional support wasn't forthcoming, and not surprisingly, Honey Cone disbanded. A big shame, as they were one of the most potent female groups ever.

This two-disc import set collects all of the Honey Cone's recordings for Hot Wax. It clearly reveals that they were far more than a singles group, with strong album tracks galore. In particular, the hypocrite-challenging "Sunday Morning People" and the anguish-filled "I Lost My Rainbow" (by the end of the recording you'll be wanting to help Edna find that rainbow STAT!). If you can't afford this set, then at least get the single disc Greatest Hits. Everybody needs a little HONEY in their lives!

You'd have to be a real fan of early 70s pop soul to stomach much of this 45 track collection, but then again, that's exactly who this collection is aimed at. In truth there's more sugar than soul to be found in this collection, as Honey Cone were unashamedly commercial; as such, a lot of the material sounds formulaic, but the best of it, such as "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" (parts 1 & 2, just like the original 7" but sequenced like an extended mix) and "Stick-Up", is good pop worthy of repeated listenings. Extensive liner notes, interviews and photos make the package thorough and very collectable.

The Honey Cone was among one of the greatest of many underrated soul groups of the late 60s-early 70s. This set shows that they had a lot of talent that most people missed out on. Their hits "Want Ads," "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show," and "Stick Up" that most people who listened to th eradio in 1971 recall, are all here. But these are their complete recordings. We hear the breathtaking gospelish "Who's It Gonna Be," along with "All The King's Men" "How Does it Feel," "Feeling's Gone," as well as brilliant alternative versions of "Ace In The Hole' and "The Day I Found Myself." These girls would have given the Supremes the run for the money if given the right chance and I strongly recommend this for some amazing underrated moments in the history of Soul music. Edna Wright's voice in particular is truly a gift from God.

When Holland Dozier Holland left Motown in the late '60s and started their Invictus/Hot Wax labels, they wanted a girl group in their stable to continue the legacy they started with the Supremes. They approached Edna Wright (sister of Darlene Love) about forming a group and she put together Honey Cone with fellow session singers Shellie Clark and Carolyn Willis.

The Cone's early feminist singles "Girls It Ain't Easy" and "While You're Out Looking For Sugar" were hits in 1970 on the r & b charts only. The following year, however, they exploded on the pop and r & b charts with the Jackson Five knockoff "Want Ads" followed by the similar sounding "Stick Up" (about a man who stole a woman's love and knocked her up!) and the latin-flavored "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show (arriba!)."

In 1972, the Honey Cone's chart placements dropped, but not because of a reduction in quality. "The Day I Found Myself" is a touching ballad that shows Edna Wright could caress a slow song as effectively as she belted out all of those up-tempo hits. It's follow-up "Sittin' On A Time Bomb (Waitin' For The Hurt To Come)" was the artistic apex for the group. From Wright's opening wail of "Mercy!", a desperate mood is established that builds to a frantically, feverish climax. I find "Sittin' On A Time Bomb" quite cathartic and feel it should be required listening for all people going through a rough relationship. That it only reached # 99 on the pop charts is a crime!

By 1973, the Cone weren't even denting the charts anymore, although the urgent single "If I Can't Fly" definitely ranks among their best recordings. At this time, Invictus/Hot Wax was collapsing, promotional support wasn't forthcoming, and not surprisingly, Honey Cone disbanded. A big shame, as they were one of the most potent female groups ever.

This two-disc import set collects all of the Honey Cone's recordings for Hot Wax. It clearly reveals that they were far more than a singles group, with strong album tracks galore. In particular, the hypocrite-challenging "Sunday Morning People" and the anguish-filled "I Lost My Rainbow" (by the end of the recording you'll be wanting to help Edna find that rainbow STAT!). If you can't afford this set, then at least get the single disc Greatest Hits. Everybody needs a little HONEY in their lives!

This album is worth the price just to hear "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part 2" on CD. Yes, that's part TWO, I said.

The top 15 single "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part 1" was the last major hit for Honey Cone. If you liked that one you'll LOVE Part 2, because the producers just have so much fun with exploring the theme instrumentally. It should really be called "Ode to a Bass Line", because they take that catchy little bass line that propels the chorus of the song and just do everything they can think of with it, and the fun they had just pours out of your speakers. If you owned Honey Cone's "Soulful Tapestry" album you'll have heard this ingenious exercise in musical fun. It was also the flip side of the single.

Okay, there *are* other reasons to buy this collection. Two versions of their biggest hit, "Want Ads", grace this collection, one longer version and one the same as the single version. Other reviewers say this sounds like the Jackson Five but I don't hear it. It's just a beautiful song with a melancholy mood blended into an upbeat tune, and is simply extraordinary. The follow-up, however, does sound like J5 - that's called "Stick Up", and it rips its arrangement right out of the grooves of "I Want You Back".

As for the rest of the songs, if you listened to R&B radio in the early Seventies you'll know a lot more of them, because some of the ones that failed on the pop charts were big R&B hits. For me, this album's big discovery was "Sittin' On A Time Bomb", probably their best single ever. I was shocked to hear something this good that never became a hit on any chart.

ALL of the Honey Cone ever recorded is probably TOO much Honey Cone, but the price is right and you can just program your CD player to play the ones you like. The sound is superb. Extensive liner notes are nice, as are the interviews with two of the members, until Carolyn Willis opens her mouth and says that "One Monkey" ruined their career because it was "too clever". I beg to differ. A Top 15 hit doesn't ruin anyone's career, and if it had been TOO clever, it wouldn't have been a hit, would it? What wrecks a career are bad songs and bad attitudes, and Willis quitting when the FOLLOW-UPS to "One Monkey" flopped only proved that one monkey COULD stop a show, as Honey Cone never really recovered from her leaving. But blaming one of the best and most successful songs of their career for the collapse of the group just doesn't make sense.

All that aside, yeah, get this thing. It's a lot of fun. The vocals are pure Soulful Sugar, as the title suggests. Sweet voices with great tunes.

This album is worth the price just to hear "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part 2" on CD. Yes, that's part TWO, I said.

The top 15 single "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part 1" was the last major hit for Honey Cone. If you liked that one you'll LOVE Part 2, because the producers just have so much fun with exploring the theme instrumentally. It should really be called "Ode to a Bass Line", because they take that catchy little bass line that propels the chorus of the song and just do everything they can think of with it, and the fun they had just pours out of your speakers. If you owned Honey Cone's "Soulful Tapestry" album you'll have heard this ingenious exercise in musical fun. It was also the flip side of the single.

Okay, there *are* other reasons to buy this collection. Two versions of their biggest hit, "Want Ads", grace this collection, one longer version and one the same as the single version. Other reviewers say this sounds like the Jackson Five but I don't hear it. It's just a beautiful song with a melancholy mood blended into an upbeat tune, and is simply extraordinary. The follow-up, however, does sound like J5 - that's called "Stick Up", and it rips its arrangement right out of the grooves of "I Want You Back".

As for the rest of the songs, if you listened to R&B radio in the early Seventies you'll know a lot more of them, because some of the ones that failed on the pop charts were big R&B hits. For me, this album's big discovery was "Sittin' On A Time Bomb", probably their best single ever. I was shocked to hear something this good that never became a hit on any chart.

ALL of the Honey Cone ever recorded is probably TOO much Honey Cone, but the price is right and you can just program your CD player to play the ones you like. The sound is superb. Extensive liner notes are nice, as are the interviews with two of the members, until Carolyn Willis opens her mouth and says that "One Monkey" ruined their career because it was "too clever". Let me just set you straight, Carolyn, and I hope you read this. A Top 15 hit doesn't ruin anyone's career, and if it had been TOO clever, it wouldn't have been a hit, would it? What wrecks a career are bad songs and bad attitudes, and your quitting when the FOLLOW-UPS to "One Monkey" flopped only proved that one monkey COULD stop a show, as Honey Cone never really recovered from your leaving. But don't blame one of the best and most successful songs of your career for the collapse of the group.

All that aside, yeah, get this thing. It's a lot of fun. The vocals are pure Soulful Sugar, as the title suggests. Sweet voices with great tunes.

These ladies are no joke and they mean business! The harmonies and lead singer Enda Wright exemplify great music showmanship. This is a must-have for any person who enjoys girl groups. The Stand-Outs on this set to me are: Wants Ads, Stick-Up, One Monkey Don't Stop No Show, The Day I Found Myself, V.I.P. and Ooh Baby, Baby. Check 'em out!

I love Edna Wright's voice.....check out Honey Cone if you love pure 70s soul....this is gorgeous, glorious music that will never again be duplicated...once in a lifetime....keep it real with the sweet drippings that was Honey Cone!

Simply put: this is some of the best soul ever made. With writing by Holland-Dozer-and-Holland, Honey Cone cut a perfect line down the middle.

This is not sweet-soul, nor is it hard funk soul, nor is it mere pop.
"One Monkey," "Stick Up," any of the brilliant and beeming tracks on these landmark sessions cut the perfect mold: melodic, funky, happy, and of course, dripping with honey.

Any artist that could make the early 70s AM radio grade and make music as perfect and uncompromised as this deverves an A+. When the funk was getting harder and the sweet soul, at times, sappy, Honey Cone funk up the honey, honey in the soul that will never stop tasting best.

"Soulful Sugar: The Complete Hot Wax Recordings" by the Honey Cone is the answer to my prayers. I've had three of their four vinyl LPs and numerous 45s, and thank God I can now retire them. "Soulful Sugar" is an extremely entertaining listen, thanks to the powerful voice of Ms. Edna Wright, with the very able backing vocals of Carolyn Willis (Best otherwise known for her star turn singing lead on Seals and Crofts' 1976 hit, "Get Closer") and Shellie Clark, a former Ikette behind Ike & Tina Turner. And the set is a very consistent listen, the quality was high for their output, the only reason the group had a dip in fortunes was because of internal label strife about royalties, and not being paid by their distributors. My personal favorites, besides the hits, are "My Mind's On Leaving But My Heart Won't Let Me Go", "V.I.P.", "Blessed Be Our Love", "Don't Count Your Chickens (Before They Hatch)" - formulaic, yes, but a winner, anyway - "We Belong Together" and their gorgeous take on "Who's Lovin' You". Anyone who is interested in girl groups should have this; as an artifact of early 70s pop-soul, it is indispensable. Buy it used if you can, then prepare to be wowed!!!