Honeybus were a 1960s pop group formed in April 1967, in London. They are best known for their 1968 UK top 10 hit single, "I Can't Let Maggie Go", The group's supporters and critics, amongst them Kenny Everett, compared the band to Rubber Soul-era Beatles.

Honeybus had a major hit with 1968's "I Can't Let Maggie Go",

"I Can't Let Maggie Go" was also a top 10 hit in Italy, with a version made by Equipe 84, entitled "Un angelo blu" ("A blue angel"). It enjoyed an unexpected return in popularity in the 1970s, when it was used in the iconic TV jingle commercial for "Nimble", a bread produced for slimmers.

Dello resigned in August 1968. The band recruited Jim Kelly on guitar and vocals to replace him and Cane began songwriting and performing lead vocals. It has since been re-issued on compact disc.

Kircher left the group in the summer of 1969 and went on tour with Engelbert Humperdinck. He was replaced by drummer Lloyd Courtney for the remainder of the sessions for their debut album.

The Dello line-up of the band reunited in 1971 to record a new body of songs for the Bell Records label and a complete LP, Recital, for the British division of Warner Bros. Records. A change in management at Warner Brothers meant that Recital was never issued.

Posthumous compilation albums

  • 1989 Honeybus At Their Best
  • 1993 Old Masters, Hidden Treasures
  • 1997 At Their Best
  • 1999 The Honeybus Story
  • 2002 She Flies Like a Bird: The Anthology (features previously unreleased songs such as "Big Ship")

Singles

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Label

!Songwriter

!A-side

!B-side

!UK

!Dutch

|-

| rowspan="2" |1967

| rowspan="5" |Deram Records

| rowspan="2" |A-side: Pete Dello

B-side: Ray Cane

|"Delighted to See You"

|"The Breaking Up Scene"

|X

|X

|-

|"(Do I Figure) In Your Life"

|"Throw My Love Away"

|X

|X

|-

| rowspan="2" |1968

|Both by Pete Dello

|"I Can't Let Maggie Go"

|"Tender Are the Ashes"

|8

|5

|-

|A-side: Ray Cane

B-side: Pete Kircher/Ray Cane/Colin Hare

|"Girl of Independent Means"

|"How Long"

|X

|14

|-

| rowspan="2" |1969

|A-side: Ray Cane

B-side: Colin Hare

|"She Sold Blackpool Rock"

|"Would You Believe"

|X

|X

|-

|Decca Records

| rowspan="2" |Both by Ray Cane

|"La Cicogna"

|"Chi Sei Tu"

|X

|X

|-

| rowspan="2" |1972

|Deram Records

|"Story"

|"The Right to Choose"

|X

|X

|-

|Bell Records

|A-side: Pete Dello

B-side: Colin Hare

|"She Is the Female to My Soul"

|"For Where Have You Been"

|X

|X

|-

|1973

|Warner Music Group

|Both by Pete Dello

|"For You Baby"

|"Little Lovely One"

|X

|X

|}

Reissues

{| class="wikitable"

!Year

!Label

!Songwriters

!A-side

!B-side

|-

|1976

| rowspan="2" |Decca Records

| rowspan="2" |All three by Pete Dello

| rowspan="2" |"I Can't Let Maggie Go"

|"Julie in My Heart"

|-

|1982

|"Tender Are the Ashes"

|}

References

Other sources

  • Mojo Collection 3rd. Edition - Story; Honeybus - Best albums of the '70s.
  • A tribute to Honeybus
  • Honeybus Recital