The honeydripper
The Honeydripper is a rhythm & blues song from 1945. The original version by Joe Liggins was the first million-seller in this music genre .
History of origin
Joe Liggins worked with Sammy Franklin & His California Rhythm Rascals and was inspired during the performances by the Traditional Shortnin 'Bread , from which he developed the idea for The Honeydripper in 1942 . "Honeydripper" is the slang expression for a smart, licorice-rasping ( Afro-American ) man. After his band leader Sammy Franklin refused to take over this title, Liggins founded his own band under the name The Honeydrippers and was given the opportunity to record the song in November 1944 at the small and short-lived record label Bronze Records . However, the label lacked the distribution channels to be able to distribute it nationwide, so the charts took no notice of it.
But Liggins played the song tirelessly during his appearances. One of these gigs was attended by composer and producer Leon René, who signed Liggins in March 1945 to the newly founded label Exclusive Records . With the line-up Joe Liggins (vocals, piano), Little Willie Jackson (alto saxophone and clarinet), James Jackson Jr. (tenor saxophone), Red Callender (bass) and Earl Carter (drums), The Honeydripper became in two parts on April 20, 1945 and appeared in April 1945 as A and B side under the title The Honeydripper Parts I & II (Exclusive # 207).
success
After high sales and intensive airplay , the recording reached the top position on the Rhythm & Blues chart on September 8, 1945 , where it stayed for 18 weeks. Thus, the title next Choo Choo Ch'Boogie of Louis Jordan one of the two songs that have stood up to now the longest at the top position of the R & B charts. It has sold more than two million times. The crossover success was also remarkable with number 13 in the pop charts.
Cover versions
As early as August 9, 1945, Jimmy Lunceford and his orchestra rushed to participate in the success of the song, especially since the small label Exclusive Records was unable to meet the enormous demand. On Decca # 23451, Lunceford reached number 10 on the pop hit parade . Roosevelt Sykes (Bluebird # 0737) followed on October 9, 1945 and reached number 3 in the R&B charts. On November 13, 1945, Cab Calloway recorded a cover that leaves the impression that The Honeydripper was written specifically for the Calloway band. Calloway's version also reached third place on the R&B charts in February 1946 . Bull Moose Jackson brought out with his version from August 1945 the first record of the newly founded label Queen Records (Queen # 4100), but remained in the face of strong competition from other versions without hit parade. In April 1982 the British rock'n'roll band The Jets reached number 58 in the British charts with their version on EMI # 5289.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Lars Björn / Jim Gallert, Before Motown , 2001, p. 170
- ↑ Honeydripper UK Charts , accessed March 18, 2020