Honey Cone
Encyclopedia
Honey Cone was an American
R&B
and soul
all girl vocal
group, who are best remembered for their Billboard
#1
hit single
, "Want Ads
". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records
, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.
, they were the newly created Hot Wax Records' first signing to that fledgling label
. The trio had previous musical experience with Willis previously a member of The Girlfriends
; Clark an ex-member of the Ikettes; while Wright was a member of gospel group The COGIC'S. They had been singing together for a short while when they were spotted by Eddie Holland
in 1966 who re-named them Honey Cone.
Honey Cone and Hot Wax's debut single, "While You're Out Looking for Sugar," peaked at #26 on Billboard
s R&B
chart, but the follow-up, "Girls, It Ain't Easy," reached #8 on the same listing. It was their third release "Want Ads
", that proved to be their biggest success topping both the R&B and pop
chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
by the R.I.A.A. in May 1971.
The same year Honey Cone had another #1 R&B hit and #11 pop hit with "Stick-Up
," which also sold in excess of one million units. Further chart success continued in 1972 with "The Day I Found Myself," and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show". However all three of Honey Cone's releases in 1973 were not hits. The Hot Wax and Invictus
labels then ran into financial problems, despite other hit records they had with Freda Payne
, 100 Proof Aged in Soul, Laura Lee
, and the Chairmen of the Board
.
Honey Cone split before 1973 ended and the labels folded soon after under increasing debt. Wright went solo, releasing Oops! Here I Go Again
(1976) on RCA
, and Willis appeared as a backing vocalist
on Seals and Crofts
hit "Get Closer."
In more recent years, Wright has performed across the US
with Latari Martin and Melodye Perry, billed as 'Edna Wright and The Honey Cone.'
In 1985, Shelly Clark married Earth, Wind & Fire
bassist
Verdine White
. The couple recently celebrated their 26th anniversary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
all girl vocal
Human voice
The human voice consists of sound made by a human being using the vocal folds for talking, singing, laughing, crying, screaming, etc. Its frequency ranges from about 60 to 7000 Hz. The human voice is specifically that part of human sound production in which the vocal folds are the primary...
group, who are best remembered for their Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
#1
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
hit single
Hit single
A hit single is a recorded song or instrumental released as a single that has become very popular. Although it is sometimes used to describe any widely-played or big-selling song, the term "hit" is usually reserved for a single that has appeared in an official music chart through repeated radio...
, "Want Ads
Want Ads
"Want Ads" was a R&B/Soul/Funk song recorded by Honey Cone for their third album Sweet Replies and also appears on their fourth album Soulful Tapestry...
". They were the premier female group for Hot Wax Records
Hot Wax Records
Hot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1968 when they left Motown...
, operated by Holland–Dozier–Holland after they had departed from Motown Records.
Career
Honey Cone comprised Carolyn Willis, Shelly Clark and Edna Wright. Formed in 1966 and based in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, they were the newly created Hot Wax Records' first signing to that fledgling label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
. The trio had previous musical experience with Willis previously a member of The Girlfriends
The Girlfriends
The Girlfriends were an American girl group who scored one hit in the United States in 1964, "My One and Only Jimmy Boy".The group was founded as a result of the splintering of the Los Angeles-based studio group The Blossoms. The four members of the Blossoms - Gloria Jones, Nanette Jackson, Fanita...
; Clark an ex-member of the Ikettes; while Wright was a member of gospel group The COGIC'S. They had been singing together for a short while when they were spotted by Eddie Holland
Edward Holland, Jr.
Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
in 1966 who re-named them Honey Cone.
Honey Cone and Hot Wax's debut single, "While You're Out Looking for Sugar," peaked at #26 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s R&B
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart, but the follow-up, "Girls, It Ain't Easy," reached #8 on the same listing. It was their third release "Want Ads
Want Ads
"Want Ads" was a R&B/Soul/Funk song recorded by Honey Cone for their third album Sweet Replies and also appears on their fourth album Soulful Tapestry...
", that proved to be their biggest success topping both the R&B and pop
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
by the R.I.A.A. in May 1971.
The same year Honey Cone had another #1 R&B hit and #11 pop hit with "Stick-Up
Stick-Up
"Stick-Up" is the 1971 follow up single to The Honey Cone's #1 pop and R&B hit "Want Ads". The song hit #1 on the R&B charts for two weeks and reached #11 on the Hot 100. -Chart positions:-External links:*[ Song overview] on Allmusic...
," which also sold in excess of one million units. Further chart success continued in 1972 with "The Day I Found Myself," and "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show". However all three of Honey Cone's releases in 1973 were not hits. The Hot Wax and Invictus
Invictus Records
Invictus Records was an American record label based in Detroit, Michigan created by Edward Holland, Jr., Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland...
labels then ran into financial problems, despite other hit records they had with Freda Payne
Freda Payne
Freda Charcilia Payne Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944. is an American singer and actress best known for her million selling, 1970 hit single, "Band of Gold". She was also an actress in...
, 100 Proof Aged in Soul, Laura Lee
Laura Lee
Laura Lee is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women’s experience.-Career:...
, and the Chairmen of the Board
Chairmen of the Board
Chairmen of the Board is a Detroit, Michigan based soul music group active mostly in the 1970s, that is still touring today.-Recording career:...
.
Honey Cone split before 1973 ended and the labels folded soon after under increasing debt. Wright went solo, releasing Oops! Here I Go Again
Oops! Here I Go Again
-Samples:De La Soul sampled "Oops! Here I Go Again" on their song "Pass The Plugs" on their second album De La Soul Is Dead in 1991.-Track listing:#Oops! Here I Go Again - 3:57...
(1976) on RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, and Willis appeared as a backing vocalist
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
on Seals and Crofts
Seals and Crofts
Seals and Crofts is a band made up of Jim Seals and Dash Crofts . The soft rock duo was one of the most successful musical acts of the 1970s. They are best known for their hits "Summer Breeze" and "Diamond Girl"...
hit "Get Closer."
In more recent years, Wright has performed across the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with Latari Martin and Melodye Perry, billed as 'Edna Wright and The Honey Cone.'
In 1985, Shelly Clark married Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire is an American soul and R&B band formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969 by Verdine and Maurice White. Also known as EWF, the band has won six Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards. They have been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of...
bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Verdine White
Verdine White
Verdine White is the bassist for Earth, Wind & Fire and the younger brother of fellow band member Maurice White. White is known for his high energy and dancing while playing his bass guitar during Earth, Wind & Fire concerts.-Early life:...
. The couple recently celebrated their 26th anniversary.
Studio albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1970 | Take Me with You Take Me with You Take Me with You is the debut studio album by American R&B/Soul/Funk Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1970 .-Album information:... |
— | — | Hot Wax Hot Wax Records Hot Wax Records was a Detroit, Michigan-based record label, created by producers/songwriters Holland–Dozier–Holland in 1968 when they left Motown... |
| When Will It End | Unreleased | |||
| 1971 | Sweet Replies Sweet Replies Reviews for Sweet Replies have been positive. Robert Christgau rated it a B+, stating that "most of this is pure Vandellas." He also stated that the producer "uses every H-D-H [Holland-Dozier-Holland] trick and comes up with a few electronic effects of his own". In a retrospective review, Andrew... |
137 | 14 | |
| Soulful Tapestry Soulful Tapestry Soulful Tapestry is the third studio album by Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1971 .-Album information:... |
72 | 15 | ||
| 1972 | Love, Peace & Soul Love, Peace & Soul Love, Peace & Soul is the fourth and final studio album by American R&B/Soul/Funk Girl group the Honey Cone. It was released by Hot Wax/Invictus Records in 1972 .-Album information:... |
189 | 41 | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1990 | Greatest Hits | — | — | HDH |
| 1998 | Cone to the Bone: The Best of Honey Cone | — | — | Sequel |
| 2001 | Soulful Sugar: The Complete Hot Wax Recordings | — | — | Castle Music |
| 2002 | The Best of Honey Cone | — | — | EMI-Capitol EMI-Capitol Special Markets EMI-Capitol Special Markets is an EMI subsidiary. It bought 3C Records in the early nineties.It now operates as EMI Music Marketing in North America.... |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
|||||
| 1969 | "While You're Out Looking for Sugar?" | 62 | 26 | |||
| "Girls It Ain't Easy" | 68 | 8 | ||||
| 1970 | "Take Me with You" | 108 | 28 | |||
| "When Will It End" | 117 | — | ||||
| 1971 | "Want Ads Want Ads "Want Ads" was a R&B/Soul/Funk song recorded by Honey Cone for their third album Sweet Replies and also appears on their fourth album Soulful Tapestry... " |
1 | 1 | |||
| "Stick-Up Stick-Up "Stick-Up" is the 1971 follow up single to The Honey Cone's #1 pop and R&B hit "Want Ads". The song hit #1 on the R&B charts for two weeks and reached #11 on the Hot 100. -Chart positions:-External links:*[ Song overview] on Allmusic... " |
11 | 1 | ||||
| "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show Part I" | 15 | 5 | ||||
| 1972 | "The Day I Found Myself" | 23 | 8 | |||
| "Sittin' on a Time Bomb (Waitin' for the Hurt to Come)" | 96 | 33 | ||||
| "Innocent Til Proven Guilty" | 101 | 37 | ||||
| "Ace in the Hole" | — | — | ||||
| 1973 | "If I Can't Fly" | — | — | |||
| 1976 | "Somebody Is Always Messing Up a Good Thing" (feat. Sharon Cash) | — | — | |||
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||
See also
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)