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Honey, I love you, by Bobby Goldsboro; A Recording Both Ridiculed & Cherished.
March 11, 2015 | Lee Martell

Posted on 03/11/2015 12:45:07 PM PDT by lee martell

If you are old enough to have been listening to the radio during the late 1960's, you would have heard Bobby Goldsboro's biggest hit, 'Honey'. In fact, you would have heard it over and over again without even trying to. Honey was quite popular for a few months and still seems poignant today because of the many ways to hear it. 'Honey' aka "Honey, I miss you", is a song written by Bobby Russell. He first produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane. Russell later offered it to Bobby Goldsboro who recorded it for his 1968 album.

The song's narrator mourns his dead lover, beginning with him looking at a tree in their garden, remembering how 'it was just a twig' on the day she planted it (with his disapproval). This single about the loss of a loved one hit No.1 the week after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis.

Early in the year of 1968, Bob Shane recorded and released his version of this song, but it did not climb the charts or make any lasting impression. At that point, Bobby Russell gave it to Goldsboro, who was the first one to produce it accompanied by a full orchestra. Bobby Russell wrote other hits of that day, such as O.C. Smith's "Little Green Apples", and Vicki Lawrences's "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia". Bobby Russell and Vicki Lawrence (of Carol Burnnete Show) were married from 1972 to 74. Russell dies if a heart attack in 1992 at the age of 52. This song frequently appears on 'worst song' list due to its' sentimental and melancholy subject matter. This song is also loved by many for the very same reasons because many listeners identify with being 'the spouse left behind'.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Music/Entertainment; Society
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To: lee martell

I have always loved this song. When I was a little kid I thought it was the saddest song in the world.


61 posted on 03/11/2015 4:36:32 PM PDT by jocon307 (Tell it like it is.)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
In his autobiography, Life, Keith Richards gives Bobby Goldsboro credit for showing him the open chord way of playing the guitar. I saw an interview with Bob Shane once about the song, Honey, I love you, and Shane stated he had a good record but the company didn't make many copies and didn't push it. Shane said it was frustrating because he knew it was a heart tugger and a hit and after six months Goldsboro released it and the rest was history.
62 posted on 03/11/2015 4:51:12 PM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: vetvetdoug

It was a horrible song! I’ll bet the women’s purchases were 50 times the men’s! Hope he invested the money from that mucilage! Totally as bad as rap!


63 posted on 03/11/2015 5:02:31 PM PDT by Dr. Bogus Pachysandra (Don't touch that thing Don't let anybody touch that thing!I'm a Doctor and I won't touch that thing!)
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To: lee martell; All
it was/is a great song/narration,
many also-rans couldn't cut it,
..so they critize it..success envy.

64 posted on 03/11/2015 5:30:13 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass ("Any girl can be glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid." Hedy Lamarr)
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To: rhoda_penmark

The Payola scandal (the illegal practice of record companies paying a DJ to have certain records played as ‘regular airplay’) almost ruined Dick Clark’s career before it went into high gear. Clark avoided fellow DJ Alan Freed’s fate by deciding to sell his stake in certain record companies and by cooperating with authorities. One DJ, a Phil Lind disclosed in Congressional hearings that he had taken $22,000.00 to play A record.


65 posted on 03/11/2015 5:49:54 PM PDT by lee martell (The sa)
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To: Maceman

Love for a little while is better than not at all. I am sorry your life together was short. I recently lost the love of my life after 44 years and even that wasn’t long enough.


66 posted on 03/11/2015 6:11:16 PM PDT by jch10 (Obama, the first Muslim in Chief.)
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To: jch10

I am so sorry for your loss.


67 posted on 03/11/2015 6:41:55 PM PDT by Maceman
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To: Maceman
Somebody already beat me to it but "Honey" was less saccharine than "Teen Angel". That one will rot your teeth just by listening to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE-AcC53OYY

68 posted on 03/11/2015 6:51:38 PM PDT by Robwin
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To: stephenjohnbanker

(You’re) Having My Baby - Paul Anka and Odia Coates
))))))RETCH((((((


69 posted on 03/11/2015 6:55:33 PM PDT by Polyxene (Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.)
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To: 11th_VA

See the tree, how big it’s grown
But girl it hasn’t been too long
Since you went away ...
sniff


70 posted on 03/11/2015 7:38:21 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: lee martell
Honey may be maudlin, but that doesn't change the fact that Bobby Goldsboro was one fine singer back in the day.
71 posted on 03/11/2015 7:40:20 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Throne and Altar! [In Jerusalem!!!])
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To: lee martell

Oh my gosh, how I hated that song.


72 posted on 03/11/2015 7:40:23 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Still bitterly clinging to rational thought despite it's unfashionability)
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To: Robwin

And don’t forget Burl Ives singing “Mary Ann Regrets She’s Unable to See You Again”.


73 posted on 03/11/2015 7:40:37 PM PDT by elcid1970 ("I am a radicalized infidel. My bullets are dipped in pig grease.")
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To: Polyxene

“(You’re) Having My Baby”
The Elton John/Mormon Tabernacle Choir version rocks!


74 posted on 03/11/2015 7:50:58 PM PDT by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: all armed conservatives.)
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To: lee martell; All
Two (in my opinion) fine Bobby Goldsboro songs:

I'm a Drifter

Look Around You (Check out the wickedly topical social commentary!)

He also recorded a more mature song entitled Summer (The First Time).

75 posted on 03/11/2015 8:00:20 PM PDT by Zionist Conspirator (Throne and Altar! [In Jerusalem!!!])
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To: Zionist Conspirator

Bobby G. has certainly done some fine artistic work. Speaking of having a large body of fine works, one of these days, I will bring up the ongoing phenomenon of Neil Diamond. I don’t share the mania, but millions of people do to this day. Neil continues to tour, and has a known net worth of over $175 Million Dollars.


76 posted on 03/11/2015 8:06:51 PM PDT by lee martell (The sa)
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To: DJ Frisat
"In either case, both versions featured the stellar flamenco guitar work of legendary session guitarist and character, Tommy Tedesco."

His son's film tribute, "The Wrecking Crew" is going to start going in to theatres soon! It's been out on DVD, but is just about ready for release. Heard it is spectacular! Check Wiki or IMDB for more info!

77 posted on 03/12/2015 1:22:08 AM PDT by Grateful2God (Because no word shall be impossible with God. And Mary said: Behold the handmaid of the Lord...)
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To: Grateful2God; All

From the original daytime David Letterman show Rich Hall played a private eye searching for a fictional missing woman. He says “we think she was kidnapped by a baseball team” and plays a bit of the song:

One day when you were here and I was gone
The Angels came...


78 posted on 03/12/2015 2:44:08 AM PDT by raccoonradio
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To: Polyxene

That song, as pukey as it sounded, was a rare pro-life message on contemporary hit music radio, and was very close in time to Roe v. Wade.

I was in Florida last week and heard a commercial on the radio for Paul Anka’s upcoming concert down there. I see he’s almost 74 years old. Good on him.


79 posted on 03/12/2015 4:23:13 AM PDT by nd76
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To: Grateful2God

Thanks for the comments. I’ve seen the film at a fundraising screening, and it’s very good. I also donated to the Kickstarter campaign so that Denny - (Tedesco, Tommy’s son) could raise the funds to pay the royalties on some of the songs so that he could finish and release it.

Can’t wait to get copy of the DVD, which is a reward for the contribution.

I think you’ll enjoy it — if you loved 60s popular music, it’s a can’t miss!


80 posted on 03/12/2015 4:37:33 AM PDT by DJ Frisat (Proudly providing the NSA with provocative textual content since 1995!)
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