Honey Bee, "Our Stars" c/w "Wake Up Love," Ikon IER 519 (rel. 1966)
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Your guess is good as mine on this hopeless obscurity from the Inland Empire. Sacramento's Ikon Records is home to some rare and sought-after garage band singles. Tucked away amidst local rockers is this interstellar slice of "huh?!?" by one Honey Bee. I assume Honey is a she/her, but 1966 had no pronoun trouble. This is their lone record and it's a deep dose of outsider country.
Zero information on our performer demands some attention paid to the record label. Ikon was started by Jim Barkley, a classically trained musician who recognized the need for musical self-expression amongst area teens. He opened his doors to anyone who wanted to make a record, and let them do their thing without criticism. The rough-and-tumble youth music he taped was a far cry from the smooth instrumental sound he created; he hoped Ikon's studios would become a destination for California groups and musicians who didn't like the rat race of Hollywood.
With the financial backing of show-biz promoter Don Barbeau (uncle of actress Adrienne), Ikon had high ambitions. They did location recordings of area events and got the official franchise for Eva-Tone flexi-discs, which Barbeau felt was the future of advertising and promotion. Its real business came from the plethora of local rock bands who wanted a single they could sell at their live shows. Most Ikon singles were pressed for those matters, and in small batches. The label never had a national hit; had one happened, Ikon might not have had the capital to support the promotion and distribution.
Barkley was, I'm sure, underwhelmed by the teens who booked sessions, got their two songs on tape and paid for a small-run custom pressing. It kept the business going and, in time, attracted musicians from other styles. Honey Bee was one of this demographic. She had two songs she wanted the world to hear. I suspect this was her stage name; she did not register her songs with the Library of Congress, which would provide her with her real moniker. But not knowing increases the odd appeal of these two songs.
"Our Stars:" imagine a pop-country performer like Bonnie Guitar on a low dose of acid. Still able to function and perform, but something's a touch out of whack. On the cosmic "Our Stars," with its "Bolero" chord progression and lo-fi, stark backing, her singing and songwriting go far out there to engrossing effect. This is a far, far piece from Nashville or Bakersfield polish. Ms. Bee sings with utmost heart and soul to steel guitar and strummed guitars. Whew!
Zero information on our performer demands some attention paid to the record label. Ikon was started by Jim Barkley, a classically trained musician who recognized the need for musical self-expression amongst area teens. He opened his doors to anyone who wanted to make a record, and let them do their thing without criticism. The rough-and-tumble youth music he taped was a far cry from the smooth instrumental sound he created; he hoped Ikon's studios would become a destination for California groups and musicians who didn't like the rat race of Hollywood.
With the financial backing of show-biz promoter Don Barbeau (uncle of actress Adrienne), Ikon had high ambitions. They did location recordings of area events and got the official franchise for Eva-Tone flexi-discs, which Barbeau felt was the future of advertising and promotion. Its real business came from the plethora of local rock bands who wanted a single they could sell at their live shows. Most Ikon singles were pressed for those matters, and in small batches. The label never had a national hit; had one happened, Ikon might not have had the capital to support the promotion and distribution.
Barkley was, I'm sure, underwhelmed by the teens who booked sessions, got their two songs on tape and paid for a small-run custom pressing. It kept the business going and, in time, attracted musicians from other styles. Honey Bee was one of this demographic. She had two songs she wanted the world to hear. I suspect this was her stage name; she did not register her songs with the Library of Congress, which would provide her with her real moniker. But not knowing increases the odd appeal of these two songs.
"Our Stars:" imagine a pop-country performer like Bonnie Guitar on a low dose of acid. Still able to function and perform, but something's a touch out of whack. On the cosmic "Our Stars," with its "Bolero" chord progression and lo-fi, stark backing, her singing and songwriting go far out there to engrossing effect. This is a far, far piece from Nashville or Bakersfield polish. Ms. Bee sings with utmost heart and soul to steel guitar and strummed guitars. Whew!
"Wake Up Love" is a more straightforward county item with the claustrophobic production more apparent. Again, Honey sings with real appeal and power and the simple, murky sound adds to the effect. It's evident that she and whomever backed her up were familiar with California country music sounds and this kinda-sorta-almost fits in with the Bakersfield style of the day.
Another dead-end story: whatever became of Honey Bee is lost to time. This may be the only Ikon single I'll ever lay hands on; one never knows when or how rare records enter the picture. They just do.
Tomorrow: Detroit soul with Barbra Mercer, who delivers a lovely Van McCoy song and a more typical Motor City mover on a 1965 Golden World Records platter.
I think whoever Honey Bee was may have been a Patsy Cline fan? The wandering flute part on "Our Stars." is wild and a little humorous (as in "where will it go next?") The melody of that track reminds me a bit of "I Walk the Line." What is that percussion element on the second track...brushes? Nice.
ReplyDeleteWHEW! These are singular recordings! "Our Stars" sounds like the next song Dean Stockwell as Ben in BLUE VELVET would be singing into his mechanic's shop light after he finishes "In Dreams." I think Honey Bee looks just like the woman in the radiator in "Eraserhead" and she's on stage singing "Wake Up Love" at a dimly lit Elk's lodge on meat loaf night. Her back-up band all look like Robert Blake as the Mystery Man in "Lost Highway." Lynchian indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhile listening to the first track, I kept picturing Nadja (WWDitS) singing it, which added to the WTF'ness Well found and played and written!
ReplyDeleteHa! I would love to hear a Nadja rendition of "Our Stars!" Glad you enjoyed this oddity!
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