Honey Pie: Introduction
To begin with, “Honey Pie” is a Beatles’ song that is on their “White Album” from 1968. However, this track also appears as a demo on their 1996 album, “Anthology 3” as well.
In Detail
- Release Date: November 22, 1968
- Recorded: October 1, 2 & 4, 1968
- Studio: Trident Studios
- Genre: Ragtime, jazz, music hall
- Track Duration: 2:41
- Record Label: Apple Records
- Songwriters: Lennon-McCartney
- Producer: George Martin
- Engineer: Barry Sheffield
Performers And Instruments
- Paul McCartney: vocal, piano, and also the saxophone and clarinet arrangement
- John Lennon: rhythm guitar, as well as the lead guitar
- George Harrison: six-stringed bass
- Ringo Starr: drums
Other Performers
- George Martin: saxophone and clarinet arrangement
- Raymond Newman, David Smith: clarinet
- Harry Klein, Dennis Walton, Ronald Chamberlain, Jim Chester, and Rex Morris: saxophone
Where To Find “Honey Pie”
You can still buy this song on the following albums:
Of course, if you only need the original song, buy the White Album.
Honey Pie: Background
Written and sung by Paul McCartney in a British music hall style, the song is about an actress who makes it big in America. Meanwhile, the singer is pining for his sweetheart to return to England. We never get to know who the actress was because the singer only uses “Honey Pie” to address her.
“Both John and I had a great love for music hall, what the Americans call vaudeville… I very much liked that old crooner style, the strange fruity voice that they used, so Honey Pie was me writing one of them to an imaginary woman across the ocean on the silver screen, who was called Honey Pie. It’s another of my fantasy songs.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
The song takes its rightful place on the brilliant “White Album,” sitting between “Revolution 1” and “Savoy Truffle.”
The notorious murderer Charles Manson thought this song was a direct message to him. However, it wasn’t. But it shows how emotionally disturbed people can snap for no reason.
Recording Studio
The Beatles began recording “Honey Pie” on October 1, 1968, in the Trident Studios in London, during a session that saw only a single take. However, since there are no available records for this day, there may have been rehearsals prior to recording. In the same studios the next day, Paul McCartney recorded his mournful vocals.
On October 4, George Martin arranged a woodwind section for overdubbing the track. Then McCartney added his distinctive line, “Now she’s hit the big time.” Since the song has a 1920s theme to it, they fed McCartney’s voice through a series of filters to give it an authentic feel. To further give it a 1920’s sound, they added crackles from a 78 rpm record.
“We put a sound on my voice to make it sound like a scratchy old record. So it’s not a parody; it’s a nod to the vaudeville tradition that I was raised on.”
Paul McCartney
Many Years From Now, Barry Miles
The version available on their 1996 album, “Anthology 3,” is a demo from George Harrison’s home in Esher, Surrey, England. Obviously, without suitable studio equipment, the introduction is missing. There are also slight differences in the lyrics.
Take A Listen
Finally, how do you feel about this song? Of course, it is Paul McCartney’s “Granny Music” (in the eyes of John Lennon). But we all love it. So, please leave a comment below.
