JohnTem82387976

14 September 2016

Honeyend - Heartbreaker/ Beautiful Downtown



Label: Spark
Year of Release: 1972

Spark Records became keen players in the Northern Soul market in the seventies, releasing quite a few singles dedicated to capturing that audience, many of them actually somewhat tepid cash-ins. There's no conceivable reason why anyone would want to own Ruth Swann's version of "Tainted Love" while Gloria Jones's existed, for instance, unless they were just desperate to have something that sounded reasonably similar. Wigan's Ovation, on the other hand, are often flagged up as being a great live band - not something I can comment on, but their Northern Soul styled singles lacked a certain rawness, passion or bite.

This is all quite interesting, as Spark actually issued a couple of singles in the early seventies which pre-empted the commercial rise of Northern Soul. Gene Latter's "Sign On The Dotted Line" is probably the most notable, but "Heartbreaker" by Honeyend also had its fans on the circuit. Starting with a jangling tambourine and a Motown-styled string arrangement, it does sound very "Made In The United Kingdom" - there's a studied, careful smoothness to this you just wouldn't find in many US Northern Soul spins at the time. However, it's also a lovely listen, and an original composition rather than a cheap cover version cash-in. 

I have no idea who the performers behind this disc are, but it seems likely they were a session group. Producer and co-composer John Worsley would go on to work on some other Spark singles, but nothing I could bring forward as being an example of a solid hit of the era. 

(Thanks hugely to Albert for sending me cleaned up versions of the below mp3s). 


7 comments:

Anonymous said...


Another very rare obscure single,

Many many thanks, and if I can help you let me know


All the best Albert

albert1946 said...

Hi

This is a very special single, mega rare from one of the most obscure bands of the UK

Your single now is cleaned, if you want a copy let me know

Albert

23 Daves said...

If you do have a cleaner version of the mp3s, I'd be really happy to receive them, Albert... thanks for the offer.

Anonymous said...


David, mail me at albert.1946(at)hotmail.com

Looking forward to your response

Albert

Arthur Nibble said...

Amongst his portfolio, it appears John Worsley co-wrote two flop singles for Cats UK and had a hand in a couple of singles by Les Charles before he changed name to Billy Ocean.

Anonymous said...

Believe it or not, the backing track for this song sure as hevck sounds a slightly set up version of the one used by Kim Rowley on his song 'North American Man' from his 1978 lp Sunset Boulevard. And as Spark did put oiut some Fowley-related diuscs like Venus & The Razorblades, such a notion isn't too far fetched. Love yr site! All best from San Francisco...Michael

Anonymous said...

I meant 'Sped-up'...