One of the best things about growing up in the nineties was experiencing the joy of a Bad Boy remix. The label’s female R&B trio Total was enjoying the success of their song “Kissing You” when Puff dropped the remix in the late fall of 1995. The remix h carried the subtitle Oh Honey and was smoother than the original version.
While my DJ days were about nine years away, I was always an album credit reader and discovered the artist Diddy and co-producer sampled for the remix. Delegation was a United Kingdom-based soul group compromised of original members Len Coley, Roddy Harris, and Rick Bailey on lead vocals. Eventually, Ray Patterson and Bruce Dunbar would replace Coley & Harris.
The group’s debut, The Promise of Love, would be released in 1977, and Oh Honey was one of the featured songs. The smooth ballad gave the group their first US hit in 1979. Christian Gold and Michael Denne penned, with Gold also producing. “Oh Honey” is a love song that celebrates the unconditional devotion and support you receive from your partner. The song’s lyrics express the sentiment that no matter what, you will always be there for your partner through joy and sorrow.
When you find the one, you realize that love is a force that never waves. The lyrics depict a partner that is the speaker’s source of inspiration, strength, and comfort in times of trouble. In the song, Bailey is so appreciative of their partner that they thank them for “giving [them] a brand new start,” showing the level of devotion in the relationship. The song overall is a positive and uplifting message about the power of love and connection.
Final Grade: A –
“Oh Honey” by Delegation is available on most streaming platforms
This past Friday marked the 40th anniversary of “The Voice,” a.k.a. Whiney Houston’s self-titled debut album hitting stores. So, in that regard, it was only right to give Nippy her flowers for this week’s Second Listen Sunday.
For this weekend’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to take a trip to Motor City and show some love to soul singer Dwele. It was 2005, and I was living in the UK as part of my Air Force enlistment. Dwele had just released his second album, “Some Kinda,” enjoying some chart success with the lead single “I Think I Love U,” by Mike City.
The remainder of the album maintains a classic R&B vibe, showcasing the group’s signature sound. One of the standout tracks is “Maybe Tomorrow,” featuring the iconic Phyllis Hyman. It transforms difficult circumstances into positive outcomes—essentially making lemonade from lemons.