Honeybus

Honeybus were a pop combo from London, formed in April 1967. Pete Dello played keyboards and guitar and Ray Cane played bass and keyboards. These two were the main songwriting force in the band, and the lineup was completed by Colin Hare (rhythm guitar) and Peter Kircher (drums). All contributed vocals. They are best-known for the Dello composition I Can't Let Maggie Go which rose to number 8 in the UK charts in early 1968: although a prolific singles act, they were a one-hit wonder. Dello quit and split in late 1969, before the release of Story (1970), which sank without trace since the band were no longer around to promote it.

However, a new lineup led by a returning Dello appeared in 1971 with new songs and an album, yet this effort was sabotaged by a change of management at their new record company, Dell, which meant that Recital was unissued until 2018. The band's sound was compared by Kenny Everett to the Beatles during the Rubber Soul era, and I Can't Let Maggie Go enjoyed new leases of life both as an Italian hit for Equipe 84 and as the backing for a commercial for slimming bread in the 1970s.

Kircher went on to drum for amongst others Peel favourites Status Quo: he retired permanently from the music business following their appearance at Live Aid (1985).

Links to Peel
For a band with obvious commercial leanings, Honeybus recorded a considerable number of sessions for Top Gear (five), with the last one taking advantage of their reformation. (Do I Figure) In Your Life was also played on first release and though it was not a hit became widely covered (e.g. by Joe Cocker). They were among the acts chosen by JP for inclusion in his ABC Of Beauty, although his sole comment on them was that they "make very good records."

Sessions

 * Number of sessions? Any commercial release of sessions?

1. Recorded: 1967-11-15. First broadcast: 19 November 1967. Repeated: DD Month YYY. With strings. 2. Recorded: 1968-02-07. First broadcast: 18 February 1968. Repeated: DD Month YYY 3. Recorded: 1968-08-20. First broadcast: 15 September 1968. With three extra musicians.
 * Maxine's Parlour / (Do I Figure) In Your Life / Good Day Sunshine / Arise Sir Henry / Like An Old Time Movie
 * Ain't That Just Bonnie For You / I Can't Let Maggie Go / Francoise / She Comes To Me
 * Looking Down / Girl Of Independent Means / Scarlet Lady / How Long / Warwick Town

(Please correct mistakes and add any missing info)

Other Shows Played

 * 01 July 1967: 'Delighted To See You (7") (Deram)
 * 29 October 1967: '(Do I Figure) In Your Life (7")' (Deram)
 * 11 October 2000: 'Fresher Than The Sweetness In Water (CD-The Honeybus Story)' (Repertoire)