Every New Zealand #1 single…
8
Have I The Right? by The Honeycombs
Topped the NZ chart for 3 weeks from 1 October 1964
History remembers The Honeycombs for one song. ‘Have I The Right?’ was a worldwide hit, and female drummer Honey Lantree attracted media interest. The band split in 1967, after producer Joe Meek’s death.
The Honeycombs
The Honeycombs formed in North London in 1963. The founder was Martin Murray, a hairdresser, who recruited his salon assistant, Honey Lantree on drums. Her brother, John Lantree, played bass.
‘‘The group had a male drummer but he was training to be an accountant at night school, which meant he kept missing gigs.
‘My brother John played bass guitar in the group and I sat down at the drums one day and said, ‘Can I have a go?’ I just took to it and everything went from there.’’
Honey Lantree
The Honeycombs enjoyed fortunate connections. Alan Blaikley and Ken Howard attended a pub gig. The aspiring songwriting team offered The Honeycombs the song ‘Have I The Right?’ The group brought the song to an audition with maverick producer Joe Meek.
Have I The Right?
‘Have I The Right?’ is an odd collision of styles. The band and song are straitlaced, almost a 1950s throwback. But Joe Meek’s production pushes it right into the future – the stomping in the chorus and the odd instrumental section presage post-punk.
When I listen to the instrumental break on this record, bright guitar and sharp keyboard slicing tuneless chunks out of each other, it’s not 1964 I’m hearing.
Tom Ewing, Freaky Trigger
My verdict
‘Have I The Right’ is fascinating. Without Meek’s production it might be a stale oldie, but Meek pushes it in a different direction.
The Aftermath
Meek tragically died in a murder-suicide in 1967. His landlady asked him to turn the volume down in his studio – he shot her, then shot himself. It was a tragic end for a talented visionary. Meek suffered from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
The Honeycombs broke up after Meek’s death. They struggled to match the success of ‘Have I The Right?’, although ‘That’s The Way’ made #12 in the UK. Honey Lantree took a bigger role on the latter, sharing lead vocals with Dennis D’Ell.
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I remember “Telstar,” it sounds so dated these days. Maybe someone should do a more modern cover of it. The other two songs aren’t bad, either.
Meek was a pioneer, but the effects are turned up to 11, which makes it sound dated.
Oddly, the name The Honeycombs rang a bell but I couldn’t remember the song. Since it is quite memorable, this makes me think I had not heard it before.
It was pretty big in NZ, so it still got some airplay on oldies stations, made me realize I’d taken it for granted how weird it is in places.
I remember this song well and have always liked it. Such an interesting arrangement, highlighted by what sounds like a zither and Dennis D’Ell’s unusual vocals.
I assumed the weird sounds maybe come from Meek’s production, rather than from the band. I might be wrong though! I heard it lots when I was younger, so i took for granted how weird it was.
Parts of that music sound was definately different for that time. It has a slight Telstar sound which would make sense. I have to wonder what Meek would have done if he could have stayed working.
Meek’s an interesting figure, he has some well regarded solo stuff too.
https://youtu.be/pehihWNMgMY?si=6QMh8AHUF46hdTj0