Search - Bees Make Honey :: Back on Track

An underacknowledged Pub Rock legend revisited.

John O'Regan | Limerick, Ireland. | 10/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have very fond memories of Bees Make Honey. I remember seeing them playing at The Savoy Cinema in Limerick, Ireland in February 1973. They shared a double bill with Brinsley Schwartz and Frankie Millar also made a guest appearance.



It was a night of simple unpretentious rock music. There was a little country, a bit of blues and some Jazz elements but mostly upfront joyeous rock and roll played with a no -nosense attitude.



Bees Make Honey played first and featured many of the songs on this double CD. It is great to hear 'Caledonia', 'Knee Trembler', Deke O'Brien's 'Booterstown' again. They bring back great memories. I also remember that they covered Bob Weir's 'One More Saturday Night'that night too and it is also here on the live CD. Deke O'Brien on guitar and vocals, Barry Richardson on bass/sax and vocals and lead guitarist Mick Molloy were the frontline flanked by the multi-talented and much missed Ruan O'Lochlain who doubled on keyboards and sax and Fran Byrne played the drums played straight up rock and roll and impressed no end.



This anthology consists of a live CD recorded at London's Nashville Rooms in December 1976 and a studio Cd featuring various different line ups of Bees Make Honey. The live set features Barry Richardson and Mick Molloy joined by Rod Demmick on guitar and drummer Paul Atkins. There are some nice sweet country rock type numbers like 'Tequila Sunrise' and some more

feisty rock and rollers like 'Boogie Queen' and 'One More Saturday Night'-its a fun set balancing the laid back with some more energetic tracks.



The studio Cd is fine too gathered from everywhere including their first test recording 'Livin' on the Road'featuring Gerry Hogan from Albert Lee's band on steel.'The Hobo Song' is produced by Nick Low and 'Friends of Dawn' features a line up including legendary guitarist Ed Deane and Kevin McAlea who later played with Kate Bush among others. The familiar Bees Make Honey line up gets some airings too and 'Booterstown', 'Chinee's Dead' and 'Kneetrembler' bring back sweet memories.



This is music from a bygone age, but how good it sounds, how simple, unapologetic and upfront. This is pure unfettered rock and roll played by a band that knew its stuff and left a huge gap on their sad demise.



I dont mind being sentimental on this review because I loved Bees Make Honey. Hearing them again some 30 years later, makes me glad I saw them in The Savoy all those years ago.



This is more than good music, its the only living record on CD of an honest hard working band that played its part in the Pub Rock story. I will let someone else brag on their importance. For me, I will enjoy 'Back On Track' and those memories of 1973, Schooldays and Pub Rock. Who knows maybe EMI will get the lead out and issue Bees Make Honey's first album 'Music Every Night' also from 1973.Now that would be something!



"