Honey Cone
Edna Wright, Carolyn Willis, and Shellie Clark comprised the vocal trio Honey Cone, which only stayed together for four years but was still one of the best female soul groups of the early '70s. Although Honey Cone (which lead singer Wright formed in 1969) was based in Los Angeles, their recordings were Northern-style soul — specifically, Detroit soul. Martha & the Vandellas and the Marvelettes — two of the female vocal groups that epitomized Motown Records' sound in the '60s — were among Honey Cone's main influences Read Full BioEdna Wright, Carolyn Willis, and Shellie Clark comprised the vocal trio Honey Cone, which only stayed together for four years but was still one of the best female soul groups of the early '70s. Although Honey Cone (which lead singer Wright formed in 1969) was based in Los Angeles, their recordings were Northern-style soul — specifically, Detroit soul. Martha & the Vandellas and the Marvelettes — two of the female vocal groups that epitomized Motown Records' sound in the '60s — were among Honey Cone's main influences, and the group (which favored a blend of sweetness and grit) worked closely with three producer/songwriters who used to work at Motown: Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. However, Honey Cone's members had been in the music industry before they joined forces with the famous Holland/DozierHolland team. Willis (born 1946, Los Angeles, CA) had been with Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans, who were known for '60s hits like "Why Do Lovers Break Each Other's Heart?" and "Not Too Young to Get Married." Clark (born in 1943, Brooklyn, NY) was an ex-member of the Ikettes, (Ike & Tina Turner's female backup singers), while Wright (born 1944, Los Angeles, CA) had been with the Blossoms. In fact, Wright's older sister is singer/actress Darlene Love, who was a member of Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans as well as the Blossoms (in addition to doing a lot of recording by herself). Wright also recorded as a solo artist in the '60s; her Champion single "A Touch of Venus" (recorded under the pseudonym Sandy Wynns) was a small regional hit in Southern California. And like so many of the soul singers who were active in the '60s and '70s, Wright wasn't without gospel credentials. She had a Christian upbringing and sang gospel with the Church of God in Christ Singers, but ended up making secular R&B her primary focus. Wright, Clark, and Willis had only been together a few months when, in 1969, the group caught the attention of Eddie Holland (who came up with the name Honey Cone). The prolific Holland/DozierHolland team (which wrote countless mega-hits for Motown artists) had recently left Motown and started their own Detroit-based soul label Hot Wax/Invictus, and Honey Cone became the company's first signing. Honey Cone's first release, a 1969 single titled "While You're Out Looking for Sugar," was also Hot Wax's first release. The very Motown-sounding tune was not a major hit; it reached number 26 on Billboard's R&B singles chart and number 62 on the magazine's pop singles chart. But for a small upstart label, that single was a decent start. Honey Cone's next single, "Girls, It Ain't Easy," was equally Motown-sounding and did become a major hit, reaching number eight on Billboard's R&B singles chart. After that, Honey Cone enjoyed their biggest hits of all. Released in late 1970, the infectious "Want Ads" (which Taylor Dayne covered in 1988) got off to a slow start and the song had been out four months before it even charted in either Billboard or Cash Box (Billboard's main competitor at the time). But when "Wants Ads" finally took off, it really took off and soared to number one on Billboard's R&B and pop singles charts. In 1971, Honey Cone had another number one R&B hit with "Stick Up," which was also a number 11 pop hit. And a few more major hits followed in 1972, including the ballad "The Day I Found Myself" and the Latin-influenced "One Monkey Don't Stop No Show" (a number five R&B single and a number 15 pop hit). But as big as Honey Cone was from 1969-1972, it didn't fare nearly as well in 1973; none of the three Honey Cone singles that Hot Wax put out in 1973 ("If I Can't Fly," "The Truth Will Come Out," and "Ace in the Hole") were big hits. Sadly, Hot Wax/Invictus found itself experiencing a serious cash flow problem in 1973, despite having put out big sellers by Honey Cone as well as Freda Payne, 100 Percent Aged in Soul, Laura Lee, and the Chairmen of the Board. The problem wasn't that Hot Wax/Invictus' releases lacked commercial appeal; the problem, allegedly, was that the company was not getting paid by its independent distributors. In 1973, Honey Cone broke up, and Hot Wax/Invictus went out of business the following year. Wright went on to record by herself, providing the solo LP Oops! Here I Go Again for RCA in 1976. All five of the LPs that Honey Cone recorded for Hot Wax — Honey Cone in 1969, Take Me With You in 1970, Sweet Replies and Soul Tapestry in 1971, and Love, Peace & Soul in 1972 — went out of print when the label folded. However, all of Honey Cone's major hits are included on a 14-song Greatest Hits CD that Fantasy assembled in 1990. And the comprehensive Soulful Sugar, which Castle put out in 2001, boasts no less than 45 tracks.
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Honey Cone Lyrics


Wanted, young man single and free
Experience in love preferred
But will accept a young trainee
Oh I'm gonna put it in the want ads
I need a love that's true
Gonna put it in the want ads
My man and I are through

At home I find myself
Lost and all alone
My man is playing the field
The thrill is gone
He stays out all night
Says he's with the boys
But lipstick on his collar
Perfume on it too
Tells me he's been lying
Tell ya what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna put it in the want ads (want ads)
This girl's in misery
Gonna put it in the want ads
Somebody rescue me

I spend my nights alone
Cryin' bitter tears
Although I cry out loud
Nobody really hears
And when I need him most
He's never by my side
He's either playing cards
Or drinking at the bar
He thinks that I'm a fool
I'm going to the evening news
Gonna put it in the want ads (want ads)
I need somebody new
Gonna put it in the want ads
My man and I are through

Extra extra, read all about it
Wanted, young man single and free
Experience in love preferred
But will accept a young trainee

Oh, oh oh

Lipstick on his collar
Perfume on it too
Tells me he's been lying
I'm going to the evening news
Gonna put it in the want ads (want ads)
I need somebody new
Gonna put it in the want ads
My man and I are through
Gonna put it in the want ads
This girl's in misery
Gonna put it in the want ads
Please somebody rescue me
Gonna put it in the want ads (want ads)

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barney Perkins, General N. Johnson, Gregory S. Perry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Comments from YouTube:

Nette Leverett

This song never gets old!!

Lizzy Laronde

NEVER

Barb G Travels

It was sampled on a real cool song called Because I’m Me by the Avalanches. It has 35 million views. What a hit then and now. 😁

Angela Bell

Wooowww!!!

Lateshia Childs

Yes sure was, I just discovered Avalanches last month I believe I’m hooked on their music. I just brought their new CD

Paul Christman

I bought this single and Carole King's "It's Too Late" one summer evening at one of those "membership" department stores on an after dinner ice cream outing with my family. I spent half of my monthly chore allowance on 'em. 1971. All of ten years old. Life was still a sensory overload amusement park ride full of neat new things and experiences. And the music back then was great !!! Thanks for uploading !

Charlotte Gray

1971 I was 10 years old. I still remember this song and how much we loved it! Nothing like the good ole days! We had “real” music back then! Musicians actually played the instruments! LOL.

Pamka

@Charlotte Gray well, you have 4 years to get there, but close enough. Maybe one day you will be able to accept change and accept that there's nothing such as "real music"

Charlotte Gray

Pamka Us "Elderly" don't have time for this nonsense. That's why we have lived to be elderly. Apparently you did not take a good look at my picture. I don't look anything like an elderly person. Hopefully you'll be blessed to be elderly yourself one day.

Pamka

@Charlotte Gray idk man, what you are saying here sure does seem like it. Oh well, the elderly hate change, how unpredictable

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