A Taste Of Honey (1978)

EU import with 3 bonus tracks

MIZELL BROTHERS MONTH (APRIL 2026)

If you listened to Top 40 radio in 1978, you're familiar with the hit song Boogie Oogie Oogie. At age 12, I loved the song but didn't think much of the band behind the hit and boy-oh-boy was that ever a mistake. This duo was the whole package: they could write, play, and sing. As a result, all the Mizell brothers needed to do was discover them and get the hell out of the way (more on that timely discovery in these album liner notes). There's only one track written by Fonce Mizell and neither Mizell is listed is a performer. But their disco production fully leans into the mirror ball sounds of the time with lots of rhythm guitar and string arrangements. Sure the hit with the silly title was massive, but active listening to all nine tracks is rewarded with subtlety, groove, and tasty songwriting with hooks aplenty. Do I wish I had bought this album in 1978? Heck yeah.

Despite my indifference back in '78, the album went platinum and won the duo the (cursed? infamous? jinxed?) Best New Artist Grammy award, beating The Cars, Elvis Costello, and Toto. The hit single Boogie Oogie Oogie was nominated in the now-defunct category of Best R&B Vocal Performance By A Duo, Group Or Chorus, eventually losing to All 'N All by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Press of the time:

• Robert Christgau: C+
• Stereo Review: Recording of Special Merit
• CashBox: "Rarely does one find the versatile singing and instrumental skills exhibited by this R&B/disco foursome."
• Billboard: "smooth, harmonic vocal sound"
• Record World: "a female version of the Brothers Johnson"

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #6
• Billboard R&B: #2
• CashBox: #11
• Rolling Stone: #72

Tracks: Two singles charted in Billboard: Boogie Oogie Oogie (#1 pop, #1 R&B, #1 dance) and Disco Dancin' (#69 R&B). Boogie Oogie Oogie is the best cut on the album in terms of chart position, danceability, groove, performance, smoothness, and nostalgia. But there's lots of good stuff throughout, including Distant, the aforementioned Disco Dancin', If We Loved, Sky High, and the most Mizell-sounding cut, World Spin. But there's nothing to skip here. The single written by Fonce Mizell, You're In Good Hands, sounds like a '50s throwback ballad and is a great way to finish the album.

Bonus tracks: the single mix of Boogie Oogie Oogie, the 12" disco mix of Disco Dancin', and the 'New Boogie Mix' of Boogie Oogie Oogie, remixed in 1984 by John Luongo.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.