It Came From the British Invasion: “Have I the Right?” The Honeycombs’ Lone Shot at Pop Glory

Not all British Invasion acts had the staying power to sustain careers at the top for very long. Some, like The Honeycombs, came out of nowhere with a memorable single and just as quickly saw their popularity diminish, even when they kept doing intriguing work.

Videos by American Songwriter

The Honeycombs’ shot at glory was “Have I the Right?” their 1964 debut single that became a worldwide smash. A confluence of events and people allowed them this opportunity, and they certainly made the most of it.

A Quick Rise

The Honeycombs began their career smack in 1963, smack-dab in the middle of the rise of beat groups in Great Britain (spurred on, of course, by The Beatles). But it’s important to remember this trend didn’t just encompass bands. Other folks out of the spotlight were also jockeying to create that next big hit single, and that was certainly the case with “Have I the Right?”

Songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley were looking for an outlet for their material when they saw The Honeycombs, then known as The Sheratons, playing in a club. They liked that the group was a bit different from your usual combo, specifically because of the striking lead vocals of Denis D’Ell, and because they featured a female drummer (Honey Lantree).

Howard and Blaikley wrote the jaunty “Have I the Right?” for the band to perform. And the timing was great, because the band was looking for material to play for the producer Joe Meek, who was the next key figure in turning this song into a hit.

The “Right” Stuff

Meek had carved out a little niche in the British pop world, despite his studio being in his apartment. He had already been at the helm for two UK chart-toppers when The Honeycombs entered the premises. He liked “Have I the Right?” so much he decided to record it on the spot.

In doing so, he put his stamp, literally and figuratively, on the proceedings. The song’s thumping percussion was achieved by having members of the group stomping their feet in time with Lantree’s walloping beat. Meek also made the decision to speed up the recording slightly, which gave D’Ell’s vocal a manic, yelping quality.

Once Meek found a label (Pye Records) to release the song, there was one more adjustment to be made. The band’s name was changed to The Honeycombs as a nod to Honey Lantree. Everything came together, and the song hit the top of the British charts while also scooting into the Top 5 in the U.S.

What is “Have I the Right?” About?

“Have I the Right?” is a little bit unusual in that the title comes from the verses instead of the refrain. The narrator embarks upon one of the most polite come-ons you’ll ever hear, asking permission for each step he takes with the object of his desire: For example: Have I the right to hold you? / ou know I’ve always told you / That we must never ever part.

He continues in this vein, with his words given a twitchy intensity by D’Ell’s delivery. His patience is admirable: You know I’ll wait until you / Give me the right to make you mine. Only in the chorus does his passion overwhelm his gentility: Well, come right back, I just can’t bear it / I’ve got some love, and I long to share it.

Unfortunately, The Honeycombs didn’t secure more material in subsequent years as memorable as their debut single, which accounts for there being no other hit near that magnitude for the group. Nonetheless, “Have I the Right?” for all its good manners still stands out as one of the more decisive hits of that era.

Photo by GAB Archive/Redferns