Honey Don't
Carl Perkins, 1956, from Dance Album of Carl Perkins. Solo by Carl Perkins.
The B-side to Blue Suede Shoes, with loose, swinging Perkins picking later covered by the Beatles.
Honey Don't is Carl Perkins at his most relaxed, and his guitar playing has a loose, swinging charm. His licks are short and bouncy, mixing country picking with blues phrasing, and he lets the rhythm breathe rather than crowding it with notes. The tone is clean and bright, with just enough echo to give each phrase a little sparkle. This easygoing style influenced many young players who heard it, including the Beatles, who later recorded the song. Listen for how Perkins plays slightly behind the beat, giving the song a lazy swing, and notice the small slides and bends that add character to otherwise simple phrases, the sort of details that make rockabilly feel alive.
Honey Don't by Carl Perkins is featured in our Rockabilly (#20) list. The solo is played by Carl Perkins and the song was released in 1956.
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Who played the guitar solo on Honey Don't?
Carl Perkins played the solo on Carl Perkins's Honey Don't (1956).