Honey Boy - At The Dark End Of The Street

marknheathershanks

Review by Heather Shanks

At The Dark End Of The Street: A Lovers Rock Gem That Still Shines (1978) Honey Boy’s At The Dark End Of The Street isn’t just an album—it’s a vibe. Released in 1978, this reggae masterpiece leans hard into the smooth grooves of lovers rock, blending soulful melodies with heartfelt lyrics. Born out of both Nigeria and the UK, it carries that unique cross-cultural energy you only get when artists are pulling from different worlds but vibing on the same wavelength. Labels like Taretone and Diamond gave it legs, but it’s the music that truly walks tall. Let’s talk about two tracks that’ll stick to your brain like gum on a summer sidewalk: “Dark End Of The Street (Part I – II)” and “Dearest (I Love You).” “Dark End Of The Street” is hauntingly beautiful—not in a creepy way, more like how moonlight feels when it spills through your window late at night. Winston Curtis’ arrangement gives it layers; you can almost picture him hunched over his desk, tweaking every note until it felt just right. It starts with this creeping bassline by Elroy (yeah, Black Slate himself!) and builds into something bigger, almost cinematic. By the time Rudy and the brass crew come in, you’re hooked. This track doesn’t shout for attention—it whispers, then pulls you closer till you’re leaning in so far you might fall off your chair. Then there’s “Dearest (I Love You),” which hits different because it’s straight-up tender. If love had a soundtrack, this would be its opening credits. The rhythm guitar work by Hugh Francis ties everything together, while Eddie Grant’s synth subtly wraps around the melody like a warm blanket. And don’t even get me started on Honey Boy’s vocals—he sounds like he means every word, no fake vibes here. When he sings, “Dearest, I love you,” it’s not corny or overdone. It’s real. Like someone handing you a handwritten letter instead of a text message. What makes this album stand out is how alive it feels. You can hear the humanity in every drumbeat laid down by Jah Bunny, the crackle of Delroy’s organ, and even the slight imperfections that remind you real people made this thing. Angela Thompson’s photography and A. Nero’s sleeve design add another layer of charm—this was clearly a labor of love all around. Reflecting on At The Dark End Of The Street, I can’t help but think about how timeless it is. In 2023, we’ve got playlists full of slick production and autotune, yet this record still holds its own. Maybe it’s because love never goes out of style, or maybe it’s because sometimes simplicity speaks louder than complexity. Either way, listening to it feels like finding an old vinyl in your grandparents’ attic and realizing it’s gold. Oh, and one last thing—why does nobody talk about Pajet’s piano playing? Dude deserves flowers.

Download Honey Boy - At The Dark End Of The Street
Artist: Honey Boy
Album: At The Dark End Of The Street
Rating: 4.0

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: honey-boy-at-the-dark-end-of-the-street.zip
  • MP3 size: 81.4 mb
  • FLAC size: 430.1 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
So Much Love
Who Baby
River Of Tears
Dark End Of The Street (Part I - II)
Our World
Impossible Love (Part I - II)
That´s Life
Dearest (I Love You)
Rock Me (It's So Easy)
Thats Life
Is My Love Too Late

Video

Honey Boy Dark End Of The Street
DARK END OF THE STREET honeyboy

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Catalog Numbers

  • DM-LP 402
  • TTL 134

Labels

  • Diamond
  • Taretone

Listen online

  • online anhören
  • lytte på nettet
  • kuunnella verkossa
  • escuchar en línea
  • online luisteren
  • ascolta in linea
  • écouter en ligne
  • lyssna på nätet
  • ouvir online

Formats

  • Vinyl
  • LP
  • Album

Companies

RoleCompany
Manufactured ByP.N. Onyekwelu Trading Company, Onitsha
Distributed ByP.N. Onyekwelu Trading Company, Onitsha
Published ByPress Music
Engineered AtIyanda Records Industry Studio, Lagos
Pressed ByIyanda Record Industry
Printed ByRema Reproductions Ltd.

Credits

RoleCredit
BassElroy (Black Slate)
BrassBuggis, Rudy, Sash
DrumsJah Bunny (Matumbi)
Executive-ProducerWinston Curtis
Liner NotesW. Curtis
OrganDelroy
Photography ByAngela Thompson
PianoPajet
Rhythm GuitarHugh Francis
SleeveA. Nero
DesignA. Nero
SynthesizerEddie Grant (Equals)
Arranged ByBill Campbell (tracks: A5, B4), Honey Boy (tracks: A2), R. Williams (tracks: A2), Winston Curtis (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B1 to B3, B5)
ProducerBill Campbell (tracks: A5, B4), Honey Boy (tracks: A2), R. Williams (tracks: A2), Winston Curtis (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B1 to B3, B5)

Notes

  • Manufactured, Distributed, Engineered and Manufactured (IRI Pressing) in Nigeria
  • honey boy taretone label rare nigerian press

Barcodes

  • Matrix / Runout (Side A): DMLP-402 B IRI R
  • Matrix / Runout (Side B): DMLP-402 A IRI R
  • Rights Society: BMI

About Honey Boy

Born January, 5 1955. Jamaican reggae singer not to be confused with . Keith moved to the UK in the late 1960ies. Mostly famous of his lovers rock recordings. Singer, composer, televison actor, playwright. He began his recording career in 1972 with participation on production > . He worked as a salesman for before recording "Homeward Bound" ( ). He launched the Labels , in 1975 with , in 1975 Akin, in 1975 , in 1976 with and , in 1978

Real Name

    • Keith Williams

Name Vars

  • H. Boy
  • H. Williams
  • Honey
  • Honey Boy (Williams)
  • Honey Boy Williams
  • Honeyboy
  • Honeyboy Williams
  • K. Williams
  • Williams aka Honey Boy

Aliases

  • Keith Williams
  • New Boy
  • Lajaune Williams
  • Happy Junior
  • Boy Wonder

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The 1978 reggae album *At The Dark End Of The Street* by Honey Boy is a hidden gem that blends the smooth vibes of lovers rock with raw talent. It was released in both Nigeria and the UK, bringing together musicians from different backgrounds. Eddie Grant, who later became famous for his hit "Electric Avenue," played synthesizer on this album! And get this—most of the tracks were arranged and produced by Winston Curtis, who also wrote heartfelt liner notes for the record. With its mix of soulful tracks like "Dearest (I Love You)" and groovy rhythms courtesy of drummer Jah Bunny (of Matumbi fame), it’s no wonder this album has become a cult classic among reggae fans.

Comments

thinkbadasscom
thinkbadasscom
2025-03-15
Way back In 1980
lisaseptidiana
lisaseptidiana
2025-03-14
One of my favourite tunes!
princessreign1983
princessreign1983
2025-03-13
Does it mean honey boy has no children?. No 1 to carry his legacy?. As a kid in Nigeria I grew up listening to songs on our stereo played by my dad.
alex44jzy120218
alex44jzy120218
2025-03-13
Great chune. Takes me back to rainy Eastern Nigerian nights of the late 70s/ early 80s