The Rubettes
The Rubettes were a Pop band from England assembled in 1973 by the songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴The Rubettes were a Pop band from England assembled in 1973 by the songwriting team of Wayne Bickerton, the then head of A&R at Polydor Records, and his co-writer, Tony Waddington after their doo-wop and 1950s American pop-influenced songs had been rejected by a number of existing acts. The band emerged at the tail end of the glam rock movement, wearing trademark white suits and cloth caps on stage.
The line-up of the band was Alan Williams (born 22 December 1948); Tony Thorpe (born 20 July 1947); Bill Hurd (born 11 August 1948); Mick Clarke (born 10 August 1946), and John Richardson (born 3 May 1948). The Rubettes’ first (and biggest hit) was “Sugar Baby Love” (released in 1974) which was a UK no. 1 and going on to sell around eight million copies worldwide. The distinctive falsetto lead vocal to “Sugar Baby Love” was however performed by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer) who left the group after a few weeks to be replaced by Williams.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-seventies such as “Juke Box Jive” and “I Can Do It”, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington song-writing team. Their final hit was the ‘country rock’ styled ballad - “Baby I Know” - which reached no. 10 in the UK in 1977.
The Rubettes’ first and biggest hit was "Sugar Baby Love" (1974) which was a UK number one, going on to sell around 500,000 copies in the UK and a reported global sale of three million copies. Two million copies being sold in France alone, an achievement matched by no other British group.[citation needed] With more three songs, "Sugar Baby Love" was recorded for Polydor in October 1973 at Landsdown Studios in Holland Park, London by some session musicians featuring the distinctive falsetto lead vocal by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer), but then he didn't seize the opportunity to actually become a member of the band put together by John Richardson and went for solo work. To be The Rubettes' debut single, "Sugar Baby Love" was their only UK #1 and sole U.S. Top 40 entry. In November 1974 NME music magazine reported that The Rubettes, The Glitter Band and Mud were among the UK bands who had roles in a new film titled Never Too Young To Rock.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits across Europe during the mid 1970s such as "Tonight", "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It" sung by Alan Williams, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington songwriting team. The Rubettes success encouraged Bickerton and Waddington to set up State Records, so that ten months after the release of "Sugar Baby Love", the fourth Rubettes single "I Can Do It" was on State (catalogue reference STAT 1).
None charted in the States, though, and the band evolved glammy nostalgia into more serious territory. "Under One Roof" (1976) a sensitive portrayal of a gay man disowned and later murdered by his father; along with Rod Stewart's "The Killing of Georgie", was one of very few songs tackling the difficult topic of homophobia. Their most successful self composed hit was the country rock styled ballad "Baby I Know", which reached number 10 in the UK and Germany in 1977. They played as a quintet since early 1975 and always as a quartet since mid 1976 (Bill Hurd became an out-off-staff member). After Thorpe's departure in 1979, The Rubettes fell silent in the face of dwindling success and soon had disbanded.
But the band continued releasing records into the 1980s, then re-grouped in 1983 in order to exploit the German market for 1970s nostalgia.
In 1994, the group's profile was raised by the inclusion of "Sugar Baby Love" in the hit movie, Muriel's Wedding. This song was also featured in the 2005 Neil Jordan film, Breakfast on Pluto soundtrack.
In 2002, the group hit the headlines once more when, following an acrimonius split and legal action, the Rubettes became the latest in a long line of bands (including Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Spandau Ballet) who ended up in the courts in a dispute over ownership of the band's name. The court ruled that both Williams and Hurd could tour as the Rubettes, as long as it was clear which member was fronting the band. Originals John Richardson and Mick Clarke, along with ex-Kinks keyboardist Mark Haley, feature with Alan Williams in his band; while Hurd is the only member of his group connected with the original line up.
All was well until 2005 when Williams and Hurd were back in court following an appearance by Hurd's band on the German television station ZDF, with Williams claiming Hurd had breached the terms of the original agreement. On 2 February 2006, a High Court judge found that Hurd and Williams had both been guilty of breaching the 2002 agreement. Costs of the trial were however awarded to Williams in view of the severity of Hurd's breaches. Hurd appealed against this decision, but on 3 November 2006 the Appeal Court in London ruled against him, awarding the costs of the appeal to Williams. Hurd has since gone bankrupt.
On 28 March 2008 "Sugar Baby Love" was declared to be the most successful oldie of all time by the German television station RTL.
In May and June 2008, The Rubettes were part of the 'Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz' tour of the UK alongside Sweet and Showaddywaddy.
On June 19 2009, Bill Hurd's Rubettes played at the East Kilbride ArtBurst Festival.
The line-up of the band was Alan Williams (born 22 December 1948); Tony Thorpe (born 20 July 1947); Bill Hurd (born 11 August 1948); Mick Clarke (born 10 August 1946), and John Richardson (born 3 May 1948). The Rubettes’ first (and biggest hit) was “Sugar Baby Love” (released in 1974) which was a UK no. 1 and going on to sell around eight million copies worldwide. The distinctive falsetto lead vocal to “Sugar Baby Love” was however performed by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer) who left the group after a few weeks to be replaced by Williams.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-seventies such as “Juke Box Jive” and “I Can Do It”, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington song-writing team. Their final hit was the ‘country rock’ styled ballad - “Baby I Know” - which reached no. 10 in the UK in 1977.
The Rubettes’ first and biggest hit was "Sugar Baby Love" (1974) which was a UK number one, going on to sell around 500,000 copies in the UK and a reported global sale of three million copies. Two million copies being sold in France alone, an achievement matched by no other British group.[citation needed] With more three songs, "Sugar Baby Love" was recorded for Polydor in October 1973 at Landsdown Studios in Holland Park, London by some session musicians featuring the distinctive falsetto lead vocal by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer), but then he didn't seize the opportunity to actually become a member of the band put together by John Richardson and went for solo work. To be The Rubettes' debut single, "Sugar Baby Love" was their only UK #1 and sole U.S. Top 40 entry. In November 1974 NME music magazine reported that The Rubettes, The Glitter Band and Mud were among the UK bands who had roles in a new film titled Never Too Young To Rock.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits across Europe during the mid 1970s such as "Tonight", "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It" sung by Alan Williams, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington songwriting team. The Rubettes success encouraged Bickerton and Waddington to set up State Records, so that ten months after the release of "Sugar Baby Love", the fourth Rubettes single "I Can Do It" was on State (catalogue reference STAT 1).
None charted in the States, though, and the band evolved glammy nostalgia into more serious territory. "Under One Roof" (1976) a sensitive portrayal of a gay man disowned and later murdered by his father; along with Rod Stewart's "The Killing of Georgie", was one of very few songs tackling the difficult topic of homophobia. Their most successful self composed hit was the country rock styled ballad "Baby I Know", which reached number 10 in the UK and Germany in 1977. They played as a quintet since early 1975 and always as a quartet since mid 1976 (Bill Hurd became an out-off-staff member). After Thorpe's departure in 1979, The Rubettes fell silent in the face of dwindling success and soon had disbanded.
But the band continued releasing records into the 1980s, then re-grouped in 1983 in order to exploit the German market for 1970s nostalgia.
In 1994, the group's profile was raised by the inclusion of "Sugar Baby Love" in the hit movie, Muriel's Wedding. This song was also featured in the 2005 Neil Jordan film, Breakfast on Pluto soundtrack.
In 2002, the group hit the headlines once more when, following an acrimonius split and legal action, the Rubettes became the latest in a long line of bands (including Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Spandau Ballet) who ended up in the courts in a dispute over ownership of the band's name. The court ruled that both Williams and Hurd could tour as the Rubettes, as long as it was clear which member was fronting the band. Originals John Richardson and Mick Clarke, along with ex-Kinks keyboardist Mark Haley, feature with Alan Williams in his band; while Hurd is the only member of his group connected with the original line up.
All was well until 2005 when Williams and Hurd were back in court following an appearance by Hurd's band on the German television station ZDF, with Williams claiming Hurd had breached the terms of the original agreement. On 2 February 2006, a High Court judge found that Hurd and Williams had both been guilty of breaching the 2002 agreement. Costs of the trial were however awarded to Williams in view of the severity of Hurd's breaches. Hurd appealed against this decision, but on 3 November 2006 the Appeal Court in London ruled against him, awarding the costs of the appeal to Williams. Hurd has since gone bankrupt.
On 28 March 2008 "Sugar Baby Love" was declared to be the most successful oldie of all time by the German television station RTL.
In May and June 2008, The Rubettes were part of the 'Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz' tour of the UK alongside Sweet and Showaddywaddy.
On June 19 2009, Bill Hurd's Rubettes played at the East Kilbride ArtBurst Festival.
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The Rubettes Lyrics
01 Sugar Baby Love Sugar baby love, sugar baby love I didn't mean to make…
Allez Oop Oh allez oop you know I love ya Allez oop, oop…
Baby I Know You called me to tell me goodbye I told you that…
Baby I Know You You called me to tell me goodbye I told you that…
Be My Girl Be my girl, put me in a whirl You're the one…
Beggar Man Come the daybreak just another day In the life of the…
Believe In You Don't be afraid, reach for my hand Take my love, then…
Cheri Amour Cherie amour our love′s pour les jours AII through the day…
Cherie Amour Cherie amour our love's pour les jours All through the day…
Come On Over I thought I knew about the other side of life And…
Dance To The Rock'n'Roll Doesn't matter if you got no friends at all Doesn't matter…
Dancing In The Rain I don't remember going out last night Someone said I made…
Don't Do It Baby Don't do it baby Don't let the teardrops start Don't do it…
Feel Like Some Lovin' (Feel like some love), some good lovin' (Feel like some lov…
Foe Dee O Dee Foe-dee-oh-dee dum dum Come on Babe We're gonna have some f…
Foe Dee Oh Dee Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb Come on Babe We're gonna have some …
for ever You are my kind of girl And I would like to…
Goodbye Dolly Grey In the 1914-18 war We were never sure What we were fightin…
He's In Town You, dont have to tell me, He's In Town, he's…
Highwayman's Lament Out along the road That's life for me A highwayman I'll be…
Hoo La La Ooh la la ooh la la la Ooh la la ooh…
I Can Do It Yeah I can do it Yeah I can do it Yeah. I can really…
I Really Got To Know Don't remind me it's behind me It's all over don't let…
I Think I'm In Love I remember when I saw you at the high school…
I'll Always Love You There's a trace of sadness in your voice And your eyes…
I'm Just Dreaming Down down dummy doo down Down down dummy doo down Down dow…
It's Just Make Believe It's just make believe, Only make believe All that's left f…
Joe-Dee-O-Dee Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb Come on Babe We're gonna have some …
Judy Run Run Judy run run Judy run run Judy run run Judy run…
Juke Box Jive Do do, do the juke box Do do, do the juke…
Jukebox Jive Do do, do the juke box Do do, do the juke…
Julia Eyes so bright, so big and wide Make you feel so…
Kid Runaway Boats on the water and fish in the sea And your…
Ladies of Laredo Luke was cool and dendy, and though he didn't oughta Luke…
Little 69 I got a brand new set of wheels And I got…
Little Darling Don't you know I love you Little darling? Want the world to…
Lola Lullaby of Birdland, that's what I Always hear when you…
Lòla Lullaby of Birdland, that′s what I Always hear when you sigh…
Movin' I've got no way of knowing where I'm going I've gotta…
New Way of Loving You Everyday I find myself looking at you I can't believe, that…
New York Tower Fly me away, on a day like today Spirits are high…
Not Now My Dear Look at you my lover running down the lane I can…
Ooh La La Ooh la la ooh la la la Ooh la la ooh…
Rock Is Dead Arne told Pat she told Nat They all got together at The…
Rumours Gloria moody, a girl of 16 Undressed for her doctor by…
Sign Of The Times I got no reason to lie to you I've done everything…
Something's Coming Over Me Listen to me something is wrong Up to my eyes in…
Sometime in Oldchurch Dear sweet sister release me Save this old man agony I've …
Stay With Me Stay with me, oh stay with me It’s so lonely without…
Suga Baby Love Sugar baby love, sugar baby love I didn't mean to make…
SUGAR BABY LOVE Sugar baby love, sugar baby love I didn't make to make…
Sugar Baby Love Sugar baby love, sugar baby love I didn't mean to make…
Sugar Baby Love 2 Sugar baby love, sugar baby love I didn't make to make…
The Sha Na Na Song Sha na na sha na na na na na I don't…
The Sha-Na-Na-Na Song Sha-Na Na, Sha-Na Na Na, Na Na Sha-Na Na, Sha-Na Na…
The Way of Love Another day, another night Another wrong, another right But …
The Way You Live Get a hold of yourself girl You're living a lie If you…
Tonight Oooh la la ooh la la la Ooh la la ooh…
Under One Roof Billy ran away from his home to find away to…
Way Back in the Fifties Way back In The Fifties man, well... Out to my teens Watchin…
When You're Sixteen When you′re sixteen and you're in love You just don′t know…
Wo Goddam Blues I've been working these fields too darn long All my boys…
You 're The Reason Why The things you say don't always hurt me But things you…
You're The Only Girl On My Island Oh you′re the only girl on my island You're the only…
You're The Reason Why The things you say don't always hurt me But things you…
Your Love I want to love someone like you, Like you Oh I…