The group's initial years were characterized by bubblegum songs that they were only allowed to sing on, with heavier self-penned rock songs as the b-sides. They achieved their first hit in 1970 with the release of Funny Funny. In the following months, Sweet released "Co-Co" and Poppa Joe, both achieving huge success in the charts. In 1971 they released the album "Funny How Sweet Co-Co Can Be", which consisted mostly of songs written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman.
Sweet's success continued with more glam rock and power pop oriented tunes, such as "Little Willy", "Wig Wam Bam", Hellraiser and Ballroom Blitz. By this time Sweet had a world-wide following, clocking up no less than 18 top 20 hit singles, and the guys were most notably popular in Germany and the U.K.
The group's members are perhaps best remembered for their very 'glam' outfits, featuring a lot of glitter, platform boots, chain mail shirts, and plenty of makeup. The group practically defining the camp extreme of the glam rock look, Steve Priest would later say it was very short-lived and only happened by accident, as some sort of ongoing rivalry between them and artists such as David Bowie and T. Rex. Everyone tried to outdo each other’s ridiculousness on Top Of The Pops. Sweet’s glam rock era lasted from 1972 to 1973.
In 1974, Sweet released Teenage Rampage, The Six Teens and Turn It Down, showing their desire to take a more hard rock direction. By this time tensions between the band and the songwriters and producer started to grow. The guys also pushed for more songwriting control, which increased tensions between them, the songwriters and producer.
In 1975, Sweet wrote, recorded and produced the smash hit Fox on the Run on their own, essentially severing ties with Chinn and Chapman. Following the song’s success, they released the acclaimed track Action. Their momentum went on, the band embarking their first U.S. tour.
After their recent success, Sweet released the “Give Us A Wink” album in 1976, which was notably heavy. It contained the single The Lies In Your Eyes, which achieved moderate success. A year later, in 1977, they released the album “Off The Record”, but singles such as Fever Of Love and Lost Angels failed to gain traction, partly due to bad marketing from their label. Despite this, the band continued to distance themselves from their earlier commercial ventures.
Sweet’s career was revitalized with the release of Love Is Like Oxygen in 1978. By this time Connolly had developed a drinking problem and started to be increasingly unreliable during recording sessions. Following a disastrous U.S. tour, he left the band officially in early 1979. The band continued on as a three piece band for three more years, releasing “Cut Above The Rest”, “Waters Edge”, and “Identity Crisis”. Priest took over most of the lead vocals until Sweet’s disbandment in 1981.
In 1985, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker re-formed Sweet with various new vocalists and bass players, the most notable being a 1986 reunion featuring Paul Mario Day (the first singer of Iron Maiden), keyboardist Phil Lanzon, and bass player Malcolm McNulty (who is now lead singer for fellow glam rock band Slade). Steve Priest was asked to join Tucker and Scott for the 1985 Australian tour, but declined at the last moment. Vocalist and bass player Jeff Brown joined in 1988. In 1991, Mick Tucker departed due to ill health, leaving Andy Scott as the only original member. He was replaced by German Bodo Schopf, and subsequently, Bruce Bisland. After Tucker's departure, Andy Scott changed the band's name to 'Andy Scott's Sweet'.
During this time, Brian Connolly, now in bad health, also performed with his version of Sweet. In 1981, he suffered multiple cardiac arrests, which permanently affected his health. He died on 9 February 1997, aged 51. He was cremated after a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church at Old Mill Lane, Denham, Buckinghamshire and his ashes were scattered over the water by his adult daughters Nicola and Michelle. He also left an ex-wife, Marilyn, and a two-year-old son called Brian Junior (BJ) by his girlfriend Jean.
Michael Thomas (Mick) Tucker died 14 February 2002 in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire from leukemia, aged 54; his funeral took place 25 February 2002. He is buried in an unnamed grave in Chorleywood House cemetery. It is marked by a sleeping angel. A wooden bench with a brass plaque funded by fans as a dedication to Mick is also positioned in the grave's vicinity.[2] He left behind a widow, Jan, and a daughter Ayston from his first marriage to Pauline (†1979). According to Steve Priest: "He was the most underrated drummer that ever came out of England. He was the powerhouse of the band. He was technically marvellous. His timing was impeccable, but he had a lot of soul as well and he really felt what he was playing."
In 1994, Steve Priest published his autobiography “Are You Ready Steve?”, which was a raw expose of his time with Sweet and pre-Sweet. In 2006 he released Priest's Precious Poems, a CD of tracks largely consisting of his more recent material. In 2008, he came out of retirement to form his own version of Sweet, based in the US. A year later this band released a live CD called Live In America. In March 2020, he was admitted to a hospital in L.A. After battling pneumonia for a few months, he died on June 4th 2020 at the age of 72.
Andy Scott currently continues to tour with Sweet. In 2002, Sweet released a new album called Sweetlife. February 2006 saw the release of a new Suzi Quatro album, Back To The Drive, which was produced by Scott. In March 2012, Scott released a covers album called New York Connection. Scott teamed up with Suzi Quatro and Don Powell to release a CD called Quatro, Scott and Powell in 2017. Scott has continued to produce for bands throughout the years, currently being the producer for Novatines.
In recent years, Sweet's popularity has surged again. The song Ballroom Blitz was featured in 2016's Suicide Squad, while Fox on the Run was featured in the trailer for 2017's Guardians of the Galaxy 2.
California Nights
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't say I didn't warn ya
'Bout spending time in Miami F.L.A.
That ain't no place to be anyway
Ooh, looking for someone in their life
Waiting for love to shine it's light
[Chorus]
Summer in the city, California nights
Boogie through to morning, California nights
California never go away, I'm here to stay
Those Vegas chicks have gone and thrown it all away
They're gonna settle down in L.A.
They've heard the stories of Hollywood and stars
Sunset Boulevard and custom cars
From Roulette to room let, changing signs
Ceasers to Rainbow, life unwinds
[Chorus]
In Sweet's hit song "California Nights," the singer, possibly a New Yorker or someone outside of California, issues a warning to those who have gone down to California, particularly Miami, that it's not a safe place to be despite it being a hotspot during the summer nights. The song's first verse suggests a tone of advising and cautioning people to be careful about looking for someone in their life while waiting for love to become visible, especially during the California nights. The chorus paints a picture of a city that's always lively, with people dancing and boogying through to the morning, capturing the vibrant and energetic culture of California.
In the second verse, the singer talks about Vegas chicks who have thrown everything they have to settle down in L.A. The L.A. lifestyle and stories of Hollywood and stars, Sunset Boulevard, and custom cars seem to have caught the girls' attention, and they have taken a leap of faith to embrace this new life. Throughout the song, the singer seems to be admiring the uniqueness of California and the beautiful moments it brings during the summer nights that are hard to resist.
Line by Line Meaning
The New York girls, they've gone down to California
Girls from New York have traveled to California
Don't say I didn't warn ya
I advised you beforehand
'Bout spending time in Miami F.L.A.
About spending time in Miami, Florida
That ain't no place to be anyway
It's not a good place to be
Ooh, looking for someone in their life
Searching for someone to share their life with
Waiting for love to shine it's light
Hoping to find love and happiness
Everybody's dancing, California nights
Everyone is having fun and dancing during the night in California
Summer in the city, California nights
Summer nights in California are enjoyable in the city
Boogie through to morning, California nights
Dance all night in California
California never go away, I'm here to stay
I plan to stay in California forever
Those Vegas chicks have gone and thrown it all away
Women from Vegas have given up their old lives
They're gonna settle down in L.A.
They plan to stay in Los Angeles
They've heard the stories of Hollywood and stars
They know about the tales of Hollywood and celebrities
Sunset Boulevard and custom cars
Famous street and unique cars in Los Angeles
From Roulette to room let, changing signs
From playing gambling games to renting rooms, things have changed for them
Ceasers to Rainbow, life unwinds
Their lives have undergone a transformation from one place to another
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@egfried
❤ "California Nights" by The Sweet, released in 1978, is a remarkable track in the band's discography, as it was the first record to feature Steve Priest on lead vocals. This song showcases a different side of the band, giving fans a refreshing change of pace with Priest's unique voice and passion for California shining through.
From the very beginning, "California Nights" transports you to the West Coast with its upbeat tempo and catchy melody. The instrumentation is tight and well-balanced, with the guitar riffs and rhythm section providing the perfect backdrop for Priest's distinctive voice. The song's production is crisp and clean, highlighting the excellent musicianship that the band is known for.
The lyrics of "California Nights" are a love letter to the Golden State. Priest's fondness for California is evident as he sings about the sun, the surf, and the laid-back lifestyle that the state offers. He candidly expresses his preference for California over Miami, Florida, a sentiment that resonated with him personally as he later chose to make California his home.
Steve Priest's vocal performance is the highlight of the track. His voice is versatile, moving from smooth and melodic to powerful and gritty, demonstrating his wide vocal range. Priest's delivery of the lyrics is heartfelt and genuine, making listeners feel his love for California and its alluring appeal.
In conclusion, "California Nights" is an engaging and memorable song that adds depth to The Sweet's discography. The track showcases Steve Priest's talent as a lead vocalist and the band's ability to create an infectious tune that captures the essence of California. Although it may not be their most famous hit, "California Nights" is a testament to the band's versatility and enduring appeal. This song is a must-listen for fans of The Sweet and anyone looking for a feel-good anthem that transports them to the sun-soaked shores of the West Coast❤
@nolesfan8900
RIP Steve . Andy is the sole survivor of what is undisputedly the most underrated glam- heavy rock bands ever. They did it all. Each member was a master in their own right.
@GiantRock62
Absolutely..
@belenrodriguezraldes358
😪😪
@loricooke3423
Yep and today is the day Mick passed in 02. So sad as he was so talented.
@reubensane5539
One of the Most criminally underrated bands period! Never got the true respect they deserved in the states
@chrisc9389
so true. Sweet created magic together. will never be another band like them
@dogsbod
The sweet were brilliant they were a massive part of my teenage years and still up with the best
@diannecarpenter7718
I love Sweet! Sweet deserves to be in the rock and roll Hall of Fame! Long live Sweet forever!🎤🎸🎵🥁
@TELFORD96
They definitely deserve to be in the hall of fame. Not only were they great musicians in their own right but they also influenced many other future bands.
@user-em3ef5or6d
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