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.
Eye Games
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the discos and the bars
They're playing eyes games
Venus is watching Mars
They're playing eye games
Come and try games
They're playing eye games
In the night air
Eyes meet and break away
You can't show her you care
It's one of love's puzzles
The secrets in her eyes
Does it mean I'm on the right track
Is there a chance for romance
[Chorus]
All round the city
They stealing glances
She looks so pretty
I'll have to take my chances
The music's getting louder
You try to talk to her
You find it hard to concentrate
Wandering eyes must watch and wait
[Chorus]
They're playing eye games [Repeat: x3]
The lyrics of Sweet's song "Eye Games" highlight the electric attraction between people in the night-ridden disco and bar environments where they indulge in the game of the eyes. Eyes meet and break away creating an aura of mystery and intrigue between strangers. The lyrics suggest a sense of hesitation in expressing emotions and feelings as one cannot show their interests and care too much. In the game of love, these mysteries are part of the puzzle, and the secrets lie within the eyes of the other person, adding to the romantic allure of the environment. The chorus, "They're playing eye games, Come and try games," reveals the infectious energy that surrounds such an ominous and enigmatic space.
The song also talks about the challenges in approaching someone attractive in the clubs, where everyone is stealing glances, making it hard to concentrate. The song's lyrics portray a sense of struggle and uncertainty, leaving one to wonder if they are on the right track and whether there is a chance for romance. Overall, the song conveys the thrill and mystery that lies in the game of the eyes and the yearning to express emotions and desires.
Line by Line Meaning
In the discos and the bars
People gather in clubs and bars
They're playing eyes games
They are having flirty eye contact with each other
Venus is watching Mars
They both are attracted to each other, like Venus, the goddess of love, to Mars, the god of war
They're playing eye games
They are having flirty eye contact with each other
Come and try games
They are inviting others to join in their eye-contact flirting
They're playing eye games
They are having flirty eye contact with each other
Electric attraction
Intense attraction between each other
In the night air
In the environment of the night
Eyes meet and break away
Their eyes meet and quickly look away
You can't show her you care
You cannot express your feelings of love towards her
It's one of love's puzzles
It's one of the mysteries of love and attraction
The secrets in her eyes
Her eyes reveal something unknown and mysterious about her
Does it mean I'm on the right track
Does the way she looks at me indicate that I am on the right path towards winning her heart?
Is there a chance for romance
Is there a possibility to kindle a romantic relationship between them?
[Chorus]
Refers to the previously mentioned lines
All round the city
All over the city
They stealing glances
They look at each other but quickly look away, stealing glances
She looks so pretty
She appears very attractive and charming to him
I'll have to take my chances
I have to take the risk and try my luck to impress her
The music's getting louder
The music becomes louder and powerful
You try to talk to her
You attempt to start a conversation with her
You find it hard to concentrate
You are unable to pay attention, as you are distracted by the eye games
Wandering eyes must watch and wait
Their eyes wander and watch each other, waiting for the perfect moment to make the move
[Chorus]
Refers to the previously mentioned lines
They're playing eye games
They're flirting through eye contacts
[Repeat: x3]
This line is repeated three times for emphasis
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, LEWIS AUSTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@micknordstrom2591
This is far better than the album version! Mick was an outstanding lead singer!
@micknordstrom2591
There are so many unreleased versions of so many Sweet songs that are better versions than what ended up on the albums.
@Mick_Ts_Chick
I love this little ditty. Mick had a really nice voice, and I really wish he'd had more lead vocals. Happy birthday Mick. Love you!🎂🥰🥳
@Fnatman
Nice version thanks, sounds a little like country to me. Mick should have sung more Sweet songs, he had a great voice, just like the other three.
@anjaschmied2799
Wunderschöner Song mit Mick Tucker !!❤
@pookiemartinez3909
nice to hear Mick's kit.. Ringo would love this.
@Gordomusic1
Just seems to be a rhythym section added. Which is interesting I guess. They must have decided to pare it back for the album
@tubegucker1
@Gordomusic1 Thanks for your comment! There's a bass guitar too
@Gordomusic1
@tubegucker1 Cool!