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.
Funk It Up
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With Charly standing in line in the wing
And yesterday's rain turns to snow
Shake your head now honey child
Shake your head now honey child
Jump back while I clean them up
Shake your head now honey child
Like stars shooting down on the man
Who fell to earth
Spiraling up to the sky
Shake your head now honey child
Shake your head now honey child
Jump back while I clean them up
Shake your head now honey child
Shake that head, shake that head
Shake my head, shake my head
Swing up the line, swing up the line
Swing up that line, swing up that line
Funk it up, funk it up
Funk it up, funk it up
Swing up the back, light up the front
Shake your head now honey child
Shake your head now honey child
Jump back while I clean them up
Shake your head now honey child
The lyrics of Sweet's song "Funk It Up" are about dancing and having a good time. The first few lines describe a scene where a baby is dancing with someone named Charly while yesterday's rain has turned to snow. The chorus emphasizes the need to shake your head while jumping back as the music intensifies. The second verse describes spotlights blinding like stars and a man who has fallen to earth spiraling up to the sky. The chorus repeats, reminding listeners to shake their heads and jump back as the music gets funkier. The song ends with the lyrics "Funk it up" repeated over and over, encouraging everyone to keep dancing and having fun.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of letting go and enjoying the moment. The lyrics encourage listeners to forget their worries and dance to the music. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes that this song is meant to be a party anthem and a call to action. The use of child-like language (honey child) adds to the carefree vibe of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby was dancin'
The singer sees a baby dancing along to the music.
With Charly standing in line in the wing
The singer notices Charly waiting patiently on the sidelines of the dance floor.
And yesterday's rain turns to snow
The weather changed from rainy to snowy overnight and the singer is using this as a metaphor for how things can change quickly.
Shake your head now honey child
The artist encourages the listener to dance and let loose.
Jump back while I clean them up
The artist tells the audience to move out of the way so they can get the dance floor ready for a big performance.
Spotlights are blinding
The singer comments on the bright spotlights used during a performance.
Like stars shooting down on the man
The singer compares the brightness of the spotlights to stars falling down to earth.
Who fell to earth
The artist may be referencing the David Bowie movie of the same name or commenting on how the spotlight can bring a performer back down to reality.
Spiraling up to the sky
The artist comments on the magical feeling of going through a successful performance.
Shake that head, shake that head
The artist is repeating the earlier encouragement to dance and let loose.
Shake my head, shake my head
The singer is joining in and showing excitement for the music and dancing.
Swing up the line, swing up the line
The artist is calling for a group dance or perhaps a specific choreographed move.
Swing up that line, swing up that line
Repeating the earlier call for a group dance or choreographed move.
Funk it up, funk it up
The singer is calling for everyone to add some funk to their dance moves.
Swing up the back, light up the front
The singer is giving specific dance instructions, suggesting the group turn around and then light up the front of the stage.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
David was dancin'
With Charly standing in line in the wings
And yesterday's rain turns to snow
Shake your head now, honey child
Shake your head now, honey child
Jump back while I clean 'em up
Shake your head now, honey child
Spotlights are blinding
Like stars shooting down on the man
Who fell to earth
Spiralling up to the sky
Shake your head now, honey child
Shake your head now, honey child
Jump back while I clean 'em up
Shake your head now, honey child
Shake that head, shake that head
Shake my head, shake my head
Clean up the line, clean up the line
Clean up the line, clean up the line
Funk it up, funk it up
Funk it up, funk it up
Bring out the back, light up the front
Shake your head now, honey child
Shake your head now, honey child
Jump back while I clean 'em up
Shake your head now, honey child
@alexfierrocuevas7887
these are really musicians . they can do everything , any music style . masters of music .
@mwhearn1
How cool. Shows what great musicians they were. Not many bands can totally change styles successfully. Some weird time signatures in there too for good measure.
@johngolofit1208
One of many songs that made the late Summer of 1977 a listener’s paradise…
@rachelroth
awesome -- these guys were so versatile
@frankmaier973
Excellent. Quality progression of a band doing what they want to do.
@JoseGarcia-md9lv
tremenda joya de estos maestros un gran clasico
.me acuerdo de mi enseñanza media cuando carreteaba con este estilo de música...
@thepossessor
funk, disco, this song has groove and soul! that's what makes it bounce!
@spongekp
This song only charted at #88 in 1977. It is infinitely better than anything that has hit the Top 40 in the last 10+ years.
@mclff6926
Always loved this song. Just came back to me.
@robinsonjauregui1353
Great group and his drummer, straight outta this galaxy...👊