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.
Little Willie
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little Willy, Willy wears the crown, he's the king around town
Dancing, glancing
Willy drives them silly with his star shoe shimmy shuffle down
Way past one, and feeling alright
'Cause with little Willy round they can last all night
Hey down, stay down, stay down down
But you can't push Willy 'round
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Up town, down town
Little Willy, Willy drives them wild with his run-around style
Inside, outside
Willy sends them silly with his star-shine shimmy shuffle smile
Mama done chase Willy down through the hall
But laugh, Willy laugh, he don't care at all
Hey down, stay down, stay down, down
'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home
But you can't push Willy 'round
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy, Willy won't
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy, Willy won't
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy, Willy won't
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy, Willy won't
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
But you can't push Willy round
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
But you can't push Willy round
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
The song “Little Willie” by Sweet is about a charismatic and popular man named Willie who is the social center of the town. He’s a skilled dancer and has an infectious personality, driving everyone “silly” with his “star shoe shimmy shuffle” and “star-shine shimmy shuffle smile.” The lyrics talk about how he is unbeatable, and nobody can make him go home or “push Willy round.” He’s the king of the town and is loved by everyone.
The chorus repeats the phrase “Little Willy, Willy won’t go home” several times emphasizing his stubbornness and resistance to be pushed around. Despite his mother trying to “chase Willie down through the hall,” he doesn't care about the rules and conventions of society. Instead, he lives for the moment and enjoys staying out late and dancing all night.
The song is an upbeat and catchy tune that celebrates individuality and independence. It's a feel-good song that encourages listeners to let loose and have fun. It's a classic rock hit that has stood the test of time and is still loved by many today.
Line by Line Meaning
North side, east side
The song sets the scene by indicating that Little Willy is known throughout the town, regardless of which side of the town the listener is on.
Little Willy, Willy wears the crown, he's the king around town
Little Willy is the most popular person in the town, as shown by the crown he wears, which symbolizes his status as king.
Dancing, glancing
Little Willy is dancing and looking around, making sure everyone notices him and is having a good time.
Willy drives them silly with his star shoe shimmy shuffle down
Little Willy's dancing is so good that it has a hypnotic effect on people and he's so skilled that his shoes shine like stars.
Way past one, and feeling alright
Despite the late hour, Little Willy and his followers are still partying and feeling good because of his presence.
'Cause with little Willy round they can last all night
Little Willy is the life of the party and as long as he is around, the people can keep on partying without getting tired.
Hey down, stay down, stay down down
Little Willy is commanding the crowd to stay down and keep dancing, refusing to let the party end.
'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy has no intention of going home and wants to keep the party going for as long as possible.
But you can't push Willy 'round
Little Willy is a strong-willed person who refuses to be pushed around or told what to do.
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Despite people's attempts to get Little Willy to leave or stop the party, he will not comply.
Up town, down town
Little Willy's influence reaches both the high and low class areas of the town.
Little Willy, Willy drives them wild with his run-around style
Little Willy's dancing and energy is so contagious that it drives people crazy and makes them want to dance and move around.
Inside, outside
Little Willy's presence and dancing is felt both inside and outside of buildings, as he exudes confidence and charisma wherever he goes.
Willy sends them silly with his star-shine shimmy shuffle smile
Little Willy's dazzling smile and phenomenal dance skills have a spell-binding effect on people, causing them to act wild and silly.
Mama done chase Willy down through the hall
Even Little Willy's mother is concerned and tries to stop him from partying.
But laugh, Willy laugh, he don't care at all
Little Willy is unbothered by his mother's attempts to stop him and continues to enjoy the party.
Little Willy, Willy won't
The repetition of this line emphasizes Little Willy's stubbornness and determination to keep the party going.
Willy won't, Willy won't
Repeating this phrase further shows Little Willy's unrelenting attitude.
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Despite everyone wanting him to leave, Little Willy refuses to call it a night and leave the party.
But you can't push Willy round
Little Willy is not easily influenced by others and cannot be pushed around or coerced into leaving.
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
Even if everyone tells him to go home, Little Willy is so stubborn that he will not leave and will keep the party going for as long as possible.
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
The song concludes by emphasizing that Little Willy's partying spirit is indomitable, and no amount of persuasion can make him go home.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL DONALD CHAPMAN, NICHOLAS BARRY CHINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scottmitchell3591
Sweet was a great band who deserves much, much more accolades then they get. You couldn't find a better drummer than Mick Tucker , plus all four had lead voice qualities. Just a great band . One of my favorites as a youth , and they still are.
@iohannesvincere298
Idk man, Francesco Paoli seems to put a lot more in to drums than Mr Tucker.
@sMansGuitars
Agree about Mick, the king of the big kit. This bilge doesn't even get close to their real identity as a hard rock band. "Desolation Boulevard" was a great album. My sister was a T-Rex nut, so Sweet were verboten but not long before she died, I sent her a bunch of videos of Sweet on YouTube and I guessed correctly that as a later fan of heavy rock that Sweet impressed her more than she ever would've believed.
The identification with British Glam Rock sadly condemned them in the eyes of idiots who don't even remember the era, when we all wore platforms etc. Andy, Mick and Steve were great musicians, sang better than most of the competition and Brian was the archetypal front man. Who sums up the fun of rock 'n' roll more than Steve Priest did? He sent himself up, wonderfully well, no pretentious "Hey...I'm a serious musician..." and maybe he (as well as those well worked harmonies) set Sweet apart from all the others.
@patrickfox-roberts7528
@@sMansGuitars Chapman and Chinn wrote ' Sugar Sugar' (later done by ' The Archies' cartoon band) for them I think and Sweet thought it a step WAAY too far for who the band really was (after little willy 🙄🙄🙄🙄) - I bought their singles for the B sides mainly ( still have them) Burn on the Flame was just the best https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql-qofNdtbE
@jeffreyfunwithharm3137
This was one of the songs I butchered growing up .😅
@phonecompte
0@@sMansGuitars
@ABB-ln7qu
Brings tears to my eyes to think that 3 out of four of this legendary band are no longer with us. I went through several records due to being overplayed. What a fun and great band. Great time to be alive.
@heinzsteinmeyer8461
I have the same feelings, when I listen to the great music or read stories of Sweet. They were the greatest and underestimated.
@jdingledine
One of my favorite bands to skate at the old skating rink. Such great times.
@jdingledine
skate to