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 Willy
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 all right
'Cause with little Willy round
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
Uptown, downtown
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
In "Little Willy" by Sweet, the lyrics tell the story of a young man named Willy who is the king of the town. He is celebrated for his dancing skills, especially his "star shoe shimmy shuffle" that drives people crazy. Willy's reputation for being a ladies' man is reinforced throughout the song as Willy is said to drive the women wild with his "run around style." The song plays with the idea of Willy as a rebellious young man who refuses to go home and follow the rules.
The central theme of the song is Willy's refusal to conform. He is enjoying himself too much and wants to continue partying and dancing all night long, much to the dismay of those who want him to go home. Even his mother, who chases him down the hall, is unable to convince Willy to go home. The song is an ode to youthfulness, and the feeling of invincibility that comes with being young and carefree. Willy is a symbol for anyone who wants to live their life the way they want, without being tied down by expectations - he's the king of the town and no one can push him around.
Line by Line Meaning
North side, east side
The song starts with describing Little Willy's location on the north and east sides of the town.
Little Willy, Willy wears the crown
Little Willy is the most popular guy around, he is like a king in town.
He's the king around town
Little Willy is very popular and respected in town, he is the king of the town.
Dancing, glancing
Little Willy is dancing and looking around, he is in a happy mood.
Willy drives them silly
Little Willy makes people go crazy with his dancing and his personality.
With his star shoe shimmy shuffle down
Little Willy has a special dance move called the star shoe shimmy shuffle which makes him very popular.
Way past one and feeling all right
It's late at night, but Little Willy is not tired, he is feeling good.
'Cause with little Willy round
Little Willy's presence makes people energized and happy.
They can last all night
People can party all night if Little Willy is around.
Hey down, stay down, stay down down
Little Willy is telling people to calm down and enjoy the party.
'Cause little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy is having too much fun to leave, he won't go home.
But you can't push Willy 'round
Little Willy is very stubborn, nobody can make him do anything he doesn't want to do.
Willy won't go, try tellin' everybody but, oh no
People are trying to convince Little Willy to go home, but it's impossible.
Uptown, downtown
Little Willy is now moving around the town, from uptown to downtown.
Little Willy, Willy drives them wild
Little Willy is making people go crazy with his run-around style.
With his run around style
Little Willy has a very active, wild style that makes people go crazy.
Inside, outside
Little Willy is moving around everywhere, from the inside to the outside.
Willy sends them silly
Little Willy's personality and dancing is making people go wild.
With his star shine shimmy shuffle smile
Little Willy is now smiling while doing his star shine shimmy shuffle, which makes people love him even more.
Mama done chase Willy down through the hall
Little Willy's mother is trying to catch him and take him home, but he's not having it.
But laugh, Willy laugh, he don't care at all
Little Willy is laughing at his mother's attempts to take him home, as he is having too much fun.
Little Willy, Willy won't
Little Willy is very resistant to anything people tell him to do.
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy is very stubborn, he won't do what people want him to.
Little Willy, Willy won't
Little Willy is very resistant to anything people tell him to do.
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy is very stubborn, he won't do what people want him to.
Little Willy, Willy won't
Little Willy is very resistant to anything people tell him to do.
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy is very stubborn, he won't do what people want him to.
Little Willy, Willy won't
Little Willy is very resistant to anything people tell him to do.
Willy won't, Willy won't
Little Willy is very stubborn, he won't do what people want him to.
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy is having too much fun to leave, he won't go home.
But you can't push Willy 'round
Little Willy is very stubborn, nobody can make him do anything he doesn't want to do.
Willy won't go
Little Willy is very resistant to leaving, he won't go home.
Try tellin' everybody but, oh no
People are trying to convince Little Willy to go home, but it's impossible.
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Even though people want him to go home, Little Willy is staying put and having too much fun to think about leaving.
But you can't push Willy 'round
Little Willy doesn't respond well to people trying to make him do something he doesn't want to do, he's very stubborn.
Willy won't go
Little Willy is feeling too good to leave, he won't go home.
Try tellin' everybody but, oh no
People are trying to convince Little Willy to go home, but it's not happening.
Little Willy, Willy won't go home
Little Willy is resisting all attempts to make him go home, he's having too much fun.
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