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.
Mother Earth
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stealing time for secret places
Making love in the afternoon
This is the next stop from the sun
Invaded for everyone
This is the next stop from the sun
Invaded for everyone
Mother earth is calling you
Mother earth is calling you
Today
Rolling stones should rock together
Like the storm cloud crystal weather
Silver sun when the day is done
This is the next stop from the sun
Invaded for everyone
This is the next stop from the sun
Invaded for everyone
Mother earth is calling you
Mother earth is calling you
Mother earth is calling you
Today
This is the next stop from the sun
Invaded for everyone
Mother earth is calling you
Mother earth is calling you
Mother earth is calling you
Today
The lyrics to Sweet's song Mother Earth evoke a sense of urgency and concern for the state of the environment. The first verse describes the feeling of being lost in a crowd but finding solace in secret moments with a loved one. The second verse invokes the power of nature with the image of rolling stones coming together and the silver sun setting at the end of a day. The repetition of the chorus, "Mother earth is calling you today" emphasizes the importance of taking action to preserve the earth's natural resources.
The lyrics can be interpreted as a call to action for individuals to take responsibility for their impact on the environment. The reference to the "next stop from the sun" suggests that planet earth is a unique and precious place in the universe, and it is up to us to protect it. The line "invaded for everyone" could be referring to the destructive effects of pollution and industrialization on the natural world.
Line by Line Meaning
Smiling eyes in sea of faces
Amidst a multitude of people, there are still those with an optimistic outlook.
Stealing time for secret places
Finding time for a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of life.
Making love in the afternoon
Enjoying sensual pleasures of life during daytime hours.
This is the next stop from the sun
Earth is the closest planet to the sun and the one most important to humans.
Invaded for everyone
Humans have come to occupy every corner of the planet Earth.
Mother earth is calling you
The planet Earth needs its inhabitants to care for it.
Rolling stones should rock together
People should work together and be united, like the movements of a rolling stone.
Like the storm cloud crystal weather
The unpredictability of weather can be as beautiful as it is powerful.
Silver sun when the day is done
The sun's light at dusk can be particularly striking.
Mother earth is calling you
The planet Earth needs its inhabitants to care for it.
Mother earth is calling you
The planet Earth needs its inhabitants to care for it.
Mother earth is calling you
The planet Earth needs its inhabitants to care for it.
Today
There is a sense of urgency to take action and care for the planet Earth.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Martin Reilly
quality track, one off the album cut above the rest. one of the three albums sweet made as a three piece, quality albums filled with absolute gems
TheHumbuckerboy
@Traugott Roser I also bought it then foolishly sold it to a friend !
Traugott Roser
I loved the album back then and was one of the few who actually bought it. Haven't heard it in years. Mother Earth was my favourite track
Kurt North
A really great album, saved my life!!! I was severely depressed that year...but I bought this on 8 track and listened it and drove to San Diego.....it's uplifting and positive in it's message. Of course I missed Brian...but they had to let him go.....as far as AS SWEET AND STEVE'S SWEET ....let's just be happy they are alive and well and perforning!!!!!
Wrinklies
@TheHumbuckerboy 😢😔
TheHumbuckerboy
Only Andy still alive now.
Ray Scott
I've always loved this tune!
jerry macaluso
Incredible track. love listening to it on late night drives
Jon Carpenter
Musically one of their best! I guess you could say a "Cut above the rest"
wildbilltexas
A great song, I remember it getting a lot of airplay on KMOD in Tulsa.