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.
Spotlight
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause I'm working you're going with the boy I hear
I won't be able to dance with you
But I'll know every little thing you do
I'm on spotlight, baby
I'm working on spotlight, baby
I can see you moving like a candle flickering bright
In my eyes I see you, in my mind it doesn't seem right
I may never be right for you
But every thing I do, I do for you
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby
You know you're going to the dance tonight, my dear
'Cause I'm working you're going with the boy I hear
I won't be able to dance with you
But I'll know every little thing you do
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby
I'm on the spotlight, baby
I'm working on the spotlight, baby...
The song "Spotlight" by Sweet is about unrequited love and the feeling of longing for someone you can't have. The singer is aware that the girl he likes is going to a dance with someone else, but he still wants to be a part of her life in any way he can. He acknowledges that he may never be the right fit for her, but he still wants to be there in the background, watching her and admiring her from afar.
The chorus of the song, "I'm on the spotlight, baby / I'm working on the spotlight, baby," is a metaphor for the singer's role in the girl's life. Even though he can't be with her, he still wants to be important to her in some way, like a performer on stage shining a light on the girl he loves. The lines "In my eyes I see you, in my mind it doesn't seem right" shows how he is conflicted between his feelings and his rational mind, where he knows it may not work out.
Overall, the song "Spotlight" is a bittersweet portrayal of unrequited love, where the singer is aware of the reality of the situation, but still holds onto the hope of being a part of the other person's life.
Line by Line Meaning
You know you're going to the dance tonight, my dear
I'm aware that you are attending the dance tonight.
'Cause I'm working you're going with the boy I hear
I've heard that you're going to the dance with another boy and I am busy with work.
I won't be able to dance with you
Unfortunately, I will be unable to accompany you to dance.
But I'll know every little thing you do
Even though I won't be there physically, I will be aware of your every move.
I'm on spotlight, baby
I am shining the spotlight on myself.
I'm working on spotlight, baby
I am putting in the effort to be in the spotlight.
I can see you moving like a candle flickering bright
I can visualize your movements, like a bright flickering candle.
In my eyes I see you, in my mind it doesn't seem right
I can envision you in my mind's eye, but it doesn't feel like a good thing.
I may never be right for you
I may not be the right person for you.
But every thing I do, I do for you
Even though I may not be right for you, everything I do is for your benefit.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@martinawagner4464
Bin seit 50 Jahren Fan von den süssen Jungs. Aber ich entdecke dank you tube immer noch neue Songs und neue Seiten an der Band. Sweet, ihr ward nicht nur süss, ihr ward gigantisch. 👍👍👍👍👍👍
Oh wie gerne würde ich Euch vier live erleben wenn nicht 3 Süsse Engel schon dem Himmels Chor angehören würden. 😥
Sweet for ever und unvergessen 💓💓💓💓💓💓
@blueleadguitar
I first heard this song on Sweets Biggest Hits which I got for my 10th birthday. I'm 50 now and have been a Sweet fan all my life. This song is simply outstanding, Andy's solo on this is one of my all time favourites of his..
@TheHumbuckerboy
My mum bought me that album as my first ever album when I was 7 years old back in 1973 and I still own it !
@christianestamm2655
Was für eine vielseitige super Band. iCH BIN PLATT.
@rosemariepeuckert7019
Eine der besten Gruppen ihrer Zeit.es waren tolle Burschen.
@soniclady89
I agree - They'd have made an awesome stadium band, don't you think. They were supposed to support The Who at a football stadium venue in London, but because Brian was beaten up - they couldn't do it. It's a shame, they'd have been the greatest and the loudest. We might have been talking about Sweet now, with the same reverence shown to Led Zepplin!!! Thanks to the guys and gals who take the time to put up the videos - we can all watch the Sweet we know and love, as often as we like! BRAVO!
@isabellabeeley6503
My dad's favourite 70's band and still loves to listen to them now.
@vladimir5182
Your dad understand music,as and I
@agoogleuser4443
Your dad has great taste in music!
@elizabethbyrne8734
used to listen to this on my old record player...The Sweet Greatest Hits album - pure Heaven to a 15 year old. Adored and still adore Brian...RIP