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.
Stay With Me
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on and play with me
You know I'm out of my try
Honey why did you walk away
When you knew I had something to say
Sitting here drinking alone
Left wondering why you ain't gonna phone
But I know baby
That you want to stay with me
You're trying to make me crazy
And make me go down on my knees
Why don't you stay with me
Come on and play with me
Lay down your love
I ain't satisfied
Cause you never tried
Well making love was a matter of pride
I heard it from friends just the other day
That you're coming back maybe this time you'll stay
Whenever you're near me
I see the truth in your lies
Please open your heart to me
I'm begging you down on my knees
Why don't you stay with me
Come on and play with me
Baby sweet baby all right
Look on your love all right
Falling in love wasn't easy
But people need love to survive
If I knew then all
The things I know now
These'd be more then enough to go round
Why don't you stay with me
Come on and play with me
Baby sweet baby all right
Look on your love
Why don't you stay with me
Come on and play with me
Baby sweet baby all right
Look on your love
Why don't you stay with me
Come on and play with me
Come on baby
You know it alright
Look back on your love
The lyrics of Sweet's song "Stay With Me" explore a lover's plea for his partner to stay with him and play with him instead of leaving him alone. The song expresses regret for not being able to make love work and a desire to fix things. The chorus is a desperate plea for the person to stay and give their love, while the verses express frustration and a longing for communication and connection. The repetition of "come on and play with me" suggests the singer is willing to do whatever it takes to keep their love alive.
The lyrics also indicate the singer sees the truth in the lies of their love interest, implying that the relationship may have been characterized by deceit and lack of trust. However, the singer is willing to forgive and forget if it means staying together. The song conveys the desperation and heartache that can come with a failing relationship, but also the hopefulness and willingness to make things work.
Line by Line Meaning
Why don't you stay with me
Asking why the person left and requesting they stay.
Come on and play with me
Asking the person to engage in a relationship with the singer.
You know I'm out of my try
The singer is expressing their vulnerability and emotional state.
Honey why did you walk away
The artist is questioning the person's motives for leaving.
When you knew I had something to say
The person left despite the artist needing to express their thoughts and feelings.
Sitting here drinking alone
The singer is feeling lonely and turning to alcohol for comfort.
Left wondering why you ain't gonna phone
The singer is feeling neglected and confused about why the person hasn't contacted them.
But I know baby
The artist still has hope for a rekindled relationship with the person.
That you want to stay with me
The artist believes the person wants to be with them.
You're trying to make me crazy
The person's behavior is causing the artist to feel unsure and unstable.
And make me go down on my knees
The singer is willing to go to great lengths to win back the person's love.
Lay down your love
The artist is asking the person to express their affection for them.
I ain't satisfied
The singer is unhappy with the current state of their relationship.
Cause you never tried
The person hasn't put in effort to improve the relationship.
Well making love was a matter of pride
The singer values intimacy and sees it as a critical component of their relationship.
I heard it from friends just the other day
The artist has heard rumors that the person may return.
That you're coming back maybe this time you'll stay
The artist is hopeful that the person will return and remain committed.
Whenever you're near me
The singer still feels a strong connection to the person when they're in their company.
I see the truth in your lies
The singer is aware that the person is not being entirely honest with them.
Please open your heart to me
The artist is asking the person to be more truthful and vulnerable with them.
I'm begging you down on my knees
The artist is willing to humble themselves to win the person's love and commitment.
Baby sweet baby all right
The artist is trying to soothe and reassure the person.
Look on your love all right
The singer is encouraging the person to examine their feelings and reciprocate their love.
Falling in love wasn't easy
The artist is acknowledging the difficulties of falling in love and staying in a relationship.
But people need love to survive
The singer believes that love is an essential component of life.
If I knew then all
The singer is reflecting on past mistakes and regrets.
The things I know now
The singer has gained insight and wisdom from their experiences.
These'd be more then enough to go round
The artist believes that their newfound knowledge and maturity would be sufficient for a fulfilling relationship.
Come on baby
The artist is urging the person to return and give their relationship another chance.
You know it alright
The singer is confident that the person still has feelings for them.
Look back on your love
The singer is encouraging the person to reflect on their feelings and to remember the love they once shared.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, STEPHEN PRIEST, MICHAEL TUCKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anja Schmied
a great song with steve priest !!
Michael Seymour
he passed yesterday ...another pce of my youth gone ...here is song of mine (me on guitar vox )https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSSmg9KEdKA that was VERY influenced by the sweet - but i wont say which one ! - see if you can guess ! RIP steve .
lilangelbuff
YES! YES! YES! I TOTALLY AGREE! I love the original version of 'That Girl'. It's a shame that the other members of Sweet didn't think Brian's vocals were up to par, however.
Andreas Uhlbrandt
There was nothing wrong with Brian´s voice as those 3 members decided, it was time to say goodbuy to Brian.....so wrong and wrong timing.
Even Andy can admit today, things should have been done differently and it was perhaps a big mistake to kick Brian out.
Andreas Uhlbrandt
I agree with you as Brian´s voice is perfect and in any case, Brian´s voiuce should have been on CATR album. It´s shame and quite frankly, discriminated, Brian did have any choice anymore to make any impact on their recodings anymore.....Cut Above...would have been millions better with his attempt and his charisma. Musically. Let´s not forget Brian Connolly as the King of Sweet.
Andreas Uhlbrandt
Stay With Me should have been released as a single in 1979....Listen to the version of Brian´s Log number one, That Girl....amazing!!! Brian, why did you leave, why??? Love Ya
Andreas Uhlbrandt
Yes, I must admit the original version, Brian on lead vocals is better than Steve´s version and what ever people say, Brian´s voice was better than ever.
Without no doubt, That Girl (Stay With Me) should have been a single and Brian on lead vocal.
El Micha
nothing is better than the demo with brian on 'that girl'...the original.!!...it could have been a single....
FennHongKongPfui
Hi folks! I am a big fan of The Sweet. I have almost all of them big hits in digital quality. Above all, I am still looking for the Radio edit version of "Love is like oxygen" in the ORIGINAL studio version. Can someone help me there? Thank you for your help in this case. Greets
MT SHUVO
awesome