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.
Windy City
Sweet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Listen to me
No one knows the reason
Why they want to be free
Workin' all night
Workin' all day
Waitin' for my money
I want to be rich man
But I'm only poor man
I got to get away
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
I've got to get away from windy city
Your dad's in the slam
Your mama's a whore
No one understands you
Couldn't help bein' poor
But when I get rich
I'll get my kicks
From givin' it all away
Want to be free
'Cause livin' ain't easy
Want to be free
Cause that's how it's gonna be
I gotta be free
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
Gotta be free
Now I'm a rich man
Gotta be free
Don't want to be this man
I gotta be free
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
I've got to get away from windy city
I don't want to be a poor man
Don't want to be a rich man
I gotta be free
I want to be free
The lyrics to Sweet's song Windy City are about a person who is struggling to make ends meet, feeling trapped in their current situation and yearning for freedom. The song opens with the lines "Listen to you, listen to me, no one knows the reason why they want to be free." These lines express the universal desire for ultimate freedom, a longing that the singer feels deeply, yet cannot quite grasp.
The lyrics further reveal that the singer works tirelessly, day and night, to make a living and earn money. The lines "Working all night, working all day, waiting for my money and I can't get away" depict the drudgery of daily life, where one feels like they are stuck in a perpetually exhausting cycle of work and more work. The singer longs to be a rich man, believing that wealth will bring freedom and happiness.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on Windy City," suggesting that the singer hopes for a better future, one where they can escape the struggles of Windy City and find a better life. The song ends with the resounding declaration "I gotta be free, I want to be free," further emphasizing the longing for liberation that the singer feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to you
Acknowledging the other person and their thoughts
Listen to me
Asserting oneself as having a valid point
No one knows the reason
The cause of wanting freedom is not always clear
Why they want to be free
The motivation for wanting freedom is not always clear
Workin' all night
Working long hours
Workin' all day
Working during the day
Waitin' for my money
Anticipating receiving income
And I can't get away
Feeling trapped in the current situation
I want to be rich man
Desiring financial success
But I'm only poor man
Feeling stuck in a lower socioeconomic class
I got to get away
Needing an escape from the current situation
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city
Anticipating a new day in a specific location
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
The possibility of safety through anonymity
Your dad's in the slam
Having a family member in prison
Your mama's a whore
Having a family member in a stigmatized profession
No one understands you
Feeling misunderstood and alone
Couldn't help bein' poor
Not having the resources to change financial status
But when I get rich
Hope for financial success
I'll get my kicks
Finding enjoyment out of giving back
From givin' it all away
Desire to give back to others
Want to be free
Desire for personal and financial freedom
'Cause livin' ain't easy
Acknowledging the hardships of life
Cause that's how it's gonna be
Accepting that life will have its challenges
Gotta be free
Feeling the need for personal freedom
Now I'm a rich man
Achieving financial success
Don't want to be this man
Disliking the current self
I gotta be free
Desire for personal freedom
I don't want to be a poor man
Dislike for own financial status
Don't want to be a rich man
Dislike for wealth and associated identity
I gotta be free
Desire for personal freedom
I want to be free
Desire for personal freedom
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANDREW SCOTT, BRIAN CONNOLLY, MICHAEL TUCKER, STEPHEN PRIEST
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Adelardo De Narbardi
LYRICS:
Listen to you
Listen to me
No one knows the reason
Why they wanna be free
Workin' all night
Workin' all day
Waitin' for my money
And I can't get away
I wanna be rich man
But I'm only poor man
I got to get away
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
------- ------- -------
I've got to get away from windy city
Your dad's in the slam
Your mama's a whore
No one understands you
Couldn't help bein' poor
But when I get rich
I'll get my kicks
From givin' it all away.
Wanna be free
'Cause livin' ain't easy.
Wanna be free,
Cause that's how it's gonna be.
I gotta be free!
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city,
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city
------- ------- -------
(INSTRUMENTAL)
Gotta be free
Now I'm a rich man.
Gotta be free
Don't wanna be this man.
I gotta be free
Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city,
You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city.
------- ------- -------
I've got to get away from windy city
I don't wanna be a poor man
Don't wanna be a rich man
I gotta be free
I wanna be free
Låtskrivare: Brian Connolly, Andy Scott, Steve Priest och Mick Tucker.
Ric T
When you play this in your car stereo damn near full blast , you tend to really understand what a beast Mick Tucker was.
mark R. Devereux
Yep world class it weaves SWEET's sound tightly together He's there in every break , fill tempo change prog sections cymbal work you name it!!
Andreas Zahn
Die beste Band , für alle Zeiten 🎛🎸🎛🎸🎛🎸🎛 Sweet forever 🎛🎸🎛🎛🎸🎛👈
Baron Frost
ONE BADASS SONG FROM A SUPER BADASS BAND! SWEET are one of the most underated super talented Bands to come from the 1970's a tremendous influence on so many Bands and really created the sound that would become New Wave of British Heavy Metal in the 80's. TERRIFIC BAND! Thank You for uploading this! - Andy.
mark R. Devereux
Hello hardcore SWEET fan LIVIN in place called WINDY CITY. CLASSIC!!!
isgren8
I could not agree more LordRaven ... so underrated .. It is no secret that QUEEN got inspiration from SWEET re vocal arrangements
Mick Nordström
I love this song. The middle mellow part always gives me a very nostalgic and almost sad feeling.
Lill-Ann Morclou
I think the middle part is so wonderful.
mark R. Devereux
When the synth doodling builds to a crescendo at very end gets me everytime its pure musical genius SWEET IS ETERNAL
Just Jeanne
Well, this is lightyears away from Lollipop Man ... so many facets to this PHENOMENAL band. Sweet were so talented, versatile, and utterly addictive ! I literally can't get enough !