The line-up of the band was Alan Williams (born 22 December 1948); Tony Thorpe (born 20 July 1947); Bill Hurd (born 11 August 1948); Mick Clarke (born 10 August 1946), and John Richardson (born 3 May 1948). The Rubettes’ first (and biggest hit) was “Sugar Baby Love” (released in 1974) which was a UK no. 1 and going on to sell around eight million copies worldwide. The distinctive falsetto lead vocal to “Sugar Baby Love” was however performed by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer) who left the group after a few weeks to be replaced by Williams.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-seventies such as “Juke Box Jive” and “I Can Do It”, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington song-writing team. Their final hit was the ‘country rock’ styled ballad - “Baby I Know” - which reached no. 10 in the UK in 1977.
The Rubettes’ first and biggest hit was "Sugar Baby Love" (1974) which was a UK number one, going on to sell around 500,000 copies in the UK and a reported global sale of three million copies. Two million copies being sold in France alone, an achievement matched by no other British group.[citation needed] With more three songs, "Sugar Baby Love" was recorded for Polydor in October 1973 at Landsdown Studios in Holland Park, London by some session musicians featuring the distinctive falsetto lead vocal by Paul Da Vinci (real name: Paul Prewer), but then he didn't seize the opportunity to actually become a member of the band put together by John Richardson and went for solo work. To be The Rubettes' debut single, "Sugar Baby Love" was their only UK #1 and sole U.S. Top 40 entry. In November 1974 NME music magazine reported that The Rubettes, The Glitter Band and Mud were among the UK bands who had roles in a new film titled Never Too Young To Rock.
The Rubettes went on to have a number of other hits across Europe during the mid 1970s such as "Tonight", "Juke Box Jive" and "I Can Do It" sung by Alan Williams, mostly written by the Bickerton-Waddington songwriting team. The Rubettes success encouraged Bickerton and Waddington to set up State Records, so that ten months after the release of "Sugar Baby Love", the fourth Rubettes single "I Can Do It" was on State (catalogue reference STAT 1).
None charted in the States, though, and the band evolved glammy nostalgia into more serious territory. "Under One Roof" (1976) a sensitive portrayal of a gay man disowned and later murdered by his father; along with Rod Stewart's "The Killing of Georgie", was one of very few songs tackling the difficult topic of homophobia. Their most successful self composed hit was the country rock styled ballad "Baby I Know", which reached number 10 in the UK and Germany in 1977. They played as a quintet since early 1975 and always as a quartet since mid 1976 (Bill Hurd became an out-off-staff member). After Thorpe's departure in 1979, The Rubettes fell silent in the face of dwindling success and soon had disbanded.
But the band continued releasing records into the 1980s, then re-grouped in 1983 in order to exploit the German market for 1970s nostalgia.
In 1994, the group's profile was raised by the inclusion of "Sugar Baby Love" in the hit movie, Muriel's Wedding. This song was also featured in the 2005 Neil Jordan film, Breakfast on Pluto soundtrack.
In 2002, the group hit the headlines once more when, following an acrimonius split and legal action, the Rubettes became the latest in a long line of bands (including Pink Floyd, the Beach Boys and Spandau Ballet) who ended up in the courts in a dispute over ownership of the band's name. The court ruled that both Williams and Hurd could tour as the Rubettes, as long as it was clear which member was fronting the band. Originals John Richardson and Mick Clarke, along with ex-Kinks keyboardist Mark Haley, feature with Alan Williams in his band; while Hurd is the only member of his group connected with the original line up.
All was well until 2005 when Williams and Hurd were back in court following an appearance by Hurd's band on the German television station ZDF, with Williams claiming Hurd had breached the terms of the original agreement. On 2 February 2006, a High Court judge found that Hurd and Williams had both been guilty of breaching the 2002 agreement. Costs of the trial were however awarded to Williams in view of the severity of Hurd's breaches. Hurd appealed against this decision, but on 3 November 2006 the Appeal Court in London ruled against him, awarding the costs of the appeal to Williams. Hurd has since gone bankrupt.
On 28 March 2008 "Sugar Baby Love" was declared to be the most successful oldie of all time by the German television station RTL.
In May and June 2008, The Rubettes were part of the 'Glitz Blitz & 70s Hitz' tour of the UK alongside Sweet and Showaddywaddy.
On June 19 2009, Bill Hurd's Rubettes played at the East Kilbride ArtBurst Festival.
Foe Dee Oh Dee
The Rubettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come on
Babe
We're gonna have some fun
Foe-Dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
A-well you know
You know that you're my number one
You're my number one
Foe-dee-oh-dee done doe
Come on baby
Let's go
Let's go
Foe-dee-oh-dee doe doe
Come on
Come on
Let ev'rybody know that I love you so
Foe-dee-oh-dee doe doe
Gonna get some money in my jeans
And put it all in the record machine
My little darling
Give it all you've got
Come on
Baby
Don't stop
Don't stop
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
Come on now
We're gonna have some fun
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
A-well you know
You know I mean ev'ryone
You know I love you all
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
Come on now
We're gonna have some fun
. . .
Gonna get some money in my jeans
. . .
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
Come on
Babe
We're gonna have some fun
. . .
Foe-dee-oh-dee done doe
Come on baby
Let's go
Let's go
. . .
The Rubettes's song "Foe Dee Oh Dee" is an upbeat and fun tune about having a good time with someone special. The lyrics are straightforward, basically telling the listener to come on and have some fun with the singer. The "foe-dee-oh-dee" and "dumb dumb" repetition serves as a catchy and infectious chorus.
The usage of "foe-dee-oh-dee" is not unique to this song. The phrase was actually used in the 1950s and 1960s as a common substitute for the F-word in rock and roll songs. The alternative language and repetition helped evade censorship and allowed songs like "Foe Dee Oh Dee" to become popular on the radio.
Overall, "Foe Dee Oh Dee" captures the essence and energy of the disco era where happy and catchy tunes were the norm. The song's appeal lies in its simplicity and upbeat melody that makes you want to dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Foe-dee-oh-dee dumb dumb
Let's go do something exciting and carefree
Come on
Encouragement to join in the fun
Babe
Term of endearment for the person being addressed
We're gonna have some fun
The purpose of the activity is enjoyment
A-well you know
Acknowledgment of an already understood fact
You know that you're my number one
The person being addressed is the most important to the singer
You're my number one
Emphasis on the importance of the person being addressed
Foe-dee-oh-dee done doe
Continuing the theme of carefree fun
Let's go
Encouragement to join in the activity
Let everybody know that I love you so
Public declaration of the artist's affection for the person being addressed
Gonna get some money in my jeans
Plan to acquire some income
And put it all in the record machine
Intention to spend the money on music
My little darling
Another term of endearment for the person being addressed
Give it all you've got
Encouragement to put effort into the activity
Don't stop
Encouragement to continue participating
You know I mean everyone
The activity is inclusive of all individuals present
You know I love you all
The artist cares for and values all present
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TONY WADDINGTON, WAYNE BICKERTON, ANTHONY WADDINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@WimCalis-sl6tm
My favourite fast Rubettes song. Loved it in 1975, still love it today. Wim Calis, Dendermonde, Belgium.
@coquelicot323
Ils étaient géniaux, du talent et surtout de l'humour. Merci les gars d'avoir égayé ma jeunesse parfois sombre.
@marie-angebion-fe9ex
Mon groupe préféré avant U2 🤩
J aime toujours les écouter ❤
@bettiecometti8042
Moi ce fût Les Rubettes a' 10/11/12/13/ 14 ans et puis le tsunami The Police .😉
@reginacoelle6089
Alan has a magical stage presence, brillian peformance!
@anikofarkasne2164
Ezek voltak az igazi bulik. Visszaidézik a fiataldágomat de ma is naponta hallgatom őket. Csupa élmény amit nyùjtanak. Köszönet érte!!!!!!
@phildurand2597
mon enfance a ècouter les rubettes en 45 tours j avais 15 ans en 1975
@bettiecometti8042
John is sooooo charming with these half smiles😉😉 and Alan is so good looking too👏👏👏😘😘💕💕💕
@danutakrawczynska6559
Panie Alanie! Dzień bez Pana piosenek jest dniem straconym.
@francescocalabro2431
Oltre a Sugar baby love, Tonight, Juke box jive, I can do it ricordo anche questa perfettamente... E anche di questa canzone ho ancora il 45 giri