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.
I'm Just Dreaming
The Rubettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Dreaming, I'm just dreaming
Every day dreaming my life away yeah yeah
Just waiting hoping and praying
End all this misery
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Don't make me wait too long
It's here where you belong
Don't keep me hanging on
Come on back and dry these tears
Baby please don't leave me here
Just dreaming, I'm just dreaming
Every day dreaming my life away yeah yeah
Just waiting hoping and praying
That you'll come back to me
End all this misery
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Dreaming, I'm just dreaming
Every day dreaming my life away yeah yeah
Just waiting hoping and praying
That you'll come back to me
End all this misery
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Dreaming, I'm just dreaming
Every day dreaming my life away yeah yeah
Just waiting hoping and praying
That you'll come back to me
End all this misery
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down
Down down dummy doo down.
The Rubettes’ “I’m Just Dreaming” is a song that speaks of the agony of unrequited love. The repetition of the “down down dummy doo down” suggests a sense of emptiness and a feeling of monotony in the singer’s life. The lyrics start with the singer admitting that they are dreaming and “dreaming my life away,” indicating that they are unhappy and unfulfilled. The dream is a metaphor for a desire that is unfulfilled in the person’s life.
The singer is waiting, hoping, and praying for the person they love to come back to them and end this “misery.” They ask the person not to keep them hanging on and that they belong together. The plea of the singer is for the person they love to return and fulfil their desire for them. The repetition of “down down dummy doo down” throughout the song emphasizes the feeling of desperation and hopelessness that the singer is feeling.
Overall, the song portrays the pain caused by unrequited love and the hopelessness that comes with it. The singer is trapped in a cycle of waiting and hoping for something that is out of their control, and they feel as though their life is at a standstill until that desire is fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
Down down dummy doo down
Repetitive nonsensical sounds meant to create a rhythm for the song.
Dreaming, I'm just dreaming
Expressing the act of dreaming, an escape from reality.
Every day dreaming my life away yeah yeah
Constantly suppressing real life in favor of a fantasy.
Just waiting hoping and praying
Holding onto hope that someone or something will fulfill a desire.
That you'll come back to me
Longing for the return of a lost love or a sense of comfort.
End all this misery
Wanting an end to the suffering caused by the absence of the desired person or thing.
Don't make me wait too long
Impatient and pleading for a quick resolution to the uncertainty.
It's here where you belong
Expressing a strong conviction that the desired person or thing rightfully belongs here.
Don't keep me hanging on
Dread and frustration due to the lack of resolution or progress.
Come on back and dry these tears
Using an emotional appeal to try to bring back the lost love and restore happiness.
Baby please don't leave me here
Anxiety and despair that the desired person or thing will leave or abandon.
Contributed by Ryan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marc Pizzardini
Grand respect pour les Rubettes qui ont été les premiers dont j'ai été un grand fan, j'avais 10 ans à l'époque et qui m'ont apporté le sens de la mélodie et la notion de groupe ! Après je suis passé à Deep purple et Led Zeppelin !
Lillian Christina
Maravilhosos!! Alan lindo , talentoso e carismático !!!
Lilian Aires
Alan maravilhoso! !! Amo !❤❤❤
gdouglas999
As an American, I am extremely regretful that this band's wonderful music and harmonies were almost never heard here.
marie calp
merveilleux , magnifique, magistral, toujours aussi beau , je vous aime , toujours autant même en 2019 je ne vous oubli pas vous êtes mes 20 ans
Julie_Ann Smith
No matter what these guys are the best boy band ever,growing up in the 70s they were and still are the best music so sexy so hot especially the drummer oh so yummy
Julie_Ann Smith
Nice to have dreams with someone special but then when you finally wake up to find it was a nightmare that's the biggest hurt of all,so now I keep dreams to myself that way I can't get hurt by anyone
Elaine Lee-Robinson
this recording is so beautiful. makes me feel like teenage again - chasing after the boys who used to run away from me.
Helena Nery
Maravilhosos...❤
anmaniis
Buena selección de fotos y la canción es preciosa