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.
The Sha Na Na Song
The Rubettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't know what they talked 'bout in my school
but I seem to be like some kind a fool oh yeah
I failed my history but that don't bother me oh no
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Sha na na sha na na na na na
and that school didn't teach no Rock'n'Roll oh no
I failed my Geography but that don't bother me oh no
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Sha na na sha na na na na na
With my mind on other things
and in my childhood dreams I would hear
little Richard scream
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Well I left my school and upon my soul
all I had left was a Rock'n'Roll
but I played it all night long
and know I can't go wrong yeah yeah
Sha na na sha na na na na na
The Rubettes's "The Sha Na Na Song" is a song about rebellion against the traditional education system that does not cater to the individual passions and interests of students. The lyrics touch upon the failure of the singer in subjects such as history and geography, but they do not regret it. In fact, the singer is proud of being a "kind of fool" and not conforming to societal standards. The song emphasizes the importance of Rock'n'Roll in the life of the singer and how it played a significant role in shaping his childhood dreams. The lines "With my mind on other things / and in my childhood dreams I would hear / little Richard scream" encapsulate the singer's love for music and his desire to pursue it.
The song's repetitive use of "Sha na na" is not just a catchy tune but also serves the purpose of expressing the singer's rebel yell. It is an expression of what he truly desires to do, which is to pursue his love for Rock'n'Roll music, regardless of whether his teachers at school recognize its value or not. The song ends on a positive note with the singer proudly declaring that he has left his school with only Rock'n'Roll in his soul, and he played it all night long, knowing that it can never go wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Sha na na sha na na na na na
Repeating the meaningless phrase 'sha na na' to fill the gaps in my thoughts
I don't know what they talked 'bout in my school
I have no idea what they were teaching me in school
but I seem to be like some kind a fool oh yeah
But I feel like I didn't learn anything and I'm naive
I failed my history but that don't bother me oh no
I failed history class, but I'm not concerned
Oh well I know my teacker had no soul
I realized my teacher lacked passion and inspiration
and that school didn't teach no Rock'n'Roll oh no
And the school didn't teach me the music I love - Rock'n'Roll
I failed my Geography but that don't bother me oh no
I failed geography class, but I'm not concerned
With my mind on other things
With my attention on other matters rather than school
and in my childhood dreams I would hear
In my dreams as a child, I listened to
little Richard scream
Little Richard's screaming, energetic music
Well I left my school and upon my soul
So I left school and the only thing I had was my own soul
all I had left was a Rock'n'Roll
All I had left was the passion for Rock'n'Roll music
but I played it all night long
But I played it all night long without stopping
and know I can't go wrong yeah yeah
And now I know I can't go wrong with my love for Rock'n'Roll
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Abgail Alves
Que lindo em todos os estilos
❤
Ruth Liz
Rubettes meninos lindos Alan Williams continua adorável forever 😍😍😍
Miguel Valerio
da hora é uma mistura de beatles com roling stones é demais ... rockm and roll....
Sonia Garcia
Eles são únicos, não se compara a ninguém, tem um estilo próprio, amados Rubettes.🥰🥰❤❤
Cristina Alencar
Me desculpe The Rubettes lindos incomparáveis adoráveis l love you Alan Williams forever
monsitos gomez
naci en el 60.mi grupo favorito de todos los tiempos..
Nilsa Sampaio silva
Qui belos tempos que nao volta mais sha na na aneis 70 saudades
Hidauria nilsa sampaio da silva Sampaio da silva
Como gosto de ouvir voceis cantar Sha na na na song e muito bonita danço. Essa musica
Hidauria nilsa sampaio da silva Sampaio da silva
De Sha na na na song gosto quando voceis cantão essa música da para dar uma volta no passado meus amores um passado tão distante que não volta
Sylviane Michel
Magnifique j'aime beaucoup