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.
Under One Roof
The Rubettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His Mama didn't give a damn about him
His Papa's on the run from the Police
When Billy hit the city - the city hit Billy
No one needs you when your down and out
Then one kind guy with the painted eyes
Picked him up and bailed him out
Nobody cared about them under one roof
Sharing one room daring the world to part them
Billy found it hard to find a job to make some pay
All day looking round
Getting me down I was being turned away
And Johnny was the only one who didn't talk down
To Billy from up above and for the first time in his life
Billy found out what it felt like to be loved.
Under one roof sharing one love
Nobody cared about them under one roof
Sharing one love daring the world to part them.
Somehow Billy's Papa found out all about the style of Billy's life
And it didn't take long before he came round and he had a knife
He cut up Johnny stole all his money
He called him all the names that he could find
Said he'd wait for Billy at the factory tomorrow
And show him what they do to Billy's kind.
Under one roof sharing on love
Now the whole world knew about them
Under one roof
Sharing one love daring the world to part them.
Johnny said 'Billy we can run away from the world no more
I'm gonna fetch my daddy
I'm gonna show the world who I'm living for and if I lose my job
If I lose my life you'll know one thing is true
He can take away anything from me
But he won't take me from you.
And at five thirty dead his daddy waited at the factory
For him to come and how it did degrade
Him he cut him and he slayed him
And spat on him in front of everyone
As Billy lay dying his Papa started crying
Because the parent through him he became
And all because the person who has the first to give him love
Had been a man.
The Rubettes's song Under One Roof is a tragic story about a troubled young man named Billy, who runs away from home to find peace but finds himself in a city where he is ignored and rejected by the people around him. However, he meets a kind man with "painted eyes," Johnny, who doesn't talk down to him and shows him love and support for the first time in his life. Billy stays with Johnny "under one roof," sharing one room, and sharing one love, and they dare the world to part them.
Sadly, Billy's father, who is on the run from the police, finds out about Billy and comes to the city to threaten and harm him. He cuts up Johnny, steals his money, and waits for Billy at the factory, threatening to harm him there. In the end, as Billy's father kills Johnny in front of everyone, he realizes the weight of his actions and sobs. The song tells a powerful story about the importance of love, acceptance, and unity, and the harsh consequences of hate and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Billy ran away from his home to find away to live in peace
Billy left his home seeking a peaceful environment
His Mama didn't give a damn about him
His mother neglected him
His Papa's on the run from the Police
His father is a fugitive from the law
When Billy hit the city - the city hit Billy
The city was difficult for Billy to handle
No one needs you when your down and out
People ignore you when you're broke and down
Then one kind guy with the painted eyes
A compassionate man with unique eyes
Picked him up and bailed him out
Helped Billy when he was in trouble
Under one roof sharing one room
Living together in one room
Nobody cared about them under one roof
People didn't bother them when they were together
Sharing one room daring the world to part them
Defying anyone to separate them while living together
Billy found it hard to find a job to make some pay
Billy struggled to find employment
All day looking round, getting me down I was being turned away
Spending days job hunting and receiving rejections brought him down
And Johnny was the only one who didn't talk down
Johnny was the only person who treated Billy with respect
To Billy from up above and for the first time in his life
For the first time in his life, Billy received respect and kindness
Billy found out what it felt like to be loved
Billy discovered the feeling of being loved
Nobody cared about them under one roof
People didn't judge them while they lived together
Sharing one love daring the world to part them.
Living together while sharing an intense affection towards each other, defying anyone to separate them
Somehow Billy's Papa found out all about the style of Billy's life
Billy's father learned about his son's lifestyle
And it didn't take long before he came round and he had a knife
He came quickly with a knife
He cut up Johnny stole all his money
He brutalized Johnny and stole his belongings
He called him all the names that he could find
He verbally abused Johnny
Said he'd wait for Billy at the factory tomorrow
He threatened to harm Billy the next day
And show him what they do to Billy's kind.
He wanted to teach Billy a lesson for his lifestyle
Sharing one love daring the world to part them.
Living together while sharing an intense affection towards each other, defying anyone to separate them
Now the whole world knew about them
Their relationship became public knowledge
Johnny said 'Billy we can run away from the world no more
Johnny realized they couldn't run away anymore
I'm gonna fetch my daddy I'm gonna show the world who I'm living for
Johnny decided to introduce his father to Billy
And if I lose my job if I lose my life you'll know one thing is true
Johnny committed to Billy, even if it cost him his life or job
He can take away anything from me but he won't take me from you.
Johnny won't let anyone take him away from Billy
And at five thirty dead his daddy waited at the factory
Johnny's father waited at the factory at 5:30
For him to come and how it did degrade him
Johnny was beaten and humiliated
He cut him and he slayed him
Johnny was murdered
And spat on him in front of everyone
The father disrespected Johnny's body in public
As Billy lay dying his Papa started crying
Billy's father showed remorse as Billy was dying
Because the parent through him he became
The father realized the damage he caused as a parent
And all because the person who has the first to give him love had been a man.
The father learned the importance of love from a man, but it was too late
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN RICHARDSON, ALAN WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidpitkin9352
50 years since this was released!
Don’t worry. You’re not the only one who is listening to this masterpiece in 2024.
Super lyrics, shocking at the time.
@iloverods7476
They blew the stuffy old music establishment away with this song - best country, pop, pre-punk song ever performed, and they sacrificed everything to honour the truth. Pure love to these guys.
@PhillipW12
Yes ❤
@user-wy7cr8qp3b
Великолепный вокал с уникальным диапазоном...❤
@PhillipW12
Remarkable years ahead of itself amazing 👏
@sandraharding2624
I'd only heard John Richardson talk on they're records, but this is lovely song and he sings beautiful
@victoriagarmash8913
What a great song! Like a little story in 4 minutes. This was the first time when I thought that Johnny has an amazing voice. He is soooo handsome in this video. Love him, love him love him!
@thomasmarthinussen8978
What a haunting sensitive vocal from John Richardson. The Rubettes remains highly underrated. After the 1974/1975 hit years they parted way with their songwriting team and started to release singles and albums in a Country vein. Baby I Know and Sometime In Old Church are great albums. This gem is a highlight from the Baby I Know album (1977).
@lindaeverett9836
Its a beautiful song it doesnt matter if you are gay or not everybody needs love but alot of people still think its cool to bully those that are gay and its not cool at all, the rubettes are brilliant love them
@knockshinnoch1950
Recording and releasing this song was a bold move for any artist back in the mid 70s. A song with a strong gay theme was taboo and most artists wouldn't touch it with a barge pole for fear of negative publicity and damage to their career. Respect to the Rubettes for blazing a trail.