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In the early seventies, England was already overflowing with hard rock, rock blues, psychedelic, prog, and jazz-rock bands that managed to achieve international success. Subsequently, the wild and outrageous movement of glam emerged, a musical period characterized by talented and very original bands. The most famous names include Marc Bolan of T. Rex, the Sweet, and the Slade. In America, an interesting lineup of promising bands also emerged, among which Johnny Thunders' New York Dolls stood out. These bands, during concerts, dressed in extravagant and provocative ways, with classic platform shoes, original hairstyles, colorful outfits, etc...
The musical style was rather hard, with strong hard rock influences, but at the same time melodic and engaging. For example, T. Rex had a sound that ranged from cheerful tracks ("Hot Love"), to energetic ("Children Of The Revolution") to bluesy nuances ("Get It On", "Telegram Sam" and "Jeepster"). Slade played in a more catchy yet wild manner, as demonstrated by songs like "Cum On Feel The Noize", "Coz I Love You", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "My Oh My".
The Sweet, on the other hand, qualitatively superior to Slade and on par with T. Rex, offered an original and unmistakable style. They were formed by Brain Connolly on vocals, Steve Priest on bass, Andy Scott on guitar, and Michael Tucker on drums, one of the best drummers in English glam. From the start, they managed to gain much success and interest from critics and audiences, who at that time were used to hearing Deep Purple, Zeppelin & Co.
Their early albums contained hits like "Little Willy", "Wig Wam Bam", "Blockbuster" and "Teenage Rampage", which became true battle horses in live performances. After the great and seminal "Desolation Boulevard", containing "Fox On The Run", "Ballroom Blitz", "Set Me Free" and "Solid Gold Brass", the Sweet recorded "Give Us A Wink".
It was 1976, glam was "almost at an end" and many bands disbanded, as happened the following year with T. Rex, but Brian Connolly and his associates continued on their path. The album features nine very famous songs like "Action", "4th Of July" and others. The sound is even harder and heavier than "Desolation...", thanks to the fast riffs and Brian's aggressive voice, which in this album confirms his excellent vocal qualities.
The work opens with the sensational "The Lies In Your Eyes", a sort of "Fox On The Run" in a harder version, which already lets us understand the style the band will propose. Truly a powerful start with an exceptional track! The second track is "Cockroach" where the band expresses all the anger and grit shown from the start with the crackling drums. The riff supporting Brian's fantastic voice is very hard and raw, thus reaching the boundaries of hard rock from Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple. Together with "She Gimme Lovin'" it is the band's heaviest track.
"4th Of July" is a beautiful and well-played hard rock song, equipped with an effective riff, a great performance by Connolly, and a sensational refrain characterized by perfect and classic falsetto voices. In the rest of the song, the keyboards that support Scott's fast solos are also highlighted appropriately. "Action", one of the quartet's most famous songs is demonstrated by the various covers by bands like Def Leppard and Raven. Connolly's voice is energetic and sharp, the refrain is very catchy yet powerful and fast. Excellent also Scott's work who excels in solos and rhythmic parts, as well as Priest and Tucker. The last track of the album is "Lady Starlight", another great hit from Sweet that with its magic and pure beauty closes "Give Us A Wink" in a masterful and surprising manner.
This work, along with "Desolation Boulevard" is a must for all glam sound lovers. The Sweet continued to play until the early eighties, recording the good "Off The Record", "Level Headed", "Cut Above The Rest", the pop-rock "Waters Edge" and the final "Identify Crisis". Unfortunately, in recent years Brian Connolly and Michael Tucker have passed away, the former taken by a heart attack and the latter by leukemia. Andy Scott is the only one from the group who keeps the quartet's name high, continuing to perform concerts and tours with his Andy Scott's Sweet. Glam rock was very important, if not fundamental, for hair metal, influencing bands like Motley Crue, Ratt, Poison, Nitro, Cinderella, and many others. For me, the glam trilogy that will remain unchanged over time will be "Give Us A Wink" (or "Desolation Boulevard") by the Sweet, "Electric Warrior" by T. Rex, and "Sladest" by Slade.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Action (03:44)
So you think you'll take another piece of me
To satisfy your intellectual needs
Do you want action?
Gonna bring you down 'cos you've been pushing me
You've got to recognise my superiority
Liar Liar Liar Liar
You know you believed it
Higher Higher Higher Higher
'Cos I'm the main man
And thats why everybody wants a piece of the action
Everybody needs a main attraction
I've got what everybody needs
Satisfaction guaranteed
Everybody wants a piece of the action
Oh I was suicidal 'cos you was my idol
Baby baby baby bring it to your knees
Well there was a time I would've walked the line
But you bled me dry with your insatiable greed
Liar Liar Liar Liar
You know you believed it
Higher Higher Higher Higher
'Cos I'm the main man
And thats why everybody wants a piece of the action
Everybody needs a main attraction
I've got what everybody needs
Satisfaction guaranteed
Everybody wants a piece of the action
Do you want do you want action?
Everybody wants. Everybody needs.
Everybody wants. Everybody needs.
Everybody wants a piece of the action
Everybody needs a main attraction
I've got what everybody needs
Satisfaction guaranteed
Everybody wants a piece of the action
04 Healer (07:18)
Healer
Connolly/Priest/Scott/Tucker
I met the healer in the twilight of my life
He was the purity in my madness side
He take me far beyond the sunshine and the snow
My faithing hymn made nights a charismatic glow
Cure me, cure me, cure me
Cure me, cure me
Cure me, cure me, cure me
Cure me, cure me
He leads me through the twisted chasms of my mind
He saved me from the fated final sacrifice
He spoke to me with the palm of his hand
I hear you calling
I hear you calling
I hear you calling
I hear you calling
Deliver me, deliver me, deliver me, deliver me
Deliver me, deliver me
I am the healer in the twilight of your life
I am the purity in your madness side
Cure me, cure me, cure me, cure me, cure me
Cure me, cure me, cure me, cure me, cure me
I speak to you with the palm of my hand
I am the healer
I am the healer
I am the healer
I am the healer
Deliver me, deliver me, deliver me, deliver me
Deliver me, deliver me
Healer, healer
Healer, healer
05 The Lies in Your Eyes (03:47)
Ain't nobody gonna take my place
Whips and chains don't leave no trace
Solid gold brass got a plastic face.
Ah...
You break me up ev'ry time you try
To cool me off with a wink in your eye
And I don't eat from a pie in the sky - no more!
I can see.
You ain't foolin' me.
I ain't blind.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The tears that you cry.
I'm not blind.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
But the lies in your eyes....
You gotta big fat mouth, watch what you say
'Cause sooner (Sooner!)
you're gonna pay.
Gone tomorrow, here today.
There ain't nobody gonna take my place
Sticks and stones don't leave no trace
And I don't nead your second face.
I can see.
You ain't foolin' me.
I ain't`blind
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The tears that you cry.
I'm not blind.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
But the lies in your eyes....
I can see...
I can see... (lies in your eyes)
I can see... (lies in your eyes)
I can see... (lies in your eyes)
Eyes...
Eyes...
Don't you know I can see.
You ain't foolin' me.
I ain't blind.
Coz the lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The tears that you cry.
I'm not blind.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
The lies in your eyes don't disguise.
But the lies in your eyes....
06 Cockroach (03:47)
Connolly/Priest/Scott/Tucker
You crawled into my bed
Like a cockroach
The things you said
Made me lose my head
Like a waterfall
You've got a mouth
Like a DC ten
But I love you
You've got me in your arms
And your special charms
My yah ah yah
You got my head in circles
Uh, loved ya
But I don't want nobody but you
You fucking laugh at my inolations
You made a fuss 'bout my eating purse
By my mothers's side
You feel away like a sherman tank
But I love you
You're gonna take me there
I don't really care
My yah ah yah
You got my head in circles
Uh, loved ya
I don't want nobody but you
Turn you on to me to bring your Mama
The way she freaks gives me the creeps
She's a mainline ma'am
You've got to know
what you're doin' to your Daddy
'Cos I love you
You've got me in your arms
Ooh your precious charms
Ah yah ah yah
You got my head in circles
Uh, loved ya
I don't want nobody but you
07 Lady Starlight (03:10)
Scott
Looking for starlight
The lady made it allright
She was the lady
And I knew right from the start
Sweet lady starlight
Come on and make it tonight
You turn it on so easy
And the lady is my lady starlight
Sing the song should be sung
And love can be the voice
The tears in my eyes
I'm crying tears of joy
When you say I'm your boy
Looking for starlight
The lady made it allright
She was the lady
And I knew right from the start
Sweet lady starlight
Come on and make it tonight
You turn it on so easy
And the lady is my lady starlight
Time slips right on away
But why should I care
What people say
I will watch over lady starlight
Looking for starlight
Dance she dances a valley
And Rudi is the king
I laugh when she's happy
The power's in my hands
And I must be a man
Looking for starlight
The lady made it allright
She was the lady
And I knew right from the start
Sweet lady starlight
Come on and make it tonight
You turn it on so easy
And the lady is my lady starlight
Looking for starlight
09 4th of July (04:22)
Connolly/Priest/Scott/Tucker
The fool got up and hit my face
I couldn't make it to the door
I took a sip and drained the tap
And life became a thing to stab
Aha
I couldn't understand it
My days were in a daze
Is it bloody Sunday
I'd better save my prayers
Oh yeah, oh yeah
And when the stars came down
I was higher than the 4th of July
Whizzing right across the sky
High, high, higher
Believe the lies I told myself
I wasn't into something I own
No way
I held my breath I count to ten
So turn around round round
And do it again
I couldn't understand it
My life was all a blaze
Is it bloody Sunday
My days were in a daze
When the stars came down
I was higher than the 4th of July
Whizzing right across the sky
High, high, higher
And when the stars fell down
You know I' m gonna burn up the town
It's the 4th of July
And I was getting so high
When the stars came down
I was higher than the 4th of July
Whizzing right across the sky
High, high, higher
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