From the Vault...

02/01/2009
#1136

info
Sweet
"The Best Of Sweet"


© EMI Records

Year of Release: 1992
Rating:

track listing
  • Little Willy
  • Wig-Wam Bam
  • Blockuster
  • Ballroom Blitz
  • Teenage Rampage
  • The 6-Teens
  • Fox On The Run
  • Action
  • The Lies In Your Eyes
  • Lost Angels
  • Fever Of Love
  • Stairway To The Stars
  • Like Oxygen
  • California Nights
  • Mother Earn
  • Sixties Man

  • WSVNRadio Archives
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    N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

    Sweet related sites:
    Sweet Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #1135
    George Thorogood & The Destroyers--Rockin' My Life Away
    Next Review: #1137
    Shakria--Oral Fixation Vol. 2
    Sweet
    "The Best Of Sweet"



    Growing up in the 1970s, I was in grammar school when I first learned of the UK band, The Sweet. "Little Willy" had always been in my head, but their better songs came later, as "Ballroom Blitz" and "Fox On The Run" rocked the world as part of the 1970s decade as "songs you know when you hear them, but may not remember the name of the artist or band." "Ballroom Blitz" would be great for bands as the first song in their set, as they introduce each member of the band -- "Are you ready, (name 1)?" "Uh huh." "(name2) ?" "yeah" "(name3)" "ok" (and down the line..) "All right, fellas... Let's GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" (I was in a band in the mid 1980s as an opening act for the band called Sleeper, and "Ballroom Blitz" would be their opening song on most of their performances. More recently, this song was performed in the movie Wayne's World.


    Best described as a glam rock/hard rock band, The Sweet's music incorporates the glitter-glam antics of those before, during, and after their music were or did inspire. The glam rock songs are evident here -- "Blockbuster," could easily relate to T. Rex, a definite harder rock style is set on "Action," and the typical glam on "Stairway To The Stars" and "California Nights."


    As for other comparisons to similar glam rock artists/bands, the early years of David Bowie comes to mind on "Fever Of Love," and a more experimental sound, and comparing to the likes of Paul McCartney & Wings is "Mother Earth." Glam and comparing to a later band, XTC, is heard on "Sixties Man."


    Theatrical glam, and songs that have a Rocky Horror Picture Show atmosphere sets the stage on such songs as "The Six Teens" and "Lost Angels." And songs that have a similar sound and style to those that would become big hits for the band are the "LIttle Willy"-ish "Wig-Wam Bam," the "Ballroom Blitz"-y "Teenage Rampage," and "Fox On The Run"-ish "The Lies In Your Eyes." "Love Is Like An Oxygen" is one of those songs that anyone would vaugely remember, when it was popular at the time.


    Glam Rock has The Sweet in its type category in Rock music. For those who remember, "Little Willy," "Ballroom Blitz" and "Fox On The Run" are the standouts here. It's interesting to hear more of their music, in its Glam-Rock fashion. By the end of the 1970s, Sweet would focus on a more harder and less glam approach, yet their popularity quite didn't follow. As most rock artists, members of Sweet would encounter problems with drugs and alcohol. But from 1985 and on, members of the band would reform, and like most reunions, the band would feature some of the original members and the rest were replacements.


    But for those who did remember their most classic hits, they would definitely want to listen to these songs again, as The Best Of Sweet captures their best material from their peak years as one of the most remembered glam-rock bands in Rock history.


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    Previous Review: #1135
    George Thorogood & The Destroyers--Rockin' My Life Away
    Next Review: #1137
    Shakria--Oral Fixation Vol. 2