Chinn + Chapman = Chinnichap
40 years ago, in January 1973, The Sweet had their one and only # 1 single with Block Buster! (Their screamer, not mine). In the charts at the same time, and on the same record label - RCA, was David Bowie's Jean Genie: which had an identical guitar riff.'It's actually an old blues riff' Andy Scott, Sweet's guitarist, told me many years later when I interviewed him for the paper. 'Mike Chapman, our producer, used to come and see us live and at that time we would play I'm A Man by The Yardbirds and segue into FBI by The Shadows. Mike went away and (with Nicky Chinn, above right) wrote Block Buster! and the two songs became one.'
It yet on RCA I remember these pointless facts 40 years on :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat memories. The Sweet were on a roll at that time. I think it's also well worth checking out their 'heavy rock' phase of a couple of years later.
ReplyDeleteFurtheron: Nothing wrong with 'pointless' facts.
I was four in 1973. I have no memories of the 3 day week, Sunderland winning the cup, the OPEC crisis or the cod war (was that 73?). However, I do remember my elder brother playing this damn thing to death. There are few pieces of music so Proustian as that siren/guitar intro.
ReplyDeleteI was at infants school at the time - and we'd pull up our snorkel parka hoods and sing - 'you better beware, you better take care' as way of spooking the girls in the playgound.
ReplyDeleteThis chap may well have played a part in the song story too
I was at Junior School, and was entranced by a set of black-haired, blue-eyed twin boys who dominated our class. One loved Slade, the other The Sweet. I'm still in touch with the one who loved The Sweet. The Slade one is a bit of a miserable old git now.
ReplyDeleteI think there's something scientific in that.
Thank you everyone. Mondo knows that I once met Brian Connolly: it's a HORA. But true. I think you'll find it on one of his blogs somewhere.
ReplyDeleteI was a member of a drama club at the time and when a change of costume or scenery was required, I, along with 3 mates, were called upon to fill-in by performing our specialty act, which was to mime to a Sweet hit in the full get-up - tonight Matthew, I'm going to be Steve Priest. I have the photographic evidence & it ain't pretty.
ReplyDelete