Popdose: Lost in the ’70s: The Sweet, “Blockbuster”
David_E
· 9 months ago
That was ... Sweet.
You're gonna be Malchus a run for his money here ...
JonCummings
· 9 months ago
Little Johnny Hughes pulling Bowie and Nick Gilder albums out of Partridge Family and Carpenters sleeves while the parents are away...
To quote the ever-quotable "Almost Famous": "This explains...so...much."
Pete
· 9 months ago
Ahh, Aunt Jackie. Nice to see her make an appearance at Popdose after originally reading about her on your own blog... : )
"Ballroom Blitz" is still one of my favorite 45s that I used to swipe from my sisters' rooms and play incessantly.
JohnHughes
· 9 months ago
Hee!
Malchus
· 9 months ago
Wonderful story, John. It took me back to my Ohio childhood. Uncle Bill's? I forgot all about that place. I was hoping you'd post a picture of you in your horn rimmed glasses, too.
This is such a great song, one of those classics I heard many times growing up but never knew who it was. I think it was featured in the original "Life on Mars" series.
Eric S.
· 9 months ago
I didn't really get into Sweet until Ballroom Blitz, but it was great to go back and discover their older stuff like Blockbuster and Little Willy (which is really more bubble gum than glam).
Armenite
· 9 months ago
Very cool post.
Bob
· 9 months ago
Amen!
Ray
· 9 months ago
Cool writeup! Love the "camouflaging" of Bowie albums in Partridge Family covers (sort of like how Hyde and Fez smuggled an Alice Cooper LP in a Pat Boone sleeve to fool Fez's host parents in That 70s Show).
Recently rediscovered The Sweet and they totally kicked ass! Of course as a kid I remember the big hit singles ("Little Willy", "Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run", etc.), but they had some way cool stuff in their 70s catalog. I've had the domestic "Best of Sweet" CD for a long time, but recently got a copy of "The Sweet Greatest Hits" import on Amazon.com. There are about 9 overlapping songs among both CDs, but the import also has lots of their early British singles ("Funny Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe" and the BANNED BY BBC "Turn It Down"); some of it bubble-gummy but great listening nonetheless. If you're into The Sweet, you owe it to yourself to have both of these CDs side-by-side in your collection!
Steve Ali
· 9 months ago
Great story. I remember when I was also a kid and we did not have a turntable - we had to go next door to my cousins and listen and dance and sing. The ones I remember vividly were the Sweet's Strung Up (loved fox on the run) and Rare Earth. I loved those covers and the colours on it - I remember tracing them out and colouring them. My---- how times have changed.
All Comments
You're gonna be Malchus a run for his money here ...
To quote the ever-quotable "Almost Famous": "This explains...so...much."
"Ballroom Blitz" is still one of my favorite 45s that I used to swipe from my sisters' rooms and play incessantly.
This is such a great song, one of those classics I heard many times growing up but never knew who it was. I think it was featured in the original "Life on Mars" series.
Recently rediscovered The Sweet and they totally kicked ass! Of course as a kid I remember the big hit singles ("Little Willy", "Ballroom Blitz", "Fox on the Run", etc.), but they had some way cool stuff in their 70s catalog. I've had the domestic "Best of Sweet" CD for a long time, but recently got a copy of "The Sweet Greatest Hits" import on Amazon.com. There are about 9 overlapping songs among both CDs, but the import also has lots of their early British singles ("Funny Funny", "Co-Co", "Poppa Joe" and the BANNED BY BBC "Turn It Down"); some of it bubble-gummy but great listening nonetheless. If you're into The Sweet, you owe it to yourself to have both of these CDs side-by-side in your collection!