SWEET - review added 1st July 2009
Live Album Review: Live! In America (2009)
For fans of: Glam Rock... and songs you might not have known you knew
Sweet started out in the early 70's and were one of the better known glam rock acts. The original line-up was Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker (although iterations of the band had existed for a few years before this with different line-ups and different names).
During the 70's the band racked up numerous top 20 singles and albums with songs including 'Blockbuster', 'Ballroom Blitz' and 'Action'. By the end of the decade the line-up was starting to duck and dive all over the place. There ended up being a number of different versions of the group - sometimes with more than one existing at once.
Cut forwards to 2009 and original bass player/backing vocalist Steve Priest's version is still going strong. Joining him nowadays are Joe Retta (lead vocals), Stuart Smith (lead guitar and backing vocals), Stevie Stewart (keyboards and backing vocals) and Richie Onori (drums).
The album is crammed full of top tracks. The ones mentioned above are of course there... and as you might expect they are brilliant. Glam rock doesn't get a lot better than 'Action' or 'Ballroom Blitz', but it's surprising how many other good tracks Sweet wrote over the years. 'Love Is Like Oxygen' is awesome, as is the silly 'Wig Wam Bam' and the noticeably naughty 'Little Willy'. There are no duff tracks on this release and the whole thing is recorded beautifully and played with tongue in cheek passion.
Is this version of the band as good as the original? To be fair, no. Brian Connolly's vocals were off the planet (quite literally) and he's sorely missed. Joe Retta is excellent, but you wouldn't want a Rolf Harris if you could afford a Picasso, would you? Think of this Sweet as the best Sweet cover's band you'll ever hear and you'll be right on the mark.
(Please note the album is available to purchase through the band's website. See the web address below.)
Check out... 'Ballroom Blitz', and try not to sing along...
Track List:
1. Action
2. Fox On The Run
3. Hell Raiser
4. Love Is Like Oxygen
5. Blockbuster
6. Windy City
7. Wig Wam Bam
8. The Six Teens
9. Sweet Dream
10. Sweet F.A.
11. Turn It Down
12. Teenage Rampage
13. Little Willy
14. AC/DC
15. Set Me Free
16. Ballroom Blitz
Band websites: Sweet , MySpace
