THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

860-The Sweet-Block Buster!

1973-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 1.40. This song is so good, that even the band are lost for words.

The Sweet were formed in London, England, in 1968, by Brian Connolly, (1945-1997) (vocals) and Mick Tucker, (1947-2002) (drums) who had previously played together in a band called ‘Wainwright’s Gentlemen,’ they were soon joined by Steve Priest, (1945-2020) (bass) with the classic line up completed by Andy Scott, (guitar) who joined in 1970. When first forming they were known as ‘The Sweetshop,’ but when another band with the same name released a single, they changed to ‘The Sweet,’ and then from 1974, they became just ‘Sweet.’ Brian Connolly left to pursue a solo career in 1978, with the remaining members continuing as a trio, through until they split in 1982. Between 1984-1997, Brian Connolly put together a band called ‘New Sweet,’ and then between 2008-2020, Steve Priest assembled his own version called ‘Steve Priest’s Sweet. Also Andy Scott and Mick Tucker organised their own version of ‘Sweet,’ in 1985, as ‘Andy Scott’s Sweet’ and they remain active at the time of writing. In total 19 different members have performed under the ‘Sweet ‘ banner to date.

From their inception in 1968, through until the split in 1982, the musical output of the ‘Sweet’ changed from ‘Bubblegum Pop,’ to ‘Glam Rock,’ and then finally to their first love of ‘Hard Rock.’ The discography of the ‘Sweet’ includes nine studio Albums released between 1971-1982, with a further five by ‘Andy Scott’s Sweet,’ issued between 1992-2020. They have also released 50 singles between 1968-2023, and there are 24 official compilations, and 11 live Albums available. In the UK, 15 of their singles have made the top 40, with ‘Block Buster!’ being their only Number 1, but five of their tracks have reached the Number 2 spot. In America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, they have charted within the top 40 on five occasions, with ‘Little Willy’ from 1972, peaking the highest at Number 3, although ‘Block Buster!’ only reached Number 73 in America.

‘Block Buster!’ was co-written by the legendary songwriting duo of Nicky Chinn, (see also best songs 773 and 686) and Mike Chapman, (see also best songs 773-686 and 402) with the songs production being by Philip Wainman, who worked with the Sweet through until 1974. Michael Donald Chapman was born on April 13th, 1947, in Nambour, Queensland, Australia, with Nicky Chinn, he worked under the ‘Chinnichap’ brand, writing and producing for artists including Suzi Quatro, Smokie, and Mud. Chinn and Chapman worked together between 1970-1978, with their golden period from 1973-1974, seeing them achieve 19 UK top 40 hits, including five Number 1 singles, but Mike Chapman is most critically acclaimed for his later work with the American ‘New Wave’ group ‘Blondie,’ and in particular their 1979 Album ‘Parallel Lines,’ which he produced, and which took ‘Blondie’ to the next level of international success.

‘Block Buster!’ was released shortly after David Bowie (1947-2016) had reached Number 2 in the UK chart with ‘The Jean Genie,’ on the same record label ‘RCA.’ Both of the songs have the same guitar riff, but neither party ever commented accusingly about the similarities, and that maybe because the riff is also identical to that used by the English Rock band the ‘Yardbirds,’ on their 1964 cover version, of the 1955 Bo Diddley (1928-2008) song ‘I’m a Man.’ On first hearing ‘The Jean Genie’ Andy Scott of the ‘Sweet’ has recalled, ‘We sat there with horrified looks on our faces. The guy asked what was wrong, and we said ‘That’s the same f—ing guitar riff as Blockbuster. He said, ‘Well, it’s quite similar isn’t it?’ ‘It’s the f—ing same. I got on the blower to Nicky Chinn and said, ‘We can’t release this.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry, they’re completely different kinds of records and I predict this will be a Number one.’ I thought, ‘Good luck with that.’ But he was proved right. A few weeks later, we were at Number one, and Bowie was at Number two.’

‘Block Buster!’ tells the tale of a man called ‘Buster,’ who women find irresistible, in order to stop him taking your woman, you must block him.’

‘You better beware, you better take care, you better watch out if you’ve got long black hair. He’ll come from behind, you’ll go out of your mind, you better not go, you never know what you’ll find.’