The siren was so trademark Sweet..who didn’t thrash blockbuster on the record player 50 million times a day..I wanted to be in the Sweet ...love hearing the inside stories..
One of the best bands I’ve ever seen live. I remember that pedal for blockbuster as I was in the front row I have always admired Andy as a guitarist,and I would love to have played with him.
This was on TV last night on ITV's Nation's Favourite 70s Number One at no 19! Glad Andy's guitar is safe & well. Yes there's a lot more than a guitar riff that gets a song to No1, often its the person singing it that makes you watch & listen.
I was a roadie for a group called Fancy, the lead singer was an ex roadie from the sweet. we visited sweet in London and it was the first time I had ever seen a Pea souper, you really could not see anything in front of you. I built a siren module as Fancy were very much like Sweet and they played Blockbuster as part of their act. Lots of memories from times long ago, I even have a picture of myself and Brian when he visited Warrington.
I would have like to have heard more about how Andy and the rest of the band felt about the song itself. Whether they rated the song or not, Blockbuster put The Sweet into a different stratosphere as it wasnt 'just' a No1, it was an outstanding No1. As soon as you hear the siren you are back in the early 1970s, RCA records, the atmosphere, the class.
Andy, I'm thoroughly enjoying all your Sweet tales. Please keep it up, where in the world can we get this insight? I can't imagine Blockbuster without a siren wailing!
Long long time ago the Sweet introduce me to the great circus of Rock'n'Roll, you can't barely imagine how much I Love You! During the years my musical tastes changed a lot but I never forget You and every time I listen one of your Classics my heart turn young Again! Tank You!
For some reason I remember walking out of school and hearing this on my little Benkson transistor radio. I think it must have been the chart show when it got to number one.
Ah, now I understand and probably know where you guys were inspired to get the sound from (maybe unconsciously?) The aerial siren, the artificial double tracking(?) or tape delay on the vocals, the same swing rhythm. I heard it before but could recall - but today I did! It's probably from Napoleon XIV (Jerry Samuels) with his song 'They're coming to take me away' from 1966. It got a lot of similarities. Beautiful time frame - 1973. It's also the very year I was born 🙂 Mesmerizing song of yours. I really love it!
my ave song of Sweets :) a pity not written by you guys tho; always love watching Steves performances live :) and yes your version with that siren noise is the best....ahh and yes can here that 'Jean Genie bit now ............hmmm oh well that's rock and roll hey Andy
We missed his other band members Brian and Mick. They were devoted so much in music. Just like Steve and Andy very serious on music on the way how they presented with the guitars.
Interesting about the siren being removed from the U.S. release. Good lord, American radio programmers were (and still are) so short-sighted, and I say this as an American. So many Sweet songs should have been so much bigger here back then, but they just never got the proper push like they did in other countries. Even to this day, it seems like the only Sweet songs anyone here is even remotely familiar with are Fox On The Run, Ballroom Blitz, and Love is Like Oxygen.
I do like the Jean Genie record as well, and the guitar riff is the same, but i think the production, backing vocals.and melody are way better in Blockbuster. still, both great songs....Andy and Ronno did great work
Besides the factory whistle effect, I think the siren would startle American drivers when this came on the radio - that might be another reason to delete it in the American version.
Looking forward to Amager bio 14/3 (y) Haha lol, the story with the US factory workers is hilariously fun and tragic at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
No disrespect to the many hits that Sweet had, but I've never known a band to be so shackled to the Chinn/Chapman hit machine that their own songs were relegated to B sides. The B side to this song, "Need A Lot Of Lovin'", is by far superior to the A side. "Need A Lot Of Lovin'", "Man From Mecca", "Rock & Roll Disgrace", "Own Up, Take A Look At Yourself", "Miss Demeanor" could have been and should have been singles in their own right. This is a band who had the best B sides ever recorded!
I wanna make a harder rock or metal cover to this song as a tribute for one of the worlds greatest and turning point in music bands in my opinion. Long live rock and metal! 🎶✊🏻🎸🎤🥁
Questions for dear Andy. where did the tremolo/vibrato effect come from, with the starting chords? like a sus4 chord pattern you here there? Also, who was Buster? the song talks about blocking Buster out, for he is more evil, etc..
Maybe i can answer..... The tremolo is`nt actually a tremolo - It sounds like an effekt from an Echoplex .. ( Now i`m just guessing and not sure if they existed around that time, but it sounds logic to me) "Buster" is just a fictive character and the wordplay was just entertaining.
I've been a fan of Sweet for a long time.I like these stories about the songs.What I don't understand is why Andy wouldn't get rid of that extra weight. And Steve too. We want them around for a long time.
Most interesting to see and hear about Blockbuster - I and a few of my friends loved this, well, virtually everything Sweet did when we were growing up during the 1960s-1970s. Loved the riffs too (and we liked Jean Genie!). p.s. gotta say we girls were so jealous of Brian's beautiful hair - had ours cut in the same style, but never quite looked as good as Brian's hair somehow!
OOoohh poor hubby!! he`s slightly going bald,is he?! No worries B. lots a rockers are bald:Rob Halford of Judas Priest,Phil Collins....he`s deaf,dumb and blind too! Joe Satriani the axe-man.... what about a wig? Well,you got sheep...why don`t ya knit him one! LOL! ...makes him look sò SWEET! ;)
it echoes to blockbuster. listened closely and loud on lm radio from mocambique. we had no tower near kenton on sea. later grahamstown got the tower. we were on farm in kenton on sea, no electricity, later we got it. radio with pm 9 batteries.
Andy - Always wondered (and yes, music geeky question) the change to the chord over 'got to be a way' in the final chorus... deliberate choice, or Eno-esque 'honour thy mistake as deliberate intent'?
I had a old VHS tape with "Blockbuster" on it...and Steve was dressed up as a WW1 German officer... brilliant ! Wouldn't do that today with alm the wokesters...😂
No “ Sweet F.A. “ ??? Sweet Fuck All or Sweet Fucking Ass What are the synth notes for the this song , Sweet F.A. ?? “ Blockbuster “kicks ass ,, Blockbuster Out !!!
The most under rated guitarist of all time! God bless Andy!
I was 17 when I first heard this song, and I liked it
Sweet we’re one of the greatest rock bands out there. Very underrated.👍
The siren was so trademark Sweet..who didn’t thrash blockbuster on the record player 50 million times a day..I wanted to be in the Sweet ...love hearing the inside stories..
Brilliant..blockbuster was Mega...such interesting hearing the facts of mighty powerhouse Sweet
One of the best bands I’ve ever seen live. I remember that pedal for blockbuster as I was in the front row I have always admired Andy as a guitarist,and I would love to have played with him.
This was on TV last night on ITV's Nation's Favourite 70s Number One at no 19! Glad Andy's guitar is safe & well. Yes there's a lot more than a guitar riff that gets a song to No1, often its the person singing it that makes you watch & listen.
@I DON'T CARE I DON'T CARE Exactly. And Bowie's song didn't have that or the humour.
After nearly now 40 years i like this band so much. It was the first rockband for me with my twelve years i heard it in the radio at this time.
So beautifully produced. Those acoustic guitars sound fantastic.
I was a roadie for a group called Fancy, the lead singer was an ex roadie from the sweet. we visited sweet in London and it was the first time I had ever seen a Pea souper, you really could not see anything in front of you. I built a siren module as Fancy were very much like Sweet and they played Blockbuster as part of their act.
Lots of memories from times long ago, I even have a picture of myself and Brian when he visited Warrington.
Wasn't their drummer Les Binks, later of Judas Priest? Great player!
I would have like to have heard more about how Andy and the rest of the band felt about the song itself. Whether they rated the song or not, Blockbuster put The Sweet into a different stratosphere as it wasnt 'just' a No1, it was an outstanding No1. As soon as you hear the siren you are back in the early 1970s, RCA records, the atmosphere, the class.
This is good rock bands and great rock music. Relaxing to listen to. Thank you very much.👍👍👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌻🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌻
Great vid. Amazing band. Glad Andy is still with us.
Impossible to deny that Sweet had a righteous guitar sound.
5:39 just that....🙏😀 Brilliant !
SWEET !!!!! ✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈✈
i am so glad I heard this Mick Tucker was my greatest Hero!
Andy, I'm thoroughly enjoying all your Sweet tales. Please keep it up, where in the world can we get this insight? I can't imagine Blockbuster without a siren wailing!
Great Andy!! thanks 4 this history!!!
Thanks for this channel... Still a great fan of The Sweet!!
Sweet-Music never dies 🎶👍
love this song of the month series well done andy
Thanks Andy!
Andy is a very positive and hilarious guy!
Always liked the shimmering guitar sound
I love watching these vids, thanks Andy
Long long time ago the Sweet introduce me to the great circus of Rock'n'Roll, you can't barely imagine how much I Love You! During the years my musical tastes changed a lot but I never forget You and every time I listen one of your Classics my heart turn young Again! Tank You!
Great player , they were all top notch musician vocalists 🇬🇧🎶
6:45 I have the version (on Bell) without the siren at the beginning. Always wondered why but now I know. Thanks for the info.
The demo sounds awesome too!👍
when i first heard this song i was immediately hooked!!!
Just brilliant the way Andy shares and informs The Sweets history and Catalogue. Thankyou Andy x.
Энди Скот великолепен и очень недооцененный гитарист. Браво Энди. Долгих лет.
My favourite band !
Porto Alegre City, south of Brasil
I’d never noticed the similarity between Jean Genie and Blockbuster until now. Both great songs
i think that is great. We learn what he tells us and is great for him and his fans to interact with this programme too.
I love song of the month. Very interesting, need more, I've watched and watched them all!
Brilliant Memories Andy ❤
terrific song! freaking awesome!
For some reason I remember walking out of school and hearing this on my little Benkson transistor radio. I think it must have been the chart show when it got to number one.
This was the first time I I heard sweet and the harmony kills
That's how you get creative before digital Crap.. LUV the ANALOG Siren 😁👍🏻
still fascinated ,make it good in Warsaw see u soon there, this music made all of my parties
Love the Sweet. Still a great band now.
Ah, now I understand and probably know where you guys were inspired to get the sound from (maybe unconsciously?)
The aerial siren, the artificial double tracking(?) or tape delay on the vocals, the same swing rhythm. I heard it before but could recall - but today I did! It's probably from Napoleon XIV (Jerry Samuels) with his song 'They're coming to take me away' from 1966. It got a lot of similarities. Beautiful time frame - 1973. It's also the very year I was born 🙂 Mesmerizing song of yours. I really love it!
my ave song of Sweets :) a pity not written by you guys tho; always love watching Steves performances live :) and yes your version with that siren noise is the best....ahh and yes can here that 'Jean Genie bit now ............hmmm oh well that's rock and roll hey Andy
GRAANDES THE SWETT with Brian and STEVe tremendos músicos !! del glam and Hard ROCK...Saludos !! lindos recuerdos de los años 72 y 73.
I had a siren pedal like that in the early years
my father to^ nice
My band!
They are IMMORTALS......
We missed his other band members Brian and Mick. They were devoted so much in music. Just like Steve and Andy very serious on music on the way how they presented with the guitars.
God rest ye Merry gentlemen
Brilliant..i remember watching this on top of the pops..
Interesting about the siren being removed from the U.S. release. Good lord, American radio programmers were (and still are) so short-sighted, and I say this as an American. So many Sweet songs should have been so much bigger here back then, but they just never got the proper push like they did in other countries. Even to this day, it seems like the only Sweet songs anyone here is even remotely familiar with are Fox On The Run, Ballroom Blitz, and Love is Like Oxygen.
Absolutely love it!!!! Thanks Andy for making me laugh and giggle... ;-)
My cat doesn't like the siren though... ;-)
I do like the Jean Genie record as well, and the guitar riff is the same, but i think the production, backing vocals.and melody are way better in Blockbuster.
still, both great songs....Andy and Ronno did great work
I saw the famous 335 at the R&R hall of fame at the O2 arena.Its closed now so I dont know where it is.Shame, it was well worth a visit.
Besides the factory whistle effect, I think the siren would startle American drivers when this came on the radio - that might be another reason to delete it in the American version.
Looking forward to Amager bio 14/3 (y)
Haha lol, the story with the US factory workers is hilariously fun and tragic at the same time. Thanks for sharing!
No disrespect to the many hits that Sweet had, but I've never known a band to be so shackled to the Chinn/Chapman hit machine that their own songs were relegated to B sides. The B side to this song, "Need A Lot Of Lovin'", is by far superior to the A side. "Need A Lot Of Lovin'", "Man From Mecca", "Rock & Roll Disgrace", "Own Up, Take A Look At Yourself", "Miss Demeanor" could have been and should have been singles in their own right. This is a band who had the best B sides ever recorded!
Or they may have been double A sides together (with their respective A sides)
those b sides are stellar agreed
Your song was better than Bowie's you deserved the top spot sir!
Thanks again Andy. Gr8! BTW Anything coming about "Set Me Free"?
I wanna make a harder rock or metal cover to this song as a tribute for one of the worlds greatest and turning point in music bands in my opinion. Long live rock and metal! 🎶✊🏻🎸🎤🥁
Blockbuster = Rock music for me, my first time, nuf said.
Questions for dear Andy. where did the tremolo/vibrato effect come from, with the starting chords? like a sus4 chord pattern you here there? Also, who was Buster? the song talks about blocking Buster out, for he is more evil, etc..
Maybe i can answer.....
The tremolo is`nt actually a tremolo - It sounds like an effekt from an Echoplex .. ( Now i`m just guessing and not sure if they existed around that time, but it sounds logic to me)
"Buster" is just a fictive character and the wordplay was just entertaining.
I've been a fan of
Sweet for a long time.I like these stories about the songs.What I don't understand is why Andy wouldn't get rid of that extra weight. And Steve too. We want them around for a long time.
Very funny the sirens mate
Sweet love this Band...but..Sweet without Brian Connolly... It is not Sweet...love You Andy Scott...💕💕💕💕💕💕🇧🇷🇧🇷
thanks Andy...I wonder if you knew the Youngs from Ac/Dc or met them? xx
am amazed as the youngs were into blues etc pity no collabaration with Malcolm (now deceased) OR ANGUS
Most interesting to see and hear about Blockbuster - I and a few of my friends loved this, well, virtually everything Sweet did when we were growing up during the 1960s-1970s. Loved the riffs too (and we liked Jean Genie!). p.s. gotta say we girls were so jealous of Brian's beautiful hair - had ours cut in the same style, but never quite looked as good as Brian's hair somehow!
+Jane Bridger I think Brian's wife was a very good hairdresser & it looks like Andy is going for that look now; my husband is very envious.
OOoohh poor hubby!! he`s slightly going bald,is he?!
No worries B. lots a rockers are bald:Rob Halford of Judas Priest,Phil Collins....he`s deaf,dumb and blind too! Joe Satriani the axe-man....
what about a wig? Well,you got sheep...why don`t ya knit him one! LOL! ...makes him look sò SWEET! ;)
Wig wam bam a lamb?! Haha don't be cheeky 😂
I `m a man is a Muddy Waters/Bo Diddley song from `55, not Yardbirds.
Hallo Andy, is it possible to tell the complete story about sweet and chinnichap ???
yes but even though they have the same riff ,they are both ace songs ,and different sounding overall . jean genie and bb i mean
it echoes to blockbuster. listened closely and loud on lm radio from mocambique. we had no tower near kenton on sea. later grahamstown got the tower. we were on farm in kenton on sea, no electricity, later we got it. radio with pm 9 batteries.
Also... Bowie’s song had harmonica. A bit different than Sweet’s.
Its funny to see the girls at the end of this video, scared crazy cause Mick is having a bash on his drums ......great stuff
That ending tho
Sweet's self-penned songs are at least as good as the earlier stuff.
Zeppelin Bear As good and better
Is that the Jean genie riff
6:29 I can understand that
so what t the fuck, You were my Insperation Steve Priest
Andy - Always wondered (and yes, music geeky question) the change to the chord over 'got to be a way' in the final chorus... deliberate choice, or Eno-esque 'honour thy mistake as deliberate intent'?
I had a old VHS tape with "Blockbuster" on it...and Steve was dressed up as a WW1 German officer... brilliant ! Wouldn't do that today with alm the wokesters...😂
David Bowe stoled Steve's style and make up....bastard
Amazing musician, but just needs to get rid of that silly wig.
No “ Sweet F.A. “ ???
Sweet Fuck All or Sweet Fucking Ass
What are the synth notes for the this song , Sweet F.A. ??
“ Blockbuster “kicks ass ,,
Blockbuster Out !!!
Bangs never looked good