Angel Air Records [Release date 13.01.14]
This is a thirteen song compilation with a difference from the multitude of Sweet collections out there in that all the songs have been re-recorded by the current line up, namely sole original member guitarist Andy Scott joined by drummer Bruce Bisland (Gary Barden’s Statetrooper), lead vocalist/bassist Pete Lincoln and guitarist/keys player Tony O’Hara (ex-Praying Mantis). A version of this album has been available on their tours and online with ‘Little Willy’ and ‘Wig Wam Bam’ done as a medley (both are separate full songs on here) and ‘New York Groove’ which doesn’t make this version.
The track listing covers from their early bubblegum hits (with a medley of ‘Co Co’, ‘Funny Funny’ and ‘Poppa Joe’) through to the band’s last hit single ‘Love Is Like Oxygen’. The only odd song is the cover of ‘Peppermint Twist’ (played in the style of Status Quo!) which was a big hit for the Sweet in Australia.
I am a big fan of the band since seeing them perform ‘Blockbuster’ on ‘Top Of The Pops’ (although it was some years later before I actually bought any of their music), so this album is a delight from start to finish. Pete Lincoln sounds a lot like the late Brian Connolly and the band have stayed faithful to the original arrangements by and large – for example you can hear the band roll call at the start of ‘Ballroom Blitz’ changed to ‘Bruce’ instead of ‘Mick’.
This is a faithful re-recording of their hits with a few tweaks here and there. Perfect for those new to the band and the band’s many fans should have this collection to as it is ‘new’ in the recording sense. Along with Slade one the most consistent hard rock bands to have a string of hit singles in the early to mid-70′s. ****1/2
Review by Jason Ritchie
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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
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14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
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