| "Block Buster!" | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Single by Sweet | ||
| B-side | "Need a Lot of Lovin'" | |
| Released | January 1973 | |
| Recorded | 1972 | |
| Genre | Glam rock | |
| Length | 3:13 | |
| Label | RCA Records | |
| Writer | Nicky Chinn Mike Chapman | |
| Producer | Phil Wainman | |
"Block Buster!" is a popular song by Sweet. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, and produced by Phil Wainman, "Block Buster!" was the band's sole UK #1 hit. Released in January 1973, it spent five weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, and also made #1 in the Netherlands, Germany and Ireland, but fared less well in the USA where it peaked at #73 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Music and lyrics
Even though the lyrics refer to a person ("Nobody knows where Buster goes, He'll steal your woman out from under your nose .... there's got to be a way To Block Buster!"), the song features the wailing sound of air raid sirens, alluding to the blockbuster bombs dropped in World War II. Its riff was considered markedly similar to fellow RCA act David Bowie's "The Jean Genie", released shortly before, but all parties maintain that this was pure coincidence.[1]
Appearances in popular culture
In 1988 The Timelords had a UK #1 hit with "Doctorin' the Tardis", based heavily on Sweet's song. In 2007, a version of the song was used to advertise Mars 'Planets' chocolates on UK television. This song was used by The Macc Lads as the basis for their song "Fat Bastard".
| Preceded by "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" by Little Jimmy Osmond | UK number one single January 23 1973 | Succeeded by "Cum on Feel the Noize" by Slade |
Notes
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.110
