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Sweet - 2012 New York Connection
Background Another hugely popular bandP here at GDAZE, Sweet (or The Sweet, depending which side of the alphabet you live on) have been entertaining music fans for decades, and continue to do so. Sure, their glory days of the early-mid 70's may be way past them, and Brian Connolly's demise a distant blip on the history-meter, but there's no doubting their staying power and legacy, with the band continuing to tour thanks to mainstay Andy Scott, and radio still continuing to dig deep into Sweet's back catalogue of pop/rock hits. However, for this album, Sweet have gone back to the future with this collection of cover songs. Many of them will be familiar to you, and they're given Sweet's overtly glam/pop flavouring.. not quite sticky (or sickly) sweet, but a different sound nonetheless. The Songs Kiss and Ace Frehley fans will need no reminding of 'New York Groove', a 1978 classic pop/rocker, the Sweet's version a fitting tribute and a good one it is too! 'Gold On The Ceiling' is one of the more recent original songs on the album. Written and performed by The Black Keys back in Feb 2012, Andy Scott picked this up for inclusion on this album. It's been described as a merger of Norman Greenbaum's 'Spirit In The Sky' and Gary Glitter's 'Rock And Roll Part 2'. One listen to this song and it's easy to see the comparison to both of those tunes! 'All Moving Faster' is a track written by New Jersey punk rockers Electric Frankenstein. Selected for inclusion on this CD, it's been given a melodic sheen away from the high-energy punk original and sounds pretty good for what it's worth! 'New York Connection' is a rehash of their 1972 single, it also featured on their 1973 album. I haven't heard the original so I can't compare, but Andy must have thought it to be something special to award it inclusion, plus to name the CD after it. 'Shape Of Things' has done the rounds over the years. Whether it be The Yardbirds, David Bowie, Nazareth or Gary Moore, the song is pretty much well recognised. Sweet's version is unique with its own glam style and not copying the more recent guitar oriented versions. If you wind the clock back to 1985, you'll recognise 'You Spin Me Round' as Dead Or Alive's massive hit during that year, written by the team of Stock Aitken and Waterman. it's been covered a few times too, but Sweet's version is pretty rocky without going overboard with guitars. Bruce Springsteen is the overseer of the track 'Because The Night', but it was made popular by the Patti Smith Group during 1978. L.A metallers Keel also did a version in 1986, and a few others have since covered it. This version by Sweet is pretty good and is highly listenable too. 'Sweet Jane' sounds very melodic and near AOR-ish, even if it is an old Velvet Underground track with Lou Reed influences. Sweet make it sound like anything but! 'Blitzkreig Bop' is an ideal song for Sweet to cover. An undeniable power pop/rocker from 1976, it was in fact The Ramones debut single, and the highly infectious energy is here for all to listen to! Sweet's version of the near jazz standard 'On Broadway' is given a melodic pop/rock make-over. No doubt George Benson fans will be horrified listening to this version! lol! In my opinion, the Sweet leave the best till last with a fantastic cover of The Who's 1972 effort 'Join Together'. This version is a full sounding hard rocking track, and sounds really good. Funnily enough, the theme song to the 1974 Commonwealth Games was also called 'Join Together', sung by kiwi Steve Allen, the chorus sounding slightly copy-cat. Coincidence? I think so.. In Summary I haven't spent time with a Sweet album for ages, but listening to this covers set might inspire me to dig deep into their back catalogue. I know there are a heap of Sweet fans here at GD, so no doubt I'll be getting a few words of encouragement to do just that. A good selection of songs which spans a few decades, and with 'Blitzkreig Bop', 'New York Groove' and 'Gold On The Ceiling', classic rock, glam rock and power/pop fans never had it so good. Related Articles Sweet - 1971 Funny How Sweet Coco Can Be Sweet - 1977 Off The Record Sweet - 1978 Level Headed Sweet - 1979 Cut Above The Rest Sweet - 1980 Waters Edge Sweet - 1999 Live At The Rainbow: 1973 (The Complete Concert) Sweet - 2012 New York Connection Copying of material without permission is not permitted. Posted by gdazegod
on August 11, 2012 ·
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659 Reads ·
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