Block Buster!
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2014) |
| "Block Buster!" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Need a Lot of Lovin'" |
"Block Buster!" (also sometimes listed as "Blockbuster!") is a 1973 single by Sweet. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, and produced by Phil Wainman, "Block Buster!" was the band's sole UK No. 1 hit. Released in January 1973, it spent five weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart,[2] and also made #1 in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Ireland, and #3 in Finland, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Outside Europe it peaked at #1 in New Zealand, #29 in Australia and at #73 on the American Billboard Hot 100.
Charts
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
| Chart (1973) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 29 |
| Austria | 1 |
| Belgium | 2 |
| Denmark | 1 |
| Finland | 3 |
| Germany | 1 |
| Ireland | 1 |
| Italy | 30 |
| Netherlands | 1 |
| New Zealand | 1 |
| Norway | 3 |
| South Africa | 7 |
| Spain | 12 |
| Switzerland | 3 |
| United Kingdom | 1 |
| United States | 73 |
Music and lyrics
Its Muddy Waters-inspired blues riff is markedly similar to the one featured on fellow RCA act David Bowie's "The Jean Genie", released shortly before, but all parties maintain that this was a coincidence.[3]
TV performances
Some controversy rose after the band's performance of the song on the British television program Top of the Pops at December 25, 1973. In this performance, Sweet's bassist Steve Priest wore a Nazi uniform.[4]
References
- ^ Sandford, Christopher (1996). Bowie: Loving The Alien. Da Capo Press. p. 103. ISBN 978-0306808548.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 282–3. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Nicholas Pegg (2000). The Complete David Bowie: p.110
- ^ "Steve Priest | The Sweet". Thesweetband.com. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
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| Studio albums | |
| Live albums | |
| Compilation albums | |
| Singles | |
| Related articles | |
- 1973 singles
- 1973 songs
- Sweet (band) songs
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
- Number-one singles in New Zealand
- Number-one singles in Austria
- Number-one singles in Germany
- UK Singles Chart number-one singles
- Songs written by Mike Chapman
- Songs written by Nicky Chinn
- Song recordings produced by Phil Wainman
- RCA Records singles