Listing

I think one of the most interesting periods of the Sweet's career, funnily enough, was when Brian Connolly had been handed his sandwiches in a road map. Did they miss their blonde bombshell singer? Of course. But did they miss his erratic drunken shenanigans - missed gigs, bum notes and generally a lush who became 110% unreliable? No, of course they didn't. They could all sing (who do you think had provided those drop dead harmonies over the years?) so in 1980 with the addition of Gary Moberley on keys they flew out to Toronto for three months, played a few gigs and recorded their second album without BC - Waters Edge. I loved it. But then I would, wouldn't I? It was a radio friendly album that didn't have any hits on it! But hey, who needs hits? Oh, yeah: the record company. The band were in trouble. If they were a ship they were definitely taking on water (quite ironic given the title of the new record); within a year they ran aground, but not before playing some memorable low key dates in the UK where they were plugging their final album Identity Crisis. I saw them at Nottingham's Rock City on that tour and, a number of years later, chatted to Andy Scott about it: he remembered it well - someone threw a pint pot at him on stage that night. Complete with beer. It drowned him.

 ★

I loved the 'futuristic' telly on the cover of Waters Edge with the band's logo as an aerial and the power trio all bubble-permed up. I saw a similar little TV (the JVC Video Sphere) in a retro shop in Stockport (top of page) between Christmas & New Year and was immediately reminded of Messrs. Priest, Scott & Tucker. I think The Swede would have approved.

The Sweet - Tell the Truth (1980)