Search - Sweet :: Sweet Fanny Adams

Great Remastering And A Little History

G.C. | Potomac, MD USA | 11/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For a few reasons, Sweet could never emulate their chart success in the U.K. and Europe in the U.S. Part of the problem was that the singles and LPs that were released in the U.K. and Europe were not released in the same format in the States, or sometimes not at all. In the U.S., the Desolation Boulevard LP on Capitol was actually taken from two 1974 RCA releases, the first of which was Sweet Fanny Adams and the second of which was the original Desolation Boulevard. Much of Sweet Fanny Adams was recorded in late 1973 and then released in early 1974. Desolation (RCA) was recorded in 1974 and released toward the end of the year. In the U.S., the Capitol version of Desolation Boulevard was released in 1975 and included half of the tracks from the two RCA albums, plus the single "Ballroom Blitz" which was not on either RCA LP but is a bonus track on the Sweet F.A. CD. Some of the other RCA tracks were issued as B-sides of Capitol singles but many other tracks were not issued at all. In my view, releasing this material in 1975 in the U.S. hindered success of the band as the two 1974 LPs represented the band at its peak. By the time "Give Us A Wink" was released in 1976 (at last in the same format on both sides of the Atlantic) disco had taken hold in the U.S. and the group was marginalized as hard rock/glam. Not even the 1978 success of "Love Is Like Oxygen" could help as the line-up that held for eight years would finally fracture the following year. Finally, the 2005 re-releases of Sweet Fanny Adams and Desolation Boulevard on BMG-Sony make previous renditions obselete. The mastering is first rate and the selection of bonus tracks is superb."

Good album,good bonus tracks,no rarities

Philip A.Cohen | Bay Harbor Islands, Florida United States | 02/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Sweet Fanny Adams" was one of the two UK albums which was the source for tracks on the American "Desolation Boulevard"(the other tracks on the U.S.A. album were taken from the UK "Desolation Boulevard" & non-L.P. singles).This remaster adds 6 non-L.P. singles tracks,but no outtakes or vault tracks.The previous BMG remaster from Germany in 1999 had only 2 bonus tracks.How does the sound compare? This new UK remaster has brighter sound.It's a matter of personal taste,but I prefered the sound on the 1999 German CD.But it would be hard to dispute that having more bonus tracks here makes this CD a better overall value than the 1999 German CD."

THE DOG'S BOLLOCKS!!!

Derek J. Liddard | South Wales, United Kingdom | 02/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although there is not one hit single featured on this album I recommend it as the best thing Sweet ever recorded.Out to prove themselves as more than a "singles band" they surpassed themselves both with songs and overall production which was handled by Phil Wainman.The album opens with the swirling, metallic "Set Me Free" written by guitarist Andy Scott (covered in the 80`s by Saxon on "Crusader") and I remember as a thirteen year old climbing the walls with excitement. Hellraiser and Ballroom Blitz only hinted that the band were capable of these sounds."Heartbreak Today", the second track has a Zeppelinesque riff and Connolly`s vocals have real depth and feeling. Once again the production makes your hi-fi sound ten times better than it probably really is.Next track "No You Don`t" was sung by Steve Priest, bassist and was covered later by Pat Benatar on her first album. Very angry, aggresive song complete with cellos reminiscent of the Rolling Stones on "19th Nervous Breakdown"."Rebel Rouser" and "Peppermint Twist" are probably the poppiest tracks the album has to offer. One of them was a big hit for the band in Australia (can`t remember which however!)"Sweet F.A." is the epic of the album at over 6 minutes long. It ROCKS! Heavier than any of the supposedly heavy bands of the time! Scary for little Mary I`d say!"Restless", again sung by Steve - a great stage favourite - a bitlike Free`s "Alright Now"."Into The Night", the next track was written and sung by Andy Scott and is reminiscent of something from Deep Purple`s "In Rock" album.The album offficially closes with "AC/DC" (rumoured to be where a certain Australian band took their name.) A song about bi-sexuality!!! This CD version of the album has some bonus track which were initially hard to get hold of B sides that indicated this monster of an album might be in the hearts of this greatly underrated band.If you love Seventies rock music, if you love great playing, if you love a well produced album, if you ever wondered what Sweet were really all about - THIS IS THE ALBUM!"