FaveAlbumLarge Siân Greenway of glitter rock band Bobbie Dazzle got hooked on a 1974 classic from the UK glam rockers.

Siân Greenway: I don’t need to even think hard about what album is most important in my life. 1974 was a year full of incredible releases, there are so many that stand out to different people for different reasons, so many new genres hitting the music scene and creating different types of communities of music lovers, some albums combined many things into one, and one band created a masterpiece and that album is Sweet Fanny Adams by The Sweet. 

When I heard that album for the first time I was hooked, it took me through waves of so many emotions, I remember I was driving and bouncing up and down in my seat with excitement. Every track on this hour-long album is elating, all killer and no filler! I must have played it three times in a row just on that first listen; by the end of that long drive I’d learnt most of the words to these earworms and I spend so much time encouraging other folks to listen to it, so many people are surprised. This album is a part of heavy metal history even though at its core Sweet are known to be a glam rock band, and of course they are but they got so gritty, so inspiring, and diverse with this record. 

Of course, growing up I’d seen the movie Waynes World, so I already knew the song “Ballroom Blitz,” which was covered in the movie by Tia Carrere (who did a fantastic job of making that song her own). Arguably their most famous song and I’m sure anyone who hasn’t heard of The Sweet will know that track which is the penultimate song on the album. This album doesn’t take itself too seriously in the sense that it’s playful and kooky but within its songwriting, and instrumentally, it’s seriously good. The song “Heartbreak Today” has one of the most uplifting guitar solos I’ve ever heard, this truly makes you feel something. Each member of the band gets to show how talented they are vocally with lead vocals on various songs, but of course Brian Connolly’s distinctive and impressive pipes feature on the singles released from this album. 

Sweetfannyadams

(Capitol)

Throughout my adult life I will go back to playing these songs, music is medicine and this just had everything I need in one, when I’m feeling down I can go to the previously mentioned track “Heartbreak Today” when someone has put me in a rubbish mood and I’m feeling frustrated I can let off some steam with “No You Don’t” and when I’ve got some energy to burn and wanna let loose I can rock out to “Set Me Free.”

 An album that was made 20 years before I was even born feels so relevant even now, there is no denying the inspiration other bands have taken from this, including myself. I can hand on heart say if it wasn’t for this album, I wouldn’t have been able to create the music I have today.  ❖

Bobbie Dazzle’s album Fandabidozi is out October 4 via Rise Above Records.