Block Buster!

Infobox Single
Name = Block Buster!


Artist = Sweet
Released = January 1973
Recorded = 1972
Genre = Glam rock
B-side = "Need a Lot of Lovin'"
Length = 3:13
Label = RCA Records
Writer = Nicky Chinn
Mike Chapman
Producer = Phil Wainman

"Block Buster!" is a popular song by Sweet. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, and produced by Phil Wainman, "Block Buster!" was the band's sole UK #1 hit. Released in January 1973, it spent five weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart, and also made #1 in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Ireland, and #3 in Switzerland and Norway. Outside Europe it fared less well as it peaked at #29 in Australia and at #73 on the American Billboard Hot 100.

Music and lyrics

Even though the lyrics refer to a person ("Nobody knows where Buster goes, He'll steal your woman out from under your nose .... there's got to be a way To Block Buster!"), the song features the wailing sound of air raid sirens, alluding to the blockbuster bombs dropped in World War II.

Its riff was considered markedly similar to fellow RCA act David Bowie's "The Jean Genie", released shortly before, but all parties maintain that this was pure coincidence. [Nicholas Pegg (2000). "The Complete David Bowie": p.110]

Appearances in popular culture

In 1988 The Timelords (now known as KLF) had a UK #1 hit with "Doctorin' the Tardis", based heavily on Sweet's song.

In 2007, a version of the song was used to advertise Mars 'Planets' chocolates on UK television.

This song was used by The Macc Lads as the basis for their song "Fat Bastard".

Notes