Australian singles chart:
Blockbuster entered the Kent charts on 12 February 1973 and peaked at #29.
Songwriters:
Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer:
Phil Wainman
Record label of Australian release:
RCA Victor
Sweet performing Blockbuster on BBC’s Top of the Pops in 1973:
Songfacts:
In December 1973, David Bowie’s The Jean Genie peaked at #2 in the UK charts. The following month, Blockbuster went one better, going all the way to #1. Both songs used the same Yardbirds riff from Bo Diddley’s I’m A Man.
Guitarist Andy Scott recalled to Uncut the band’s panicked reaction after an A&R man played them Jean Genie. “We sat there with horrified looks on our faces. The guy asked what was wrong, and we said ‘That’s the same f—ing guitar riff as Blockbuster.’ He said, ‘Well, it’s quite similar isn’t it?’ ‘It’s the f—ing same!’
“I got on the blower to Nicky Chinn and said, ‘We can’t release this.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry, they’re completely different kinds of records and I predict this will be a number one.’ I thought, ‘Good luck with that.’ But he was proved right. A few weeks later, we were at number one and Bowie was at number two.”
Read more: www.songfacts.com/facts/sweet/blockbuster
Lyrics:
You better beware, you better take care
You better watch out if you’ve got long black hair
He’ll come from behind, you’ll go out of your mind
You’d better not go, you’d never know what you’ll find
Click for full lyrics
This song is also on our Spotify playlist Bang a Gong – the 70s
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