Another one of those “surely there can’t be more than one band with that name?” posts. I didn’t go looking to see if there were more than one Sweet Sensation – I was actually checking for other bands called The Sweet. Didn’t find any… but I did find this lot.
THE SWEET SENSATION #1
Billed as “Britain’s answer to The Jackson Five” when they appeared on New Faces in 1974, and it was looking good for these Manchester lads when they followed that up with a Number One hit. Sadly, they failed to keep up that momentum and soon disappeared from the charts. They tried to jump-start their career in 1978 by taking part in A Song For Europe, but only came 8th. Lead singer Marcel King would later release a single on Factory Records in the mid-80s, in collaboration with Donald Johnson from A Certain Ratio and New Order’s Bernard Sumner.
The Sweet Sensation – Sad Sweet Dreamer
SWEET SENSATION #2
Steady on, ladies. Some Lovers Rock from sometime in the 70s – hard to work out when exactly since none of his records have a date on them. I say “his” because this appears to largely be the work of one man band Robin Gilgeours – down to the fact that the records were distributed by Gilgeours Auto Service. I picture him driving around Brooklyn Record shops with a bootful of seven inches in his Morris Minor. Taking his shirt off to seal the deal.
SWEET SENSATION #3
Another one it’s hard to put a date on, a solid slice of roots reggae from Leachie Intl and his Sweet Sensation. Bearing in mind that the phrase Sweet Sensation originates (possibly) in the title of
the 1969 hit by The Melodians, it’s very possibly that this band… and maybe even all the others… took their name from that.
SWEET SENSATION #4
A big shiny power ballad from a Bronx-based girl group who became famous for their dance routines. A million and a half views on the Tube of You for this US Number One hit from 1990. After listening to it once, I came away singing Say You Say Me by Lionel Richie. But that’s probably just me.
SWEET SENSATION #5
And finally, for Ernie, who seems to insist that I now check to see if there are any party bands out there with the relevant namesake… well, there is. Available for weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc. etc.
Which is your Sweet Sensation?
Bloody hell I really dislike #1. And I disliked it in 1974. #2 initially annoyed me but I grew to like it (not looking at that stupid picture helped). And as terrible as #3 and 4 are they are masterpieces into the nonsense that is #5. So I'll have to go for #2
ReplyDeleteSo you overlook a leading Polish party band last time and now I'm being criticised for pointing it out? Ungrateful so-and-so.
ReplyDeleteNone of them are great but I would probably go for #3. Judging by the instrumental track I would guess mid 1980s. The Dubcity label was based in Bermuda so possibly Leachie and the gang were from there as well. They would still have been aware of the Melodians though so your theory may be right.