Block Buster!


"Block Buster!" is a 1973 single by Sweet. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, and produced by Phil Wainman, "Block Buster!" was the band's sole UK No. 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 Finland, Switzerland, Denmark and Norway. Outside Europe it peaked at #1 in New Zealand, #29 in Australia and at #73 on the American Billboard Hot 100.

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Australia29
Austria1
Belgium2
Denmark1
Finland3
Germany1
Ireland1
Italy30
Netherlands1
New Zealand1
Norway3
South Africa7
Spain12
Switzerland3
United Kingdom1
United States73

In the case of Belgium, there are two types of lists. The one for the Flemish speaking part of Belgium saw the song reach number two, for five consecutive weeks,. In the French speaking part the song climbed to number one, for two consecutive weeks.

Music and lyrics

Its Muddy Waters-inspired blues riff is markedly similar to the one featured on fellow RCA act David Bowie's "The Jean Genie", released shortly before, but all parties maintain that this was a coincidence.

TV performances

Some controversy rose after the band's performance of the song on the British television program Top of the Pops on December 25, 1973. In this performance, Sweet's bassist Steve Priest wore a Nazi uniform.