‘Cut Above The Rest’ is an extension of Sweet’s previous masterwork ‘Level Headed’, while nothing close to the hard rock sledgehammer of ‘Desolation Boulevard’ or ‘Give Us A Wink’, in this period of Sweet’s history the band were experimenting and why not?
Written by: Eric
ARTIST: Sweet
ALBUM: Cut Above The Rest
LABEL: Polydor
SERIAL: 2310657
YEAR: 1979
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England
LINEUP: Steve Priest – bass, vocals * Mick Tucker – all percussion, vocals * Andy Scott – guitars, synthesizers, vocals
TRACK LISTING: 01 Call Me * 02 Play All Night * 03 Big Apple Waltz * 04 Dorian Gray * 05 Discophony (Dis Kof O Ne) * 06 Eye Games * 07 Mother Earth * 08 Hold Me * 09 Stay With Me
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
It was a hot Summer night in June 1979 when I saw Sweet open for Journey at the Palladium Theater in New York City. I knew Brian Connolly was gone and I had missed their last New York area show (with Connolly) supporting Foghat a year earlier.
My friends and I had a great balcony view in the 2000 seat theater, and I dreamed of this show for a month and a half after I bought the tickets. High school graduation was just a couple weeks away, but who cared? Time to rock and that we did! Of course, Sweet were in the US promoting this album and to be honest, I didn’t think they did a good job of it on stage. Why? Their approach was an all-out rock show, with a stunning drum solo from Mick Tucker I might add.
This was fine, but very different from ‘Cut Above The Rest’s unusual Art Rock style. In fact other than ‘Big Apple Waltz’, one of the albums best cuts, I can’t remember Sweet playing anything else from the album? Odd, but then again, they were playing support for forty minutes on a tiny strip of stage to a crowd who came to hear an up and coming band with a long-haired lead singer who at times sounded like a duck, but God he could sing. Anyway, back to Sweet.
The Songs
‘Cut Above The Rest’ is an extension of the bands previous masterwork ‘Level Headed’. While nothing close to the hard rock sledgehammer of ‘Desolation Boulevard’ or ‘Give Us A Wink’, in this period of Sweet’s history the band were experimenting and why not?
Often these guys were criticized for having no depth or a just a UK version of The Monkees. Yeah right. Listen to the aforementioned ‘Big Apple Waltz’, ‘Dorian Gray’, and ‘Mother Earth’. Shades of 10cc, Cafe Jacques and even the Electric Light Orchestra come into play. Miles from ‘Ballroom Blitz’, but well done!
In Summary
Sweet would return to their rock roots after this album and continued to impress me. A superb band in all their variations and I love ’em! UK rock rarely got better than these guys, but..
The CD reissue cover art on Germany’s Repertoire label is nothing like the American LP version and to be honest is very unattractive in comparison. Finally, Journey were amazing. No, excellent and incredible! Still, seeing Sweet live was a special treat and a fantastic night burned in my memory forever.
Sweet on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
