℗ 1977 Victor Record PL 2507 / © RCA Records
After the international success of the self-produced "Fox on the Run," Sweet broke away from songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman in an attempt to shake their "pop puppets" and took a stab at conquering the hard rock album market. Sadly, a lot of their post-hit singles period output lacked the tight songwriting and hooks that made them famous, and this problem is in evidence on Off the Record. The band's musical approach seems schizophrenic on this album: songs like "Windy City" and "Live for Today" attempt a tough sound built on gritty lyrics and heavy guitar riffs, but this approach is undone by the overt slickness of the production, which tarts everything up with Queen-style harmonies and thickly-layered synthesizers that would feel more at home on a prog rock album. There is also an awkward attempt in creating a dance music track in "Funk It Up," which starts with a ham-fisted attempt at a funk rock groove and devolves into a series of repetitive disco-style chants. Despite this confused approach, some solid songs occasionally shine through: "Fever of Love" is a likable rocker built on an effective blend of guitars and synthesizers that sports a catchy chorus worthy of their hits, and "Midnight to Daylight" is a stomping rocker that sports heavy riffs worthy of Black Sabbath. However, moments like these are few and far between on Off the Record, making this an album that's only really suited to Sweet completists. — Donald A. Guarisco. |
bonus:
You took the apple from the tree And gave the fruits of love to me But love is blind I couldn't see Those neon nights you'd left behind You should have laid it on the line Procrastination stole my time The day has come the years will go by Things have changed have opened my eyes And she tried to hide the feeling inside But you know and you know and you know The fever of love is like a hundred above You are the one that turns me on The fever of love is like a hundred above I got you under my skin You are my adrenalin I've got your love in my veins It's gonna ease the pain In my heart, in my heart Good vibrations came today God only knows they're gonna stay But psychic waves can fade away You are the guardian of my soul Who'll turn my memories to Gold I'll still be younger when I'm older I'm feeling high on pure emotion I know I could cry an ocean And I can't hide my feelin' inside But you know and you know and you know The fever of love is like a hundred above You are the one that turns me on The fever of love is like a hundred above I got you under my skin You are my adrenalin I've got your love in my veins It's gonna ease the pain In my heart, in my heart...
Infinity Like time without a friend who'll sing the song If melodie should end you're dead my friend Lost angels come and take control Lost angels gotta keep on hold on Hold on, hold on Gotta get on back to the life in the street Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet Gotta get back to the love in the street We're lost angels Gotta choose the way to rock' n' roll Insanity I can feel the knives inside my brain I stand alone at the threshold of my pain Lost angels come and take control Lost angels gotta keep on hold on Hold on, hold on Gotta get on back to the life in the street Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet Gotta get back to the love in the street We're lost angels Gotta choose the way I see it now All my friends inside my life appeared before my eyes And returning to space to see myself dissapear Lost angels come and take control Lost angels gotta keep on hold on Hold on, hold on Gotta get on back to the life in the street Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet Gotta get back to the love in the street We're lost angels Gotta choose the way Gotta get on back to the life in the street Gotta get down 'cause I'm dead on my feet Gotta get back to the love in the street We're lost angels...
Her face was turnin' red 'Cause everybody's talkin' bout The thoughts inside her head Was it six or seventeen And old enough to know about The things that should have been You know just what I mean The things that I do at midnight You ain't gonna say at daylight Daylight I knew she couldn't see She said she'd never played a star But played it just for me My head was in a state 'Cause every time she came with me She said that she was late I should have had her mate The things that I do at midnight You ain't gonna say at daylight Daylight The things that I do at midnight You ain't gonna say at daylight Daylight, daylight
Listen to you Listen to me No one knows the reason Why they wanna be free Workin' all night Workin' all day Waitin' for my money And I can't get away I wanna be rich man But I'm only poor man I got to get away Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city I've got to get away from windy city Your dad's in the slam Your mama's a whore No one understands you Couldn't help bein' poor But when I get rich I'll get my kicks From givin' it all away Wanna be free 'Cause livin' ain't easy Wanna be free Cause that's how it's gonna be I gotta be free Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city Gotta be free Now I'm a rich man Gotta be free Don't wanna be this man I gotta be free Waitin' for the risin' sun to shine on windy city You can find a place to hide yourself in windy city I've got to get away from windy city I don't wanna be a poor man Don't wanna be a rich man I gotta be free I wanna be free
They thought you were crazy When you took a walk right through the door They don't know the reason You just couldn't take it anymore The lies that they told you And the times that they sold you Down the line Live for today - don't need your politician Live for today - don't want no inquisition Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away You gotta, you gotta Live for today - don't need your politician Live for today - don't want no inquisition Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away Counterfeit city Spending your life in their charade (sorry for yourself) Sincerely phony This musical mascerade has gone too far far far You sold your clothes Now it's cold up your nose And you frooze Live for today - don't need your politician Live for today - don't want no inquisition Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away Live for today - don't need your politician Live for today - don't want no inquisition Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away Gotta gotta gotta gotta Live for today - don't need your politician Live for today - don't want no inquisition Live for today - you gotta throw the rules away You gotta live for today You gotta throw it away Gotta gotta live for today You gotta throw it away Get out of my way I'm only live for today Live for today Throw it away...
Pains in my heart Torturin' me with desire And when we part Emptimess puts out the fire Walkin' down the street, there's nobody there Cry in my sleep As long as I'm with her I don't care She gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' (lovin'), gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' like I never had Lovin' (lovin'), gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' like I never had Child in the night I'll always be by aside Beatin' all night Our lives will forever be tight Shoutin' my name whenever I'm with her Crying out loud Whenever I break I don't care She gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' (lovin'), gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' like I never had Lovin' (lovin'), gimme lovin' (lovin') Lovin' like I never had Ooh, if she won't let me free I'm never fall asleep Wanna be inside her Ooh, she won' t say I'm her man She'll never understand Somehow I'm inside her She gives me love, love, love Oh baby, oh a little love, love, love, love, love Give me some love, oh I've gotta give you love Give me some love She gave me love that I'm allright
I believe the dreams she weaves Turnin' a wheel 'till nothing is real At her call the mighty fall Echo insane, her laughter remains Shaded tear for souvenirs Sharing your past, the memory lasts Oh, I love her, ooh yeah She leads the way 'till my night turns to day I can't give enough of my lovin' To Laura Lee My sweet Laura Lee I can't give enough of my love To Laura Lee Sweet Laura Lee Years of gold, her wings unfold Carry me back to when I was young Virgin days that slipped away I love her today more than my words could say I can't give enough of my lovin' To Laura Lee My sweet Laura Lee I can't give enough of my love To Laura Lee Sweet Laura Lee I need all her love
Whatever I do It turns out wrong Bought a brand new car It didn't last long They were lyin', cheatin' Takin' my money I just can't get it right So all they give me is hard times Hard times, hard times All I get is hard times It took a long time And I didn't earn a dime To get what I've got Now they only take lot We were smokin', we were jokin' Throwin' it away Well, it's one long fight And all they give me is hard times Hard times, hard times All I get is hard times Got music to play Day after day No free talk wonder I don't care what they say You ain't with it So don't dig it Just wastin' my time I'm gonna get it right So don't give me those hard times Hard times, hard times All I get is hard times
Baby was dancin' With Charly standing in line in the wing And yesterday's rain turns to snow Shake your head now honeychild Shake your head now honeychild Jump back while I clean them up Shake your head now honey child Spotlights are blinding Like stars shooting down on the man Who fell to earth Spiralling up to the sky Shake your head now honeychild Shake your head now honeychild Jump back while I clean them up Shake your head now honey child Shake that head, shake that head Shake my head, shake my head Swing up the line, swing up the line Swing up that line, swing up that line Funk it up, funk it up Funk it up, funk it up Swing up the back, light up the front Shake your head now honeychild Shake your head now honeychild Jump back while I clean them up Shake your head now honey child