Customer Reviews

Off the Record

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

With Sweet now touring constantly abroad (they hadn`t played in Britain for 3 years by this point) ardent fans were eagerly awaiting this album which turned out to be the last HEAVY offering from the band. They were not to be disappointed!No expense was spared, beginning most notably with the elaborate gatefold sleeve which adorned the original vinyl release. The album was written and conceived almost entirely in the studio, which bassist Steve Priest likened to having a taxi meter running. (CHECK OUT HIS BOOK "ARE YOU READY STEVE?") Apparently most of the band were fueled up on coke during the proceedings. As with the preceeding album "Give Us A Wink" Sweet were handling the production. The idea was to come up with a commercial rock `n` roll album but having said that, the two singles lifted from it that open the record both failed to chart."Fever Of Love", the first track has a real warmth to it, especially Connolly`s vocals, and a beautiful, soaring guitar break towards the end."Lost Angels", the next track has an "everything but the kitchen sink" production ... harmony guitar fills, Bad Company style riffing, Queen like shriek multi layered vocals."Midnight To Daylight" is pure, Sweet indulgence, in three and a half minutes. Begins like quite a commericial pop rock number before escalating into a guitar versus harmonica duel with a "trick the D.J." ending.The album`s killer cut is without a doubt "Windy City", a lengthy lament punctuated by a riff not too disimilar to Deep Purple`s "Woman From Tokyo", a Led Zeppelin "No Quarter" type break which leads into a frenzied bass, drums, guitar work out. This remained a stage favourite for years and usually came as the encore to the band`s show."Live For Today", which was the album`s working title up until the conception of the actual album cover reflects to a certain extent the influence punk was beginning to have even on the "old farts", and probably the influence drink was beginning to have on Connolly`s state of mind. Definitely an "I want out" song!"She Gimme Lovin`" is delivered at breakneck speed with swirling drums and a touch of the Robert Plant`s while "Hard Times" has a loose, jam type feel to it.It is preceeded by a beautiful acoustic track called "Laura Lee" and my only regret about this remastered CD is that the opportunity wasn`t taken to reunite the song with "Show Me The Way",a hard edged electric/acoustic, slashing piece of action initially scheduled to follow on without a break. (It ended up on it`s own as the B side to "California Nights".)"Off The Record" officially ended with what one reviewer described as a pointless "Fame" reworking, "Funk It Up". Sure it`s funky, but it`s a worthwhile track reflecting the "funky" leanings of many of the so called "heavier" bands circa 1977. The bonus cuts are two B sides, "A Distinct Lack Of Ancient" and "Why Don`t You Do It To Me", the most noteworthy being the former, an unusually haunting instrumental. Essentially, I would define this recording as Sweet at their peak and the end of an era. Subsequent albums saw a definite change, once again, in direction, coupled with first a lessening of Brian Connolly`s input and finally his departure. Highly recommended listening particularly if you enjoy bands like Deep Purple, Queen, Led Zeppelin ... more so than glam rock as you would expect.

For a change, the sound of this remastered masterpiece is excellent. The bass range is simply outstanding.

If you like safe, mainstream or commercial hard rock, this will probably not work for you. But if you like genuine music, guts, playmanship and a band with an attitude, then The Mighty Sweet will satisfy you like none other.

This album shows one of the most influential rock bands at its productive and musical peak. Although this album is often overlooked, even by Sweet fans, it shows impressive musical creativity and power. Off the Record has it all: pure rock, riffs, melody, musical dexterity, moodiness, funk, excellent arrangements and even blatant plagiarism ("Windy City" vs. Deep Purple's Woman from Tokyo). Anyway, you are unlikely to find better vocals from any other group from the '70s (even mainstream Queen, which in fact lured former Sweet engineer Mack to their rank). Just listen to songs like "Lost Angels", "Live for Today" and "She Gimme Lovin'" and you'll be convinced nobody has ever played hard rock music like that, even if many wannabes have tried to copy their style. This album also has very rare gems like "Laura Lee" and "Midnight to Daylight", even a very upbeat song in "Fever of Love". Even "Funk it Up" rocks!

The Sweet were highly accomplished musicians and this is proof of a band that really produced some of the best rock music of all time.

THIS ALBUM IS A MUST and my favorite of my 2,000 plus CD collection!

The SWEET have made it! After two hit albums in North America, the bank account is doing just fine. They write their own songs now, handle the production and control the final product. But, with more money comes something that can wound a band that plays songs which are on the edge and "fresh". TOO MUCH STUDIO TIME! In the past, SWEET had very little time to put albums together, so songs were delivered "raw" with minimal post production polishing, giving them that intangible quality once known in the sixties as "a happening" (Ask your mom if you don't know what I'm talking about). Although this album is a hard rockin' roller coaster ride, SWEET have lost something here. BUT WAIT!!! ALL IS NOT LOST! In the bonus material, the final four songs offer us "jaw dropping" performances by the band. Someone, somewhere, stood up and said: "OK boys, one more time, WITH FEELING!!! Thus creating "a happening" and making this CD worth every penny. Play it loud, feel it...

Very favourite tracks: "Live For Today" and "Lost Angels" demo version.

"This musical masquerade has gone to far for four" was put on the album version. You will find out what is really said in song "Live For Today", in what I would consider the greatest album(CD) of Sweet's original effort. The necessary and awesome vocal talent of the now dead Brian Connolly. The killer backup vocal talent of Steve Priest who was best of his time bass playing style, and Andy Scott offering great vocals whilst steady on the steel. The man who defined drumming to me(along with animal)the awesome Mick Tucker. This is the band who defined and created the best hard rock sound,with the best vocal and unique writing talent of the 70's whose clean and well produced sound, many artists in the 80's, 90's and today, attempt to achieve. Young or old, you will definitly agree these guys are awesome musicians who will take you on journeys, with their treasure of music.

This album shows one of the most influential rock bands at its peak. Although this album is often overlooked, even by Sweet fans, it shows impressive musical creativity and power. Off the Record has it all: rock, metal, riffs, melody, musical dexterity, moodiness, funk, even blatant plagiarism ("Windy City" vs. Deep Purple's Woman from Tokyo). Anyway, you are unlikely to find better vocals from any other group from the 70s (Queen included! ). Just listen to songs like "Lost Angels", "Live for Today" and "She Gimme Lovin'" and you'll be convinced. This album also has very rare gems like "Laura Lee" and "Midnight to Daylight", even a very upbeat song in "Fever of Love". After playing it for several times you will surely realize what I mean. THIS ALBUM IS A MUST and my favorite of my 2,000 plus CD collection!

This disc features the UK edition of "Off The Record",which lacks "Stairway to The Stars",but not to worry,since it's included amongst the bonus tracks.As for the other bonus tracks,you get the non-L.P. b-sides "A Distinct Lack of Ancient" & "Why Don't You Do It to Me",the alternate "Midnight to Daylight"(which debuted on the German 2-CD set "Sweet Originals"),a Disco mix of "Funk it Up"(A Capitol U.S.A. creation made via tape copy repeats of certain sections.Yawn!),a fine previously unreleased demo of "Lost Angels",and alternate mixes of "She Gimme Lovin'" and "Hard Times" which have been heard on numerous previous outtakes CD's.My only complaint:the tape copy used for "Stairway to the Stars" has audible damage during the first second.Obviously,it passes quickly,but it wasn't present on any previous release of the song.Oh well,it's a mid-price CD....

I was spinning the LP of this last night and just had to write a review. I originally thought that Give Us a Wink was the best Sweet album, but now I'm not so sure. They're all great, but I really have come to appreciate this one more and more over the years. It's one of those records that I can listen to from start to finish and love all the tracks (yes, even Funk It Up). This was the last of their really hard rocking records, and on songs such as Windy City, Live for Today, Hard Times, and She Gimme Lovin, the band rocks like crazy. What makes it so good, though, is the inclusion of the more poplike songs, such as Lost Angels (a true classic), Stairway to the Stars (sadly not on the CD), and the beautiful and then rocking Laura Lee (with a lovely bare two-part vocal section by Brian and Steve in the second verse), all of which create a diverse, memorable listening experience. The vocals, as usual, are astonishing in their power and originality; the lyrics are better than on some other efforts; and the sound is absolutely gorgeous, with some of Andy Scott's meatiest guitar tones and a great full-bodied sound throughout. These guys were greatly underrated supertalents, and this record is a must-have!

This was one of my favorite albums from the 70's by my all time favorite group. Bubblegum, to Hard Rock, to Heavy Metal, to Progressive. These guys did it all. And with every album they just kept getting better. This album was sort of in between their heavy/hard rock era and their progressive (which really came on their next album, Level Headed). Fever of Love and She Gimme Lovin' are 2 of the best songs here but there really isn't a bad song on this cd. I like the 2 bonus tracks but there is one thing that is missing and thats the song Stairway To The Stars which is on my original vinyl album and is one of my favorite Sweet songs. I don't know why they did not include it on this import. Anyway I still have to give this cd 5 stars. God Bless Mick and Brian (Miss You Much)

The import is a bit different than my original LP, so thats why I bought it. This album is partly responsible for my rock and roll influence and my twisted, deranged, freakish nature. I purchased it new in 1978 when I was 11, so nuff' said. Sweet fans know what I mean.

There's a few ignorable tunes on Off the Record, but it remains their most pleasurable listen (surely those detractors in favor of Desolation Boulevard and even the band's early bubblegum era can give some nod here). For example, they really ratchet things up with a heavy, harmonica-assisted Midnight to Daylight. THE blemish on the production is the album's ode to the days of disco, Funk It Up. A little lightweight after all that proceeds it. Not helping matters is the bonus track "Funk It Up (Disco)", as if the original version needed any more of a KC & the Sunshine Band flourish. And for a guy who sadly had his throat stomped on in a street attack a few years earlier (hey, I'm only as good as what I read on Wikipedia), Brian Connelly comes across as polished and capable. It's unfortunate that this album was the beginning of the end for this gifted warbler.