"Action" is a song by English
glam rock band
Sweet. It was recorded at Ian Gillan's Kingsway Studios in London and released in 1975. Slightly different versions appear on the albums ''
Strung Up'' and ''
Give Us a Wink''.
The single reached No. 15 in the UK in July 1975, and went to the
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
in the US the following year.
Composition
The lyrics refer to Sweet's negative treatment as pop stars, particularly by the music press, and to the demands of the music industry. The track features a masked "backwards vocal" with the words "You kiss my arse".
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Def Leppard version
In 1993, English
rock band
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 1977. Since 1992, the band has consisted of Rick Savage (bass, backing vocals), Joe Elliott (lead vocals), Rick Allen (drummer), Rick Allen (drums), Phil Collen (guitar, ...
covered "Action" on their compilation album ''
Retro Active'' (1993). "Andy
cottsaid that our version of 'Action' was the best cover of a Sweet song he'd ever heard," proclaimed singer
Joe Elliott. The original 1992 recording, before guitarist
Vivian Campbell joined the band, was released as a B-side to "
Make Love Like a Man"; the version featured on ''Retro Active'' and released as a single features a newly-recorded snare drum from drummer
Rick Allen and additional backing vocals from Campbell and P.J. Smith. The single charted at number 14 on
UK Singles Chart.
The accompanying music video was directed by Phil Tuckett from NFL entertainment. The approximate shooting date was between June and December 1993; in Sheffield, Ottawa, and Joe Elliott's home in Ireland. The band 'discovered' the masked backwards vocal on the original track and refer to it on the CD single cover.
Leppard's version reappeared on a special edition of their 2006 album ''
Yeah!''.
Track listing
Charts
Other cover versions
Scorpions released it in
German translation as "Wenn es richtig losgeht" on the B-side of the single "
Fuchs geh' voran" (a translation of "
Fox on the Run", also by Sweet)
Burning Airlines recorded a cover during the sessions for their second album ''
Identikit''
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Action
The Sweet songs
Def Leppard songs
1975 singles
1994 singles
Songs written by Andy Scott (guitarist)
Songs written by Brian Connolly
Songs written by Steve Priest
Songs written by Mick Tucker
1975 songs