"Block Buster!" (also sometimes listed as "Blockbuster!") is a 1973 single by The 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 Republic of Ireland, 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 United States, American Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Music and lyric

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

TV performances

Some controversy arose after the band's performance of the song on the British television program ''Top of the Pops'' on 25 December 1973, for which bassist Steve Priest wore a swastika arm band, a painted Toothbrush moustache, Hitler moustache and a ''Pickelhaube''.

Charts

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

References

{{authority control 1973 singles 1973 songs The Sweet songs Dutch Top 40 number-one singles Irish Singles Chart number-one singles Number-one singles in New Zealand Number-one singles in Austria Number-one singles in Germany UK singles chart number-one singles Songs written by Mike Chapman Songs written by Nicky Chinn Song recordings produced by Phil Wainman RCA Records singles Glam rock songs