📰 Blockbuster – Sweet’s Two-Chord Hit: Feb 1973

A cheeky Record Mirror breakdown of Sweet’s chart‑topping “Blockbuster,” built on just two chords and a siren.

📰 Key Highlights

• Published in Record Mirror, February 24, 1973

• One‑page article with chord diagrams

• Focuses on Sweet’s single “Blockbuster”

• Notes the song uses only E and A chords

• Includes commentary on glam chart trends

• Features a live photo of Sweet performing

• Mentions possible chart contenders: Strawbs, New Seekers

📰 Overview

This article captures the glam‑era press at its most playful and irreverent. Sweet’s “Blockbuster” is dissected not for its lyrical depth or sonic innovation, but for its brazen simplicity: two chords, a siren, and a riff that conquered the charts. The piece positions Sweet as glam’s cheeky craftsmen — masters of the idiom, riding the wave of chart‑friendly distortion and theatricality.

📰 Source Details

Publication / Venue: Record Mirror

Date: February 24, 1973

Format: One‑page article with chord diagrams

Provenance Notes: Part of the UK press coverage of Sweet’s chart run.

📰 The Story

Two Chords, One Anthem

The article opens with a wink: “TWO for the price of one this month.”

Sweet’s “Blockbuster” is built entirely on E and A, with the riff played on the A and E strings and the full chords driving the chorus.

The piece includes diagrams for:

• E

• A

• E7

• A7

• A6

The message: anyone can play it, but only Sweet could make it a hit.

📰 The Glam Idiom – Fuzz, Flash, and Formula

The article frames “Blockbuster” as part of a broader glam formula:

• fuzz boxes

• synthesizers

• chart‑friendly riffs

• theatrical flair

It suggests that glam’s success lies not in complexity, but in idiomatic mastery — knowing what works and delivering it with style.

📰 Chart Commentary – Sweet vs. Strawbs vs. Seekers

At the time of writing, Sweet were at Number One, but the article speculates that Strawbs’ “Union Man” or the New Seekers’ “Pinball Wizard” might dethrone them.

It’s a snapshot of the competitive, unpredictable UK singles chart in early 1973.

📰 The Writing – Glam as Craft

The piece praises the songwriting as “that of a man who has studied the charts.”

It’s not about innovation — it’s about knowing the idiom, delivering the goods, and feeding the noise.

Sweet are framed as glam’s craftsmen, not its poets.

📰 Visual Archive

“Blockbuster – Sweet hit the top on two chords,” Record Mirror, February 24, 1973.

📰 Related Material

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📰 Closing Notes

This article captures glam at its cheekiest — a moment when two chords, a siren, and a swaggering riff could take a band to Number One. Sweet’s “Blockbuster” remains a masterclass in glam‑era chartcraft.

#Sweet #Blockbuster #RecordMirror #1973 #GlamRock #GlamSlamChronicles

📰 Sources

• Record Mirror, February 24, 1973

• UK singles chart archives

• Sweet discography documentation

📝 Copyright Notice

All scans and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

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