Give Us a Wink

Last updated

Give Us a Wink
Giveusawink.jpg
Studio album by
Released16 February 1976
Recorded1975
Studio Musicland, Munich, Germany (except where indicated)
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal, glam rock
Length38:14
Label RCA, Capitol
Producer Sweet
Sweet chronology
Strung Up
(1975)
Give Us a Wink
(1976)
Off the Record
(1977)
Singles from Give Us a Wink
  1. "Action"
    Released: July 1975
  2. "The Lies in Your Eyes"
    Released: January 1976
  3. "4th of July"
    Released: 1976 (Australia only)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide C+ [2]

Give Us a Wink is the fourth studio album by British rock band Sweet. It was the first album to be fully written and produced by the band members. Previously they had relied on material from the songwriting team of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. The album was released by RCA Records in Europe and Australia and by Capitol Records in the United States, Canada and Japan.

Contents

RCA version

The album completed the group's move to the hard rock style that had always been the trademark of their self-penned B-sides. Give Us a Wink reached no. 3 in Sweden, no. 9 in Germany and made it into the Top 20 in Norway and Australia. The album didn't chart in Sweet's home territory, the UK.

The European album contains two singles, "Action" and "The Lies in Your Eyes", that were recorded and released prior to rest of the album. "Action" reached the top 10 in 1975 in numerous European countries but stalled at No. 15 in the UK Singles chart. Though "The Lies in Your Eyes" reached only No. 35 in the UK, it was popular in other parts of Europe as well as Australia. A third single, "4th of July", was released in Australia only but failed to chart.

A digitally remastered version was issued on CD in 1999 with two bonus tracks. Another re-mastered version was reissued on CD in 2005 with three bonus tracks.

Capitol version

The version released in the United States and Canada flipped the two sides of the LP and added "Lady Starlight" as the third track on side two. This song was first released on the European version of the 1974 album Desolation Boulevard . The version of "Lady Starlight" on this album has synthesizers that are absent from the original. Give Us a Wink reached the Top 20 in Canada. "Action" reached the top 10 in 1975 in Canada. In the US it reached No. 15. The Japanese version of this album is the same but also adds "Fox on the Run" at the beginning of side two.

Artwork

The album artwork was designed by the American artist Joe Petagno, who had already designed the previous Sweet album Strung Up (1975). The original LP cover was released with a die-cut cover that caused the eye to wink as the sleeve was removed and placed back into the cover.

Songs recorded by other artists

"Action" has been played by several rock bands, notably Raven (on the album Rock Until You Drop ), Black 'n Blue (on the album Black 'n Blue ), Steve Stevens (on the Atomic Playboys album), and Def Leppard (as a UK Top 20 single and later on the album Retro Active ). An unusual version was a cover by Scorpions under the pseudonym of The Hunters in 1975, sung in German and titled "Wenn es richtig losgeht".

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Brian Connolly, Steve Priest, Andy Scott and Mick Tucker.

RCA release

Side one
  1. "The Lies in Your Eyes" (recorded at AIR Studios, London) – 3:48
  2. "Cockroach" – 4:51
  3. "Keep It In" – 5:00
  4. "4th of July" – 4:24
Side two
  1. "Action" (recorded at Audio International Studios, London) – 3:44
  2. "Yesterday's Rain" – 5:16
  3. "White Mice" – 4:58
  4. "Healer" – 7:17

Bonus tracks on 1990 CD reissue

  1. "Fox on the Run" – 4:49
  2. "Lady Starlight" (Andy Scott) – 3:09
  3. "Sweet Fanny Adams" – 6:16
  4. "Miss Demeanor" – 3:17

Bonus tracks on 1999 CD reissue

  1. "Someone Else Will" – 3:25
  2. "Miss Demeanor" – 3:17

Bonus tracks on 2005 CD reissue

  1. "Action" (7" version) – 3:29
  2. "Cockroach" (Munich mix) – 4:57
  3. "4th of July" (Munich mix) – 4:22

Capitol release

Side one
  1. "Action" – 3:44
  2. "Yesterday's Rain" – 5:16
  3. "White Mice" – 4:57
  4. "Healer" – 7:16
Side two
  1. "The Lies in Your Eyes" – 3:44
  2. "Cockroach" – 4:49
  3. "Lady Starlight" – 3:10
  4. "Keep It In" – 4:57
  5. "4th of July" – 4:22

Capitol version (Japanese release)

Side one
  1. "Action" – 3:44
  2. "Yesterday's Rain" – 5:16
  3. "White Mice" – 4:57
  4. "Healer" – 7:16
Side two
  1. "Fox on the Run" – 3:24
  2. "The Lies in Your Eyes" – 3:44
  3. "Cockroach" – 4:49
  4. "Lady Starlight" – 3:10
  5. "Keep It In" – 4:57
  6. "4th of July" – 4:22

Personnel

Sweet
Additional personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ) [11] Gold100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)</i> (album) 1983 studio album by Eurythmics

Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) is the second studio album by British pop duo Eurythmics, released on 4 January 1983 by RCA Records. Along with the title track, which reached number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 that year, the album also features the singles "This Is the House", "The Walk", and "Love Is a Stranger".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sweet</span> British glam rock band

Sweet are a British glam rock band who rose to prominence in the 1970s. Their best-known line-up consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bassist Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott and drummer Mick Tucker.

"Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" is a country song about a man away from home who is worried that his paramour may unwittingly stray from their relationship. It was written by Winston L. Moore and published in 1952. The song has been recorded in many different styles by many performers, with Perry Como's version hitting number 1 in both the US and UK.

<i>The Byrds Play Dylan</i> 1979 compilation album by the Byrds

The Byrds Play Dylan is the name of two different compilation albums by the American rock band the Byrds, one released in 1979 and the other issued in 2002. As their titles suggest, each compilation consists of interpretations of Bob Dylan penned songs, which the Byrds recorded at different stages of their career.

<i>Desolation Boulevard</i> 1974 album by Sweet

Desolation Boulevard is the third studio album by the British glam rock band Sweet, originally released in the United Kingdom in November 1974. Two noticeably different versions of the album were released: one by RCA Records in Europe, and another by Capitol Records in the United States, Canada and Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everlasting Love</span> 1967 single by Robert Knight

"Everlasting Love" is a song written by Buzz Cason and Mac Gayden, originally a 1967 hit for Robert Knight and since covered numerous times. The most successful version in the UK was performed by Love Affair and the highest-charting version in the U.S. was performed by Carl Carlton. Other cover versions were done by Town Criers, Rex Smith & Rachel Sweet, Sandra Cretu, U2 and Gloria Estefan.

<i>Whatever You Want</i> (album) 1979 studio album by Status Quo

Whatever You Want is the twelfth studio album by the British rock band Status Quo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorrow (The McCoys song)</span> 1965 song by The McCoys

"Sorrow" is a song first recorded by the McCoys in 1965 and released as the B-side to their cover of "Fever". It became a big hit in the United Kingdom in a version by the Merseys, reaching number 4 on the UK chart on 28 April 1966. A version by David Bowie charted worldwide in 1973.

<i>The Golden Greats</i> 1977 compilation album by Sweet

The Golden Greats is a greatest hits album by the British glam rock band Sweet, released in 1977. Their second UK compilation album after The Sweet's Biggest Hits which featured their hits in 1971/72, this album features all of their UK singles from 1973 to 1977 although the last three, "Lost Angels", "Fever of Love" and "Stairway to the Stars" failed to chart in the UK or the US. They were to return to the top ten in the UK and US the following year with their final hit single "Love Is Like Oxygen" from the Level Headed album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Scott (guitarist)</span> Welsh guitarist and songwriter

Andrew David Scott is a Welsh musician and songwriter. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and a backing vocalist in the glam rock band Sweet. Following bassist Steve Priest's death in June 2020, Scott is the last surviving member of the band's classic lineup.

Kenneth "Kenny" Nolan is an American singer-songwriter from Los Angeles.

<i>Get Closer</i> (Seals and Crofts album) 1976 studio album by Seals and Crofts

Get Closer is Seals and Crofts's eighth studio album. The title cut made the top 10 on 2 charts in early 1976, reaching #6 in Pop, and #2 in Adult Contemporary. It would be their final top 10 pop hit. "Goodbye Old Buddies" reached #10 on the US AC chart as well and #8 on the Canadian AC chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're All Alone</span> 1976 single by Boz Scaggs

"We're All Alone" is a song written by Boz Scaggs, which became a hit for Frankie Valli in 1976. The next year it was a top-ten hit for Rita Coolidge in the US and the UK. Scaggs introduced it on his 1976 album Silk Degrees, and included it as the B-side of two of the four single releases from that LP, including "Lido Shuffle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Action (Sweet song)</span> 1975 song by Sweet

"Action" is a self-written and produced 1975 song by British glam rock band Sweet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Summer (Manic Street Preachers song)</span> 2007 single by Manic Street Preachers

"Indian Summer" is a song by Manic Street Preachers and was the fourth single released from their eighth studio album Send Away the Tigers. It peaked on number 22 in the UK Singles Chart.

<i>Songs of Love & Loss</i> 2007 studio album by Tina Arena

Songs of Love & Loss is the seventh studio album, and first cover album, by Australian singer and songwriter Tina Arena, released on 1 December 2007. The album was Arena's first full length English language recording in six years and her first album with EMI since her debut Strong as Steel in 1990. It peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Top Albums Chart and was certified platinum a week after its release. "Until" was the only original song on the album. A French-language version of "Until" was featured on her next album, 7 vies. "Woman" is featured in a remixed version here. The original is from her 2001 Just Me album.

<i>The Ballroom Blitz & More Sweet Hits</i> 1992 greatest hits album by Sweet

The Ballroom Blitz & More Sweet Hits is a greatest hits album from British rock band Sweet, initially released in Australia in 1992 on the BMG label. Upon its release it reached number 19 on the Australian albums chart. It was also released in the United States in 1998.

<i>Another Night</i> (Hollies album) 1975 studio album by The Hollies

Another Night is the 15th UK studio album by English rock/pop band, the Hollies. It is the band's second album with returning vocalist Allan Clarke who rejoined in 1974 for the album Hollies, after leaving for a solo career in 1972. The album is made up of original material, with the exception of "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" by the relatively unknown Bruce Springsteen.

<i>Love and Kisses from Brotherhood of Man</i> 1976 studio album by Brotherhood of Man

Love and Kisses from Brotherhood of Man is the second album released by the new line-up of British pop group Brotherhood of Man. It was released in the UK the day before their 1976 Eurovision win with "Save Your Kisses for Me", which the album contained. In some European countries the album was released in October 1975 with a slightly different track listing.

<i>Suzi ... and Other Four Letter Words</i> 1979 studio album by Suzi Quatro

Suzi ... and Other Four Letter Words, released in 1979, is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter, bass guitar player, and actress Suzi Quatro. By August 2012 this was still Quatro's highest-charting album in Norway and her second-highest-charting album in the United States .

References

  1. Give Us a Wink at AllMusic
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 13 March 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 302. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  4. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4140a". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – The Sweet – Give Us a Wink" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  6. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  7. "Norwegiancharts.com – The Sweet – Give Us a Wink". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  8. "Swedishcharts.com – The Sweet – Give Us a Wink". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  9. "Sweet Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  10. "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1976. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  11. "Japan Gold" (PDF). Billboard . 25 September 1976. p. 42. Retrieved 7 November 2023.