Sugar Me

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"Sugar Me"
Single by Lynsey de Paul
B-side "Storm in a Teacup"
Released1972
VenueStudio One AIR Studios, Oxford Circus, London
Genre Pop
Label MAM Records
Songwriter(s) Lynsey de Paul and Barry Green
Official audio
"Sugar Me" on YouTube

"Sugar Me" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Green. [1] The first version of this song to be released was recorded by de Paul as her first single on MAM Records in 1972. It was produced by Gordon Mills and the B-side was de Paul's version of "Storm in a Teacup", a song she had co-written and had been a hit for the Fortunes earlier that year. [2]

Contents

Background and reception

The single was a hit in many countries, notably reaching the top of the singles chart in the Netherlands (where it stayed for five weeks), [3] Belgium, Sweden and Spain as well as the top 20 in the UK, Australia, Germany, Austria, Denmark and Japan. It also reached the no. 1 position on the Bangkok HSA chart in October 1972, and was play listed on some (WERS-FM, KCRW, KFAI, WPKN etc) US radio stations. [4] It also received favourable reviews in the United States, [5] [6] and was listed as being among the best 5 singles of 1972 by Cashbox . [7] [8] "Sugar Me" was ranked the 14th best selling single of 1972 in the Netherlands, [9] the 40th best seller the same year in Australia, [10] the 80th best selling single of 1972 in the UK, [11] and the 89th best selling single on the 1973 German chart. [12] It entered the Netherlands Digital Top 100 on the 5 October 2014, just after De Paul died. The version on de Paul's debut album, Surprise , was a re-recorded and slightly extended version that featured a longer solo by violinist Johnny Van Derek and was produced by de Paul. [13] "Sugar Me" was re-released as a single in 1977 backed with "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" on the MAM label to tie in with the release of her Eurovision Song contest entry "Rock Bottom". [14]

De Paul re-recorded the song in an updated style including a club mix version and both versions appeared on her 1994 album, Just a Little Time . [15] The club mix was also included on the 2001 compilation album, Dance Sensation (The Ultimate Urban Dance Remix Collection). [16]

Chart performance

Chart (1974)Peak
position
Belgium1
Netherlands1
Spain1
Sweden1
Austria2
Australia4
UK5
Turkey9
Germany16

Other versions

The song has been recorded by many other artists, notably Nancy Sinatra, as a non-LP single, [17] and received positive reviews. [18] This version appeared as the lead track on her 1999 album How Does It Feel and on her 2023 album Keep Walkin': Singles, Demos & Rarities 1965-1978. [19] Claudine Longet also recorded her version of the song on her 1993 album Sugar Me. [20] The song was also covered by actress Abigail on her 1973 self-titled album. [21] Later it was covered by Dutch group Gigantjes, [22] Belgian female trio "Candy", [23] Nydia Caro (both as a single and also as a track on her 1978 album), [24] [25] Esmaye on her album Elements in Me, [26] plus singer-songwriter Nasia Christie who released her version of "Sugar Me" as her first single produced by Brian Canham from Pseudo Echo in 2007. [27] There has also been a rock version of the song performed by the German group Gwen Stacey, on their 1989 EP "Sugar Me". [28] More recently, it has been recorded by Papernut Cambridge, [29] Italian artist, LIM [30] [31] and Karl Jonas on his 2016 album, In a Gilbert Play. [32]

In 1973, Klaus Wunderlich performed an instrumental version of "Sugar Me" as a medley with "Standing in the Road", [33] originally by Blackfoot Sue. This version was sampled for the song "Certified" by Guru on his 2000 album Guru's Jazzmatazz, featuring Bilal on vocals and de Paul received co-writing credits. [34] The track was also released as a single with various remixes. [35] This version of the song also appeared on the album Rap History 2000 [36] and also on the 2007 CD Sound Maeuvers by DJ Mitsu The Beats, DJ Mu-R, where it is entitled "Certified/Sugar Me", [37] and the 2010 CD Wolt Beats – My Brain Dilla's Anthology, [38] as well as on the 2016 CD Mr.Beats a.k.a. DJ Celory J Dilla Mix Pt. 2. [39]

The de Paul album version of "Sugar Me" is featured as the first song in the movie Cut Snake , [40] and it is performed by Austrian actress Sophie Rois in the German comedy film La série" aka "Fräulein Phyllis. [41] It was also featured in the 1980 Russian movie Тростинка на ветру (Reed in the Wind). [42] It was also featured in episode 1 of the 2021 TV series Physical . [43] [44] The version by Claudine Longet appears on the sound track to the 2019 German film, Club der einsamen Herzen (Lonely Hearts Club). [45]

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Lynsey de Paul was an English singer-songwriter and record producer. After initially writing hits for others, she had her own chart hits in the UK and Europe in the 1970s, starting with UK top 10 single "Sugar Me", and became the first British female artist to achieve a number one with a self-written song. She represented the UK in the 1977 Eurovision Song Contest, coming second and scoring another chart-topping hit in Switzerland, and had a successful career as a songwriter, record producer, actress and television celebrity.

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<i>Surprise</i> (Lynsey de Paul album) 1973 studio album by Lynsey de Paul

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"Papa Do" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue, who are credited as Rubin and Green. The song was released as a single performed by Barry Green in February 1972 backed with "Boomerang" on the Decca label and had a modicum of chart success in Spain, France and Sweden. It received a number of favourable reviews, including one from the BBC DJ Alan Freeman on his Sunday radio show Pick of the Pops. The Dutch group, Cardinal Point, recorded a version which was similar in style to that recorded by Green, as a track on their self-named album, and the Greek group, The Daltons, also released a version of the song as a single. The song was re-titled "Mama Do" and the text slightly modified for de Paul's own jazzed up version, that served as the opening track for her debut album, Surprise, which was released in 1973. In January 1974, Decca Records re-released the single to capitalize on Barry Blue's chart success and it again received positive reviews.

"House of Cards" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue and is one of their most covered songs. It was first released as a single by Chris Kelly on the CBS label on 7 April 1972, credited as being written by Rubin and Green (Blue). The song was a radio hit in Italy, receiving multiple plays on national radio stations.

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<i>Love Bomb</i> (Lynsey de Paul album) 1975 studio album by Lynsey de Paul

Love Bomb is the fourth album released in 1975 by the British singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul, and her second album released on Jet Records in the UK and Polydor in Germany, Australia and Japan. In the US and Canada, it was released in January 1976 on Mercury Records. The album was recorded at the Marquee Studios, London, England, produced by de Paul and arranged by Tony Hymas, with Terry Cox playing drums, John Dean percussion, Chris Rea guitar and Frank McDonald bass. The striking sleeve cover photo of de Paul in U.S. military style clothing was taken by Brian Aris.

<i>Just a Little Time</i> 1994 studio album by Lynsey de Paul

Just a Little Time is an album by Lynsey de Paul. It was originally released on 30 September 1994 on the Music Deluxe label but has since been released on the Tring International PLC label and on Arc Records/The Magic Collection. All of the songs on the album are written or co-written by de Paul.

"All Night" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Ron Roker. De Paul released her version of the song on 27 April 1973 as her third single released on MAM Records, with arrangements by Martyn Ford and John Bell and produced by de Paul. The song is listed in the U.S. Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries and in "The Directory of American 45 R.p.m. Records". It features an uncredited male vocal. A slinky, sexy song, it compares a love relationship to that of the spider and a fly. The single is backed by the more socially aware song "Blind Leading the Blind", composed and produced by de Paul. The song was an unusual release since neither the A-side or the B-side featured as tracks on her debut album. Surprise had been released a little more than a month earlier - presumably it was not included since "All Night" has a very different style than the tracks on Surprise.

<i>Sugar and Beyond</i> 2013 double compilation album by Lynsey de Paul

Sugar and Beyond is a double compilation album by the British singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul released on 18 March 2013, together with a second double album, Into My Music. De Paul personally oversaw the project and was involved in the digital remastering of the tracks from the original tapes. The CD includes all her hits as well as the two LPs released in the period between 1972 and 1974.

"Sugar Shuffle" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Barry Blue. It first appeared as the lead-in track on de Paul's album Love Bomb as an ethereal, chilled and dreamy song about nightlife and dating. AllMusic rated "Sugar Shuffle" as one of de Paul's song highlights. Musician and music critic Bob Stanley wrote in The Guardian, "Sugar Shuffle is an especially gorgeous, woozy mid-70s confection, fit to sit at the table with Liverpool Express's You Are My Love".

"Taking It On" is a song written by Lynsey de Paul and Ron Roker, and originally published by ATV Music. Although de Paul recorded her own demo version of the song in 1972, her version of the song was not released until 2013 on her Anthology CD album Sugar and Beyond. De Paul also arranged and produced this recording.

References

  1. ↑ "Sugar Me". Repertoire.bmi.com. Retrieved 31 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul - Sugar Me / Storm In A Teacup - MAM - UK - MAM 81". 45cat.com. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  3. ↑ "LYNSEY DE PAUL - SUGAR ME". Dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. ↑ Billboard , October 7, 1972
  5. ↑ Cashbox , 30 September 1972
  6. ↑ "Full text of "Cash Box"". Archive.org. Cash Box Pub. Co. 30 September 1972. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Cashbox , 30 December 1972, p. 32
  8. ↑ "Cash Box Magazine" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 30 December 1972. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  9. ↑ "Bijzondere lijst: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1972". Top40.nl. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  10. ↑ "Barry's Hits of All Decades Pop rock n roll Music Chart Hits". Hitsofalldecades.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  11. ↑ "Top 100 1972 - UK Music Charts". Uk-charts.top-source.info. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  12. ↑ "DE Jahrescharts 1973". Slmm.de. 7 November 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  13. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul - Surprise". Discogs.com. 10 March 1973. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Lynsey De Paul - Sugar Me". Discogs.com. 1977. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "CD Album: Lynsey De Paul - Just A Little Time (1994)". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  16. ↑ "Various - Dance Sensation (The Ultimate Urban Dance Remix Collection)". Discogs.com. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Me (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1973. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  18. ↑ Cashbox , 28 July 1973
  19. ↑ "Nancy Sinatra - Keep Walkin': Singles, Demos & Rarities 1965-1978". Discogs.com. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Claudine Longet - Sugar Me (Vinyl, LP, Album)". Discogs.com. August 2009. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Abigail (13) - Abigail". Discogs.com. 1974.
  22. ↑ "Gigantjes - Sugar Me (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1989. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  23. ↑ "Candy (11) - Sugar Me (CD)". Discogs.com. 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "Nydia Caro - Sugar Me (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 1978. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  25. ↑ Cashbox, February 18, 1978
  26. ↑ "Esmaye - Elements In Me (CD, Album)". Discogs.com. 13 December 2007. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  27. ↑ "Nasia Christie". ReverbNation.com. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  28. ↑ "Gwen Stacey - Sugar Me". 45cat.com. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  29. ↑ "Papernut Cambridge - Nutlets 1967-80 (Vinyl, LP)". Discogs.com. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  30. ↑ "LIM (13) - Comet (Vinyl)". Discogs.com. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  31. ↑ "√ L I M, la cover di "Sugar me" per Red Bull Next Sounds - video". Rockol.it. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
  32. ↑ "Karl Jonas - In A Gilbert Play (Lp) | Shiny Beast Music Mailorder". Shinybeast.nl. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  33. ↑ "Klaus Wunderlich - Hits Again 3". Discogs.com. 1973. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  34. ↑ "Guru - Guru's Jazzmatazz Streetsoul". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  35. ↑ "Guru's Jazzmatazz* Featuring Bilal - Certified". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  36. ↑ "Dejoe - Rap History 2000". Discogs.com. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  37. ↑ "DJ Mitsu The Beats, DJ Mu-R - Sound Maneuvers". Discogs.com. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  38. ↑ "Wolt Beats - My Brain Dilla's Anthology". Discogs.com. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  39. ↑ "Mr.Beats a.k.a. DJ Celory - J Dilla Mix Pt. 2". Discogs.com. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "A jail duo reunite with ugly consequences". Afr.com. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  41. ↑ "Fräulein Phyllis". IMDb.com. 17 December 2004. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  42. ↑ "Trostinka na vetru". IMDb.com. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  43. ↑ "S1E1 - Physical (Let's Do This Thing) List of Songs | WhatSong". What-song.com. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  44. ↑ "Physical Staffel 1 Soundtrack: Alle Songs mit Szenen-Beschreibungen | Popkultur.de". Popkultur.de. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  45. ↑ "Club der einsamen Herzen – Kritik zum Film bei Tittelbach.tv". Tittelbach.tv. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
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