Thursday Inspiration #174 Fox On The Run

Respond to this challenge, by either by using the prompt word face, or going with the above picture, or by means of the song ‘Fox On The Run’, or by going with another song by Sweet, or anything else that you think fits.  ‘Fox On The Run’ was released in 1974 on Sweet’s third studio album Desolation Boulevard and the single reached #2 in the UK and it went to #5 in the US.  This song was written by the band, and it features all four members of the group singing, guitarist Andy Scott, drummer Mick Tucker, vocalist Brian Connolly, and bassist Steve Priest.  Sweet had been using the songwriting team of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chin, but after this album, they parted ways with Chapman and Chinn and started producing their own material.  Although the song is credited to the entire group, really it was Scott’s baby.  The subject matter was an unspecified groupie, and Scott made it clear that he has no interest in hearing her talk and he certainly didn’t want to know what her name was.  The lyrics were hastily written in the pub before recording the song for the album, and it lacked a final verse.  They vowed that when they got a chance to re-recorded it, that they would re-write the words, but that never happened.

The Sweet were originally called the Sweetshop and they consisted of Brian Connolly (vocals), Mick Tucker (vocals, drums), Frank Torpey (guitar), and Steve Priest (bass).  In 1970, the group truncated their name to Sweet and signed a record contract with Fontana/EMI, releasing four unsuccessful singles.  Following their failure, Torpey left the group and was replaced by Andy Scott.  The new lineup of Sweet signed to RCA Records in 1971, where they were placed under the direction of songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman who wrote a number of light bubblegum pop songs for the group.  These songs were recorded by session musicians and Sweet merely sang on them.  After their fourth hit, Little Willy, Chapman realized Sweet were better than the session players that were being used, and a compromise was reached where the band could play on the A-sides, which Chinn and Chapman or Chinnichap would continue to write, and the B-sides would showcase Sweet’s songwriting and Scott’s hard-rock riffs.  Glam was popular back them and their golden-haired singer, Brian Connolly, snapped microphone stands over his knee as Scott blew him kisses and bassist Steve Priest sported eyeliner, and fake lashes.  In early 1974, they decided to go in a new direction by showcasing a harder rock sound.

I like listening to this song, but I find the lyrics to be disturbing.  Many young girls often under-age want to meet the musicians in the band, and they will eagerly have one-night stands with guys that don’t respect them.  I have never been in a band or had any girls pursue me for sex, but I guess the life of a rock star is certainly different.  I find it disgraceful that rock stars would want to sleep with women and not even want to know their names.  I guess that after a while of having all of these women go to their concerts in the hope of meeting them, throwing themselves at them, taking drugs and sleeping with them that it would lose the thrill.  It is not unheard of for a groupie to have to do certain things just for her to get backstage.  Perhaps it is not fair to paint these girls as airheaded or sex-crazed nymphomaniacs with little to no self-respect, as they may just be women that want to capture the actual experiences so they can say that they lived this decadent lifestyle.

Okay, you think you got a pretty face
But the rest of you is outta place
I’ve heard it all before
Fox on the run