Blockbuster

In December 1973, David Bowie's "The Jean Genie" peaked at #2 in the UK charts. The following month, this song went one better going all the way to #1. Both songs used the same Yardbirds riff from Bo Diddley's "I'm A Man." Guitarist Andy Scott recalled to Uncut the band's panicked reaction after an A&R man played them "Jean Genie." "We sat there with horrified looks on our faces. The guy asked what was wrong, and we said 'That's the same f---ing guitar riff as Blockbuster" He said, 'Well, it's quite similar isn't it?' 'It's the f---ing same!' I got on the blower to Nicky Chinn and said, 'We can't release this.' He said, 'Don't worry, they're completely different kinds of records and I predict this will be a number one.' I thought, 'Good luck with that.' But he was proved right. A few weeks later, we were at number one and Bowie was at number two."

This proved to be The Sweet's only British #1, and it stayed at the top for five weeks. Their next three releases stalled at #2: "Hell Raiser," "Ballroom Blitz" and "Teenage Rampage."

This song featured an air-raid siren over a decade before one was used on Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes."