1974 The Rubettes: Sugar Baby Love

One thing that constantly interests me when working through these number ones is the visible rise and fall of both artists and genres as popularity wanes and the public look elsewhere for their thrills. 1973 was without a doubt the year of glam, but by 1974 it was off the front page. The hardcore old guard of Slade, The Sweet, T.Rex etc were falling short of the heights hit previously and the more successful acts were those who saw the change in the weather and adapted. Alvin Stardust and Mud had found success by looking to the past to soften the glam sound into something safer while still retaining its look and 'Sugar Baby Love' is arguably the same approach taken to its logical conclusion.

Very much a manufactured concern,The Rubettes' image of white suits and cloth caps could be taken as novelty personified, a bunch of hastily assembled chancers hanging on to the last few miles of a bandwagon before it finally left the road. Maybe some of their later releases would justify this view (come to think on it, most of their later releases would more than justify this view), but 'Sugar Baby Love' stands well apart from later offal like "Juke Box Jive" or "Foe-Dee-O-Dee". And that it stands apart is largely through the sterling efforts of Paul DaVinci, the lead vocalist who never went on to become a formal member of the band after recording this song.

Which is a shame, because his ferocious three and a half octave falsetto provides a distinctive glam edge (in the sense that it was as over the top as anything in Steve Priest's wardrobe) yet also provided an anchor to the safe harbour of the past; in a parallel universe, DaVinci would have spent his formative years singing doo wop on Harlem street corners with Dion DiMucci, because to be honest, there's precious little else to 'Sugar Baby Love' and its homage to fifties doo wop apart from DaVinci's vocal. Yes there's music playing in the background there somewhere*, but you'd be hard pressed to hear any of it over his opening cry of agony or ecstasy (it's impossible to tell which) and the yearning "All lovers make the same mistake. Yes, they do".

'Sugar Baby Love' is a repetitive, bubblegum song from a manufactured bubblegum band. In other words, it's something that the snob in me should hate by default. But on listening to it again this evening, I find the relentless upbeat drive and soothing wash of backing vocals provide a curious mix of inspiration and heartbreak. They remind of falling both in and out of love in equal measure. There's no beginning or end to 'Sugar Baby Love', it's a quick snapshot of a relationship heading for the rocks with no ultimate indication if it's salvaged or actually does run aground. But regardless of outcome, DaVinci's "Love her anyway, love her everyday" punchline provides a love affirming statement that just because he's messed up, it doesn't mean that you have to as well and that he's going to scream in your face until he gets the message across.**

* If you watch any contemporary footage of the band playing this you'll see their guitarists performing a bizarre kung fu kick dance routine, seemingly for the want of something to do.

** And in case you didn't get it this time, DaVinci would have another crack in two months time with his solo single 'Your Baby Ain't Your Baby Anymore' which followed the style and structure of 'Sugar Baby Love' so closely they could have been twins separated by a plagiarism suit that never was.