Love them or hate them, you can't have turned the radio on in the 70's without hearing the sound of Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn (or Chinnichap), one of the most prolific and succesful song-writing duos of all time. From 1973 to 1974 alone they had 19 hits in the UK Top 40 and five number ones, all featuring the signature 70's bubblegum sound of bands like Mud, Suzi Quatro, Sweet and Smokie
Their technique was to pump the songs out quick, first thinking of a title and then writing the lyrics. It's pretty clear, when you consider the lyrics of a song like Wig-Wam Bam by Sweet.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam
Chapman was the autocrat of the pair, reigning in the heavy rock aspirations of the Sweet, for example and wearing a US General outfit. He would later produce two of the most succesful albums of the late 70's, Blondie's Parrallel Lines and The Knack's debut.
Here Rock Revival's Top Five Chinnichap songs
1 Mud: "Tiger Feet"
2 The Sweet: "Ballroom Blitz"
3 Suzi Quatro: "48 Crash"
4 The Arrows "Touch Too Much"
5 Toni Basil: "Mickey"
Their technique was to pump the songs out quick, first thinking of a title and then writing the lyrics. It's pretty clear, when you consider the lyrics of a song like Wig-Wam Bam by Sweet.
Wig-wam bam, gonna make you my man
Wam bam bam, gonna get you if I can
Wig-wam bam, wanna make you understand
Try a little touch, try a little too much
Just try a little wig-wam bam
Chapman was the autocrat of the pair, reigning in the heavy rock aspirations of the Sweet, for example and wearing a US General outfit. He would later produce two of the most succesful albums of the late 70's, Blondie's Parrallel Lines and The Knack's debut.
Here Rock Revival's Top Five Chinnichap songs
1 Mud: "Tiger Feet"
2 The Sweet: "Ballroom Blitz"
3 Suzi Quatro: "48 Crash"
4 The Arrows "Touch Too Much"
5 Toni Basil: "Mickey"
Images: Courtesy RAK/RCA/Capitol
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3 comments:
I think I would put Ballroom Blitz at the top of the list.
Like Arrows Touch Too Much the best ,they really made it their own song.It was clear ap art from Alans obvious sex appeal on this cheeky track,his vocals were so good too.
Like Arrows Touch Too Much the best ,they really made it their own song.It was clear ap art from Alans obvious sex appeal on this cheeky track,his vocals were so good too.
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