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The Story of Glam – Part 2

Well, when you get so high the only way is down and sadly in 1974 the glitter began lose it’s sparkle. Things just started to slow down with the big guys doing some ballads. Slade’s “Everyday” and Gary’s “Remember me this way” neither managing to hit the top spots and with T.Rex’s appeal waning it was left to Mud, Sweet and The Rubettes to carry the flag.

Sweet and Mud kicked it off nicely with a double pronged attack “A teenage rampage” and “Tiger Feet” with the latter putting Les Grey’s fun rock ‘n’ rollers top of the pops.
Suzi Quatro was still carrying the stomp groove with “Devil gate drive” whilst Alvin Stardust scored his one and only number 1 ‘Jealous mind.’ David Bowie was still going with one if his better hits ‘Rebel rebel’ but it was down to The Rubettes’ ‘Sugar baby love’ to ease our angst and keep the fun going. How many of us guys tried to hit that high note at the start of the song?

At this time Sparks were another band to hit the charts with a superb record ‘This town ain’t big enough for the both of us’. These guys came right out of the blue and had a real style and, I think, should have had much more success than they did. One fuzzy haired singer and one tiny moustached, stony faced keyboard player that were the Mael brothers, never seemed to capitalize on their success but did seem to create a cult status.

There was one other band that made an appearance in 1974 that I guess I should mention, see I can be tongue in cheek too, ‘Seven seas of Rye’ was released in March and made it to number 10 in the charts. Now normally a single is released around every 3 months but it wasn’t until October that the follow up, my all time favorite, ‘Killer Queen’ was released. Queen had stepped on to the stage andFreddy had a whole new audience to camp it up to. Gary Glitter had a number one during the summer with ‘Always Yours’ but the signs were there when both Gazza and Slade released ballads later in the year. Gary with ‘Oh yes you’re beautiful” and Slade with ‘Far far away.’ It seems the stomping time was over. Christmas 73 was just too much to follow and all we had to cheer us up was David Essex’s‘Gonna make you a star,’ an absolute cracker of a record, and The Rubettes’ ‘Juke Box Jive.’
Les Grey’s Elvis impersonation was all we had with Mud’s ‘Lonely this Christmas.’ Not quite the foot stomping Christmas of the previous year.

1975 It’s over, but someone forgot to tell a few of the guys. Gary Glitter was still trying to wring out a hit but no-one was really listening. The only record of any significance this year was Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel’s ‘Come up and see me.’ Slade the rockers had slowed down with another ballad “How does it feel” and pretty much signed off with “Thanks for the Memory” which managed to reach number 7.

So that’s that. Glam is over, but what a ride it was. The fun side of rock ‘n’ roll has never been surpassed since. I believe that was the key to it all. Unpretentious fun. All the bands back then were all out to have the time of their lives and it came through in the music they played. Totally outrageous and tongue in cheek antics, that made a generation laugh, chant and stomp to the tribal beat of Glam rock.

So to all you guys and gals.

Thanks for the memories

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Glam Rock – A Personal Reflection by Stephen Palmer

It is with great sadness that I dedicate this blog to man who's writings made it possible. The reflections desciribed herein are of Stephen Palmer, born in 1961 and brought up in Berks and Bucks. He always loved music and always claimed that from his first Queen concert (about 77-78) to the mid 80s he averaged a gig a month. Concerts have been few and far between over the last few years due to his health but he still kept up to date with what was happening and didnt want to be stuck in the past. He was a great writer and I always looked forward to receiving his work for both of my 70s sites. He will be sadly missed but his love for music will always be here to read and hopefully inspire others.

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