Sweet: Desolation Boulevard Album (1974)

Sweet
Nov 4, 1974
5 min read

A Glam Rock Boulevard Blitz

Sweet’s Desolation Boulevard LP, was released in the UK on November 4, 1974, on RCA Victor Records (catalogue: LPL1 5080). This 9-track (10 track US) glam-to-hard rock album, produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, featured “Fox On The Run” and “Turn It Down.”

Two distinctly different versions of the album were released: one by RCA Records in Europe and another by Capitol Records in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

The RCA version includes the single "Turn It Down" and the original recording of "Fox on the Run." The Capitol version, released in the United States in May 1975, features the band's 1973 hit single "The Ballroom Blitz" and the single version of "Fox on the Run." In the U.S., the album reached 25 on October 25, 1975.

The album cover was created by the art design group Hipgnosis, renowned for collaborating with artists such as Pink Floyd, Genesis, The Alan Parsons Project, and Led Zeppelin. The background image was taken near the entrance of a rock music club named Filthy McNasty's, situated at 8852 Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, California. Currently, this location is home to The Viper Room, the place where actor River Phoenix tragically passed away from a drug overdose on Halloween morning in 1993.

The US front cover was modified slightly to include additional road signs and changes to the album's title and the band's logo.

Release Details:

Label: RCA Victor Records (UK).

Formats: 12-inch vinyl LP; later CD reissues.

℗ & ©: 1974 RCA Records. Recorded at Audio International Studios, London, 1974. Matrix numbers (e.g., LPL1 5080 A-1) confirm authenticity.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Commercial) First U.K. Release.

Packaging: Gatefold sleeve, orange RCA labels, lyric sheet. No price code on back cover, but correctly printed on label and lyrics sheet. Track A4 appears as 'Medussa' on gatefold.

Label: RCA Victor – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold

A1 The Six Teens

Written-By – N. Chinn, M. Chapman 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass

Written-By – Scott*, Connolly, Tucker, Priest 5:28

A3 Turn It Down

Written-By – N. Chinn, M. Chapman 3:27

A4 Medusa

Written-By – A. Scott 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight

Written-By – A. Scott 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm

Written-By – E..Bernstein*, S .Fine 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run

Written-By – Scott*, Connolly*, Tucker*, Priest 4:49

B3 Breakdown

Written-By – Scott*, Connolly*, Tucker*, Priest 3:03

B4 My Generation

Written-By – P. Townshend 3:59

Produced For – Chinebridge Ltd.

Manufactured By – RCA Ltd.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – RCA Ltd.

Engineered At – Audio International Studios

Published By – Chinnichap

Published By – Rak Publishing

Published By – Sweet Publishing Ltd.

Published By – Victoria Music Publishing Co. Ltd.

Published By – Fabulous Music Ltd.

Printed By – MacNeill Press Ltd.

Printed By – Delga Press Limited

Arranged By – Sweet*

Arranged By [Brass] – Phil Dennys (tracks: B1)

Arranged By, Concept By [Conception] – Mick Tucker (tracks: B1)

Art Direction – Hipgnosis (2), John Dyer

Bass Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals – Steve Priest

Drums, Timpani, Bells [Tubular], Gong, Vocals – Mick Tucker

Engineer – Peter Coleman

Guitar, Synthesizer, Vocals – Andy Scott

Lead Vocals – Brian Connolly

Photography By [Front] – Big Cigar Productions

Photography By [Inside] – Richard Imrie

Producer – M.Chapman-N.Chinn*

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Commercial)

Variation: First U.K. Release. Glossy Labels.

Label: RCA Victor – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Gatefold

Gatefold sleeve, orange RCA labels, lyrics sheet. No price code on back cover.

Glossy labels not matte feel.

A1 The Six Teens 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass 5:28

A3 Turn It Down 3:27

A4 Medusa 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run 4:49

B3 Breakdown 3:03

B4 My Generation 3:59

The label is flat with only one concentric ridge around the center hole as opposed to this version The Sweet - Desolation Boulevard that is 'lifted' around the label edge.

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Commercial)

Variation: First U.K. Release. Matte Labels

Label :RCA – LPL1 5080, RCA Victor – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold, Matte Labels, No Price Code, RCA Pressing

A1 The Six Teens 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass 5:28

A3 Turn It Down 3:27

A4 Medusa 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run 4:49

B3 Breakdown 3:03

B4 My Generation 3:59

Original UK release in matte gatefold cover without price code but 'STEREO' on top right cover back below catalogue number.

Matte orange RCA Victor labels with 'Stereo' after side identification. Labels are flat with only one concentric ridge around the center hole.

For similar variant with glossy labels visit The Sweet - Desolation Boulevard.

Paper lyrics insert, printed by Delga Press Ltd.

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Commercial)

Variation: RCA Records Pressing Plant

Label: RCA Victor – LPL1 5080, RCA – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Gatefold

A1 The Six Teens 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass 5:28

A3 Turn It Down 3:27

A4 Medusa 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run 4:49

B3 Breakdown 3:03

B4 My Generation 3:59

Rear sleeve variation of Desolation Boulevard:

'Price code HH' and not 'stereo' below the catalog number on the top right corner.Desolation Boulevard. Includes an insert with the lyrics.

Tracklist as initially released.

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Commercial)

Variation: MacNeill Press

Label: RCA Victor – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album,

Gatefold Includes an insert with the lyrics.

A1 The Six Teens 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass 5:28

A3 Turn It Down 3:27

A4 Medusa 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run 4:49

B3 Breakdown 3:03

B4 My Generation 3:59

12-Inch Vinyl LP (Test Pressing)

Label: RCA – LPL1 5080

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Test Pressing

A1 The Six Teens 4:02

A2 Solid Gold Brass 5:28

A3 Turn It Down 3:27

A4 Medusa 4:44

A5 Lady Starlight 3:09

B1 Man With The Golden Arm 8:33

B2 Fox On The Run 4:49

B3 Breakdown 3:03

B4 My Generation 3:59

Matrix / Runout (Side A runout): LPL1-5080-A-1 A1

Matrix / Runout (Side B runout): LPL1-5080-B-1 A1A

Tape Cassette (Commercial)

First UK release 74" RCA, Dolby System

Label: RCA – LPK1 5080

Format: Cassette, Album, Stereo, Dolby Dystem

A1 The Six Teens

A2 Solid Gold Brass

A3 Breakdown

A4 Medussa

A5 Lady Starlight

B1 Man With The Golden Arm

B2 Fox On The Run

B3 Turn It Down

B4 My Generation

Production and Context

Produced by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, recorded at Audio International Studios, London, 1974. The lineup featured Brian Connolly (vocals), Andy Scott (guitar, vocals), Steve Priest (bass, vocals), Mick Tucker (drums, vocals).

Desolation Boulevard was Sweet’s hard rock pivot, with the UK version retaining original “Fox On The Run.” Released amid glam’s decline, it competed with Queen and Slade, bridging bubblegum and heavy rock.

Singles Released and Chart Performance

UK singles from the album:

A: The Six Teens

B: Burn On The Flame

RCA Victor UK LPBO 5037 July 5 1974

A: Turn It Down

B: . . . Someone Else Will

RCA Victor UK RCA 2480 November 1 1974

A: Fox On The Run

B: Miss Demeanour

RCA Victor UK RCA 2524 March 7 1975

Weekly charts

Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)	13
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)	5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)	9
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)	9
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)	17
Norwegian Albums	2
Swedish Albums
US Billboard 200	25