Junk Box Jury

Taken from the LP ‘Blockbusters′ | (Music For Pleasure MFP 50175) 1974

Mud | Cover Version | “Dyna-Mite” | Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman are the 1974 winners of the Ivor Novello Songwriters Of The Year award presented by the Performing Rights Society. They were also runners-up for the Best Beat Song award, with the title song on this album, Blockbuster.

Since the two writers met in 1970 they have guaranteed chart security to the Sweet since 1971, Mud since 1972 and Suzi Quatro since May of 1973. The origin of the distinctive Chinnichap sound is not easy to trace without inside knowledge, but it derives mainly from a simple, catchy riff and biting lead line, filled out by sound effects designed to create a live atmosphere on the record. “Come on boys” shouts Suzi Quatro on Devil Gate Drive, “One more time” rally Mud on The Cat Crept In and Blockbuster cries out for that siren.

By moving on to the production side, Chinnichap are able to follow these original ideas through to a finished recording. They would be the first to praise others on the production, such as engineer Pete Coleman, and the partnership too does not bow to anything below perfection. It would be easy to settle for just one bad line in what for all else is a good song, but Chinnichap do not succumb to this.

It is such disregard for the second-rate that has evolved so many hits in such a short space of time. It shows also just how much contribution the song makes in pushing an artist to the top, and it is because these numbers can stand up so well on their own that this tribute to the writing and flair of Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman has been made. (Martin Thorpe)

Any questions and feedback about the material posted on my website let me know by using the contact form provided.

cost of record: £1
from: St Benedict’s Hospice