Song of the Week: Sugar Me
Lynsey De Paul
Sugar Me
This week’s song of the week is dedicated to Mr Five-Centres. F-C recently pointed out the sad fact that Lynsey De Paul’s ‘Sugar Me’ is one of those long-lost songs which is strangely hard to track down on CD.
Fortunately I happen to own a copy and the reason I do is largely thanks to an Australian actress called Abigail. Abigail caused minor controversy in Australia in the early 70s thanks to her sexed-up crumpet role in Channel 10 soap opera Number 96, a show where her clothes apparently managed to fall off on a regular basis. I am fortunate enough never to have actually seen Number 96, but I have witnessed Abigail’s contribution to one of Australia’s dodgiest films, Alvin Purple, and well, if you’re in any way a fan of the bawdy-70s-sex-comedy genre, then you should check it out.
But that’s all by the by, because in addition to Abigail’s acting career, she (of course) tried her hand at singing and it was her version of ‘Sugar Me’ that I first heard. And happily, Abigail’s unsubtly sexy purring didn’t quite manage to disguise the quality song underneath.
When I eventually tracked down Lynsey De Paul’s original, I was initially shocked by how fabulously sultry it is – especially considering her less… overt appearance. Boy, is it better than Abigail’s take, way better.
So the point to this ramble is? Well there isn’t one, sorry. Just enjoy this top tune.
‘Sugar Me’, Lynsey De Paul, 1972
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
What a lovely woman you are. In fact, when I picture you, I think of Abigail. Or are you more of a Denise ‘Ding-Dong’ Drysdale character?
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Denise Drysdale?!!!!
Well, actually I am more Denise than Abigail. More brunette and less erm, poutingly buxom. And I can go-go dance too (after a few sherries).
Make sure you get the download by clicking on the link.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I never knew you could download your embeds – amazing. I’d forgotten this tune but it also reminds of Moving Out by Carlole Bayer Seger –
Alvin Purple I’m gonna have get on the youtube run for evidence, sounds a cracker..
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Oh dear PM, maybe I’ve been too cautious and scared of the internet police in underpromoting the downloads. I thought you knew! You can download most of them although I’ve disabled loads for reasons of disc space and pissing off people doing random searches for free music (the price you pay for the music is reading the associated waffle!).
Oh yes, check out Alvin Purple. It goes well with that other dreadful film from the time, The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. I daren’t look at youtube…
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
The De Paul compilations, which you’ll have doubtless investigated, have re-recordings of Sugar Me and the very early hits, but originals of her later output, including her theme to the ITV sitcom, No Honestly, which came out on other labels. Her first few hits came out on the MAM label, which was owned by Tom Jones’ manager Gordon Mills. I wonder if those singles are trapped in rights hell, as Gilbert O’Sullivan (another MAM artist) had to embark on a very costly, public court case to extricate himself from his contract with Mills in the early 80s. I think I’m right in saying the outcome of that case meant that the rights to all his hits reverted to O’Sullivan.
btw Sugar Me was co-written by Barry Blue under his real name of Barry Green.
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Hello Brian, Thanks for stopping by and thanks for all the info! I don’t actually have any Lynsey de Paul compilations – this is off an Australian 70s compil. I bought about 13 years ago. I ASSUME that it’s the original, but perhaps its not – do you know?! And thanks for reminding me of the Barry Blue connection. ‘Dancing on a Saturday Night’! – now there’s another ace 70s track.
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Hi Cocktails. I must confess I made the original posting without sampling the MP3. I have now rectified that. It certainly sounds like the original to me – I can’t speak as a fan or anything, but I did hear it probably on BBC Radio 2 not that long ago. I wonder if it really is a rights issue. Certainly all the comps amazon list (all released in the last 10 years or so) have lots of disgruntled purchasers saying, “Oof, these are re-recordings”.
But yes, for something that reached number 5 in the charts, it does seem peculiar how elusive a CD release seems to be.
July 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 am
What a class track! Ideal for shimmying around the living room.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:24 am
Gosh, does that ever remind me of just having broken up from primary school for the summer. And written by Barry Blue! The worst dancer in the history of Pop, though he deserves merit for his use of balalaika on ‘Dancing on a Saturday Night’.
I’m off too check out Alvin Purple – sounds like a treat!
July 3rd, 2009 at 11:25 am
Hello Kitten and welcome. It is an ace tune isn’t it? I’m surprised (although also kind of grateful) that no-one other than Abigail seems to have covered it yet.
ISBW, this post seems to have backfired. I really wasn’t intending to encourage interest in Alvin Purple. Really.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 pm
I’ve been sampling quite of bit of the Barry Blue oeuvre lately. Miss Hit and Run, Hot Shot and School Love are all as good as DOASN.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Did you know he also helped bring the world Toto Coelo in the early 80s, with I Eat Cannibals and the daughter of Bob Holness?
Barry Blue – one of the best French films ever.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Brian, although these facts are very interesting, the news that Barry Blue is responsible for Toto Coelo is not helping his cause.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:56 pm
This is a fair point, Cocktails.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Hey Cocktails. Love that tune. Thanks for sharing it. Hope you’re having a cool & swingin’ weekend. Cheers!
July 4th, 2009 at 10:41 pm
You too Keith – Happy Independence Day!
August 20th, 2009 at 8:01 am
honestly speaking
sugar me is still the killer