The godlike genius of Tony Hatch

"Sad Sweet Dreamer" is such a classic slice of Philly Soul loveliness from 1974 that it's hard to believe it's actually English through and through. Sweet Sensation were a group of lads from Manchester who first made a splash on the UK television talent show New Faces - the same show that also brought us Showaddywaddy! - which led to them being signed up by judge Tony Hatch who produced this #1 smasheroo for them. Hatch played the "Simon Cowell" role on the show, being a bit of a bastard to those he felt unworthy, but before that he was known as The British Bacharach, producing and writing a string of hits for Petula Clark (including "Downtown") as well as several great TV theme tunes. This track could easily be a Gamble & Huff production, it mostly reminds me of The Jacksons "Show You The Way To Go" with Marcel King's lovely falsetto every bit as sweet as the young Micheal Jackson's. Sweet Sensation only had one other minor hit after this and, after the ignomy of failing in a bid to represent Britain in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1977, they were dropped by their record label. That wasn't quite the end of Marcel King though, in 1991 he released a single called "Reach For Love" on Factory Records of all places. I've never heard this but I sure would like to (Hint, hint. Anyone?). Sadly, King died of a brain haemorrhage in 1995 but he lives on in this wonderful record.

[Download]
Sad Sweet Dreamer - Sweet Sensation