Born in Akron, Ohio, Rachel Sweet signed to Stiff Records and released her first album, “Fool Around”, in 1978, dropping out of high school to concentrate on her singing career, Stiff signed the young singer and debuted her on “The Akron Compilation“. her first album, “Fool Around”, with backing from the Rumour in 1978. although she was still required to devote time to her studies. Sweet was backed by the power pop band The Records on the Stiff Records package tour in 1978. The album was a critical success, but sales were poor, although she did have some success with the single “B-A-B-Y” (a cover of the 1966 Carla Thomas song), a top-40 hit in the UK.
The record label generated some controversy by pushing a Lolita-like image for her. Her follow-up album, “Protect the Innocent”, produced by Martin Rushent and Alan Winstanley, was largely ignored by the public and the music press, although it was popular with her fans and launched a well-received North American tour in 1980 with her band The Toys.
1979 single from American singer Rachel Sweet, released on Stiff as a single in the UK, and on the US version of her debut album “Fool Around”, Sweet enjoyed reasonable success with her other releases, but largely retired from music in 1982.
She signed to Columbia Records in 1981, releasing the album “… And Then He Kissed Me” and its hit single “Everlasting Love”, The album also includes “Shadows of the Night,” later a hit for Pat Benatar.
Sweet released only one more album, 1982’s “Blame It on Love”, Sweet retired from the music business to pursue an education, returning sporadically, most notably to sing the title track to John Waters’ “Hairspray”, as well as “Cry-Baby”. Her focus later turned to acting.
“the little girl with the big voice” made some terrific music, holding her own on a roster that had no shortage of talent.
Albums
- Fool Around (1978),
- Protect the Innocent (1980),
- … And Then He Kissed Me (1981),
- Blame It on Love (1982),
The Fat Angel Sings 