Wig-Wam Bam

"Wig-Wam Bam"
File:Wig-Wam Bam.jpg
Single by The Sweet
from the album Sweet Singles
B-side	"New York Connection"
Released	1 September 1972
Format	7" vinyl
Recorded	1972
Genre	Glam rock
Length	3:01
Label	RCA
Writer(s)	Nicky Chinn, Mike Chapman
Producer(s)	Phil Wainman
The Sweet singles chronology
"Little Willy" (1972) "Wig-Wam Bam" (1972) "Blockbuster" (1972)

"Wig-Wam Bam" is a song by British glam rock band the Sweet, written by songwriters Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman, released as a single in September 1972. It was the first song where the band was allowed to actually play on their records, as the record company didn't let them play on their own records and session musicians played on their previous five RCA singles. This is the first single on which Steve Priest, Andy Scott, and Mick Tucker played their instruments, as previous singles featured producer Phil Wainman on drums, and session musicians John Roberts and Pip Williams on bass and guitars respectively.

Lyrics

The song's lyrics are inspired by Henry Longfellow's Hiawatha poem from 1855. The story is about a Native American named Hiawatha. He doesn't bother much about Minnehaha, but Minnehaha appears to be in love with Hiawatha and wants to make him her man.

Music

The song featured a significant change in the band's sound, and is often considered the band's first glam rock single. Also, this was the first Sweet single with bass player Steve Priest singing some parts of the lead vocal: the "try a little touch, try a little too much" line at the chorus. This became an important part of Sweet's style later, and at most of their later singles, they also used this technique, with Priest singing some lines of the song. After the song became a hit, Sweet adopted a glam image, starting to wear glitter, Native American clothes and makeup.

Personnel

• Brian Connolly - lead vocals
• Steve Priest - bass guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals
• Andy Scott - guitar, backing vocals
• Mick Tucker - drums, backing vocals

Cover versions

• In 1989, a cover by English pop musician Damian was released as a single and reached #49 on the UK music charts.
• In 2000, all-female rock band the Donnas recorded a cover for the compilation Runnin' on Fumes!/The Gearhead Magazine Singles Compilation. It was later released as a single in 2002.