A beautiful song about the simple, profound joy of finding the right person.
In the vast and shimmering tapestry of 1970s glam rock, few voices were as instantly recognizable as that of Brian Connolly. As the charismatic and golden-haired frontman of The Sweet, he was the voice behind a string of explosive, chart-topping hits like “Ballroom Blitz” and “Fox on the Run“. Yet, for those of us who grew up with the roar of electric guitars and the flash of sequined jumpsuits, there was a different side to Connolly’s artistry, one that emerged from the shadows of his post-Sweet career. That side, often overlooked and tinged with a deep, personal sorrow, is perfectly encapsulated in the poignant 1983 solo single, “Just My Kind Of Loving“.
The song itself is a quiet, soulful ballad, a stark contrast to the bombastic, bubblegum-infused anthems that made him a global star. It was released after Brian Connolly had left The Sweet in 1979, a period of immense personal struggle. While the song itself didn’t find its way onto the official charts, it holds a special place in the hearts of die-hard fans who followed his difficult solo journey. The track was intended for an album scheduled for release in 1983, but that album never saw the light of day. This detail, in itself, speaks volumes about the tumultuous and unfulfilled path his career took after his departure from the band he helped make famous.
At its core, “Just My Kind Of Loving” is a heartfelt ode to finding true love and stability. It’s a sentiment that feels all the more powerful when you consider the turbulence of Connolly’s life at the time. The very concept of “loving” and “family” in the song’s lyrics takes on a profound, almost desperate meaning, a yearning for the simple comforts that fame and its inherent chaos often deny. For a man who battled alcoholism and ill health, the song is a bittersweet prayer for a simpler, healthier existence. It is a song that invites you to look past the makeup and the stage presence and see the man behind the persona—a man who simply wanted to be loved and to find a place of peace. The raw, emotional honesty of Connolly’s vocals reveals a vulnerability that was rarely seen in his glam rock days, a testament to the pain and wisdom he had gained from his difficult experiences.
This song is a quiet, beautiful footnote in a loud, chaotic story. It reminds us that behind every rock ‘n’ roll legend, there’s a person with dreams, fears, and a longing for a different kind of life. For us, the audience who have aged along with the music, this song feels less like a rock track and more like a shared memory, a melancholy reminder of youth and the complicated paths our heroes took. It’s a testament to the man who was much more than just a glam rock icon. He was a singer, a fighter, and a soul who, despite everything, never stopped searching for “Just My Kind Of Loving”.