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How Sniff ‘N’ The Tears Disbanded, Reunited (Sort Of), and Then Enjoyed Their Biggest Hit in 1979
Sniff 'n' The Tears, a British band fronted by Paul Roberts, is remembered as a one-hit wonder for their 1979 song "Driver's Seat", which reached No. 15 on the US charts. The track's success is notable because it was written years earlier, in 1973, and the band broke up before ever performing it live, meaning the song had to survive a long and uncertain path before finding an audience.
Roberts wrote "Driver's Seat" after being woken one night by a mouse and a noisy fridge, later shaping the lyrics around someone regaining control after a break-up. Early demos recorded in France went nowhere, prompting Roberts to abandon music temporarily to work as a painter in London. A 1977 approach from former drummer Luigi Salvoni led to a deal with Chiswick Records, and Roberts reformed the band to re-record the song for the 1979 album "Fickle Heart", blending pub rock and disco to create the band's biggest and lasting hit.
In short
- "Driver's Seat" became Sniff 'n' The Tears' sole big hit in 1979.
- Paul Roberts wrote it in 1973, but the band split before playing it live.
- It reached No. 15 in the US after a 1977 record deal revival.
Explained simply
Sniff 'n' The Tears is a British rock band best known for a single track that became their breakthrough hit. In 1979, their song "Driver's Seat" climbed to number 15 on the US charts, earning them the label of a one-hit wonder. What makes this story unusual is that the song was written in 1973, several years before the band broke up, and the track had to survive a long period of uncertainty before finding its audience.
Frontman Paul Roberts wrote "Driver's Seat" in 1973 after being woken during the night, and later shaped the lyrics around someone regaining control after a break-up. Early recordings of the song, made in France, failed to attract interest, prompting Roberts to leave music and work as a painter in London. The band remained disbanded as the years passed.
The group's path to their eventual hit involved an unexpected reunion. In 1977, former drummer Luigi Salvoni approached Roberts about reforming the band, leading to a recording contract with Chiswick Records. The band re-recorded "Driver's Seat" for their 1979 album "Fickle Heart", blending pub rock and disco influences to create a track that would become their most enduring legacy.