My Friend Stan
"My Friend Stan" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
German/European cover of "My Friend Stan". | ||||
Single by Slade | ||||
from the album Old New Borrowed and Blue | ||||
B-side | "My Town" | |||
Released | 28 September 1973 | |||
Genre | Glam rock | |||
Length | 2:38 | |||
Label | Polydor Records | |||
Songwriter(s) | Noddy Holder, Jim Lea | |||
Producer(s) | Chas Chandler | |||
Slade singles chronology | ||||
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"My Friend Stan" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1973 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Old New Borrowed and Blue.[1] It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 2 in the UK, spending eight weeks on the chart.[2] The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in October 1973.[3]
Background
"My Friend Stan", alongside the compilation Sladest, was Slade's first release following drummer Don Powell's near fatal car crash in July 1973. The accident threw the band's future into doubt, however Powell survived and was soon able to join the band in recording material for their new album Old New Borrowed and Blue. One of the earliest songs to be recorded, "My Friend Stan" saw Powell still walking with the aid of a stick. He had to be lifted onto his drum stool during recording.[4] After Lea had come up with the song's melody, the band's manager Chas Chandler persuaded him to complete it after he had heard Lea playing the melody on his home piano.[5]
Release
"My Friend Stan" was released in the UK on 28 September 1973.[6] In the run-up to its release date, 250,000 advance orders were placed by retailers and, due to the high demand, Polydor had to import 100,000 copies of the single into the UK.[7][8][9]
Music video
The song's music video was filmed at Olympic Studios in London and portrays the band recording the song, with guitarist Dave Hill using his trademark Superyob guitar.[10][11]
Critical reception
Upon its release, Pete Jones of Record & Radio Mirror called "My Friend Stan" a "much slower Slade offering" and "really rather subdued". He concluded, "An obvious number one, and in some ways more memorable than some of the earlier rampagers."[12] Deborah Thomas of the Daily Mirror commented, "One in the eye from Slade to prove the Wolverhampton stompers haven't lost their shine."[13] John Hutson, writing for the Thanet Times, considered the release to be a "refreshing change from the Slade singles we have come to expect" and one which is "bound to be topping the charts within a couple of weeks". He described "My Friend Stan" as "quite a pleasant tune" and the B-side, "My Town", as being "much more like the Slade we are used to".[14] Widnes Weekly News called it a "real change for Noddy and the boys", with the song being "much slower than anything they've done since 'Look at Last Nite' and very subdued in comparison with 'Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me'". The reviewer continued, "And, possibly because it is such a change, it is an incredibly refreshing single. No need to predict the reception!"[15] James Belsey of the Bristol Evening Post described it as a "cheerful, breezy sort of bouncer", but felt it was "not really packing the impact we've come to expect from Slade".[16]
Track listing
7-inch single
- "My Friend Stan" – 2:38
- "My Town" – 3:02
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder – lead vocals, guitar
- Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea – piano, bass, backing vocals
- Don Powell – drums
Production
- Chas Chandler – producer
Charts
Chart (1973) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] | 44 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[18] | 7 |
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[19] | 8 |
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] | 10 |
Ireland (IRMA)[21] | 1 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] | 13 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[23] | 10 |
Norway (VG-lista)[24] | 5 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] | 6 |
UK Singles (OCC)[26] | 2 |
West Germany (Official German Charts)[27] | 5 |
References
- ^ "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. 1974. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ "SLADE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Home". BPI. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ Old New Borrowed and Blue - 2006 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
- ^ "CD Album - Slade - Greatest Hits - Feel The Noize - Polydor - UK". 45worlds.com. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ "Don Powell's biggest test". Record Mirror. 22 September 1973. p. 6. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ Tony Jasper, ed. (6 October 1973). "Chart Parade: Slade miss out". Record & Radio Mirror. p. 3. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ "1973 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ Slade Fan Club Newsletter December 1973
- ^ "1986 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
- ^ Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
- ^ Jones, Pete (6 October 1973). "Singles UK". Record & Radio Mirror. p. 22. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ Thomas, Deborah (25 September 1973). "Tuesday Scene: Short Plays". Daily Mirror. p. 14. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Hutson, John (2 October 1973). "New Slade disc refreshing". Thanet Times. p. 2. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Billy bids for success again". Widnes Weekly News. 5 October 1973. p. 29. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Belsey, James (29 September 1973). "Pops". Bristol Evening Post. p. 22. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Slade". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 237. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – My Friend Stan". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Slade" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Slade – My Friend Stan" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Slade – My Friend Stan". VG-lista. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Slade – My Friend Stan". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Slade: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Slade – My Friend Stan" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- v
- t
- e
- Dave Hill
- Don Powell
- Noddy Holder
- Jim Lea
- John Berry
- Russell Keefe
- Steve Whalley
- Steve Makin
- Craig Fenney
- Trevor Holliday
- Dave Glover
- Mal McNulty
- Beginnings (Ambrose Slade, 1969)
- Play It Loud (1970)
- Slayed? (1972)
- Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
- Slade in Flame (1974)
- Nobody's Fools (1976)
- Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
- Return to Base (1979)
- We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
- Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
- The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983)
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
- Rogues Gallery (1985)
- Crackers (1985)
- You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
- Slade Alive! (1972)
- Slade Alive, Vol. 2 (1978)
- Slade on Stage (1982)
- Coz I Luv You (1972)
- Sladest (1973)
- Slade Smashes! (1980)
- Slades Greats (1984)
- The Slade Collection 81–87 (1991)
- Wall of Hits (1991)
- The Slade Collection Vol. 2, 79–87 (1993)
- The Genesis of Slade (1996)
- Feel the Noize – Greatest Hits (1997)
- Get Yer Boots On: The Best of Slade (2004)
- The Very Best of Slade (2005)
- Slade Alive! – The Live Anthology (2006)
- B-Sides (2007)
- Rockers (2007)
- In for a Penny: Raves & Faves (2007)
- Live at the BBC (2009)
- Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits (2009)
- Cum On Feel the Hitz: The Best of Slade (2020)
- The Slade Box (2006)
- When Slade Rocked the World (2015)
- Six of the Best
- Alive at Reading
- Xmas Ear Bender
- "You Better Run" (The N' Betweens)
- "Wild Winds Are Blowing"
- "Shape of Things to Come"
- "Know Who You Are"
- "Get Down and Get with It"
- "Coz I Luv You"
- "Look Wot You Dun"
- "Take Me Bak 'Ome"
- "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
- "Gudbuy T'Jane"
- "Cum On Feel the Noize"
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"
- "My Friend Stan"
- "Merry Xmas Everybody"
- "Everyday"
- "When the Lights Are Out"
- "The Bangin' Man"
- "Far Far Away"
- "How Does It Feel"
- "Thanks for the Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)"
- "In for a Penny"
- "Let's Call It Quits"
- "Nobody's Fool"
- "Gypsy Roadhog"
- "Burning in the Heat of Love"
- "My Baby Left Me - That's All Right"
- "Give Us a Goal"
- "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero"
- "Ginny, Ginny"
- "Sign of the Times"
- "Okey Cokey"
- "We'll Bring the House Down"
- "Wheels Ain't Coming Down"
- "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy"
- "Lock Up Your Daughters"
- "Ruby Red"
- "Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)"
- "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"
- "My Oh My"
- "Run Runaway"
- "Slam the Hammer Down"
- "All Join Hands"
- "7 Year Bitch"
- "Myzsterious Mizster Jones"
- "Little Sheila"
- "Do You Believe in Miracles"
- "Still the Same"
- "That's What Friends Are For"
- "You Boyz Make Big Noize"
- "Ooh La La in L.A."
- "We Won't Give In"
- "Let's Dance '88"
- "Radio Wall of Sound"
- "Universe"
- Slade in Flame
- Wall of Hits
- Discography
- List of songs recorded by Slade
- The Dummies
- A Day in the Life of the Dummies
- "Shooting Me Down"
- Keep On Rockin' (Slade II album)
- Therapy (James Whild Lea album)