My Oh My (Slade song)
Encyclopedia
"My Oh My" is a power ballad originally sung by rock band Slade
. The song appears on their album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
(released in 1983) and on the band's 1984 American
counterpart release, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply
. The song reached number two in the UK chart by Christmas 1983 and soon after became the band's second US Top 40 hit, reaching number 37. The single was kept from the #1 spot in the UK by The Flying Pickets
cover of Only You
. The single's chart run in the UK began at only #73, the following week it had moved into the top 40 at #36 and the week after it made #15. After, it stayed in the top 10 for 5 weeks.
Slade re-recorded the song in swing-style for the b-side of the single "Do You Believe in Miracles?
", released in 1985. This version was apparently suggested by Frank Sinatra
and was recorded with the Monty Babson Big Band. Holder did his vocal in one take after an evening in the pub.
The single was certified UK Gold by BPI in January 1984.
The single peaked at #305 for 1983 on rateyourmusic.
. The raw demo of Holder singing over Lea's piano was received with wild enthusiasm by Slade's record label.
In a 1987 interview, guitarist Dave Hill was asked by a fan which is his favourite single, Hill replied "although I didn't like 'My oh my' when I first heard it, by the time I started playing on it and promoting it, I discovered a certain magic and hidden power in it. I would say 'My oh my' is my favourite to date."
In a 1987 fan club interview, Holder was asked about the change of lyric in the demo of "My Oh My" compared to the single release. Holder replied "The record ends up the same as the demo. But sometimes it gets changed. 'My Oh My' got changed because John Punter didn't like on verse in it, so we put a new verse in. I in fact like the original demo verse, personally!"
In 2011, the song was performed live on German TV by the current lineup of Slade featuring original members guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell with bassist John Berry and vocalist Mal McNulty.
During 1985, a Swing version of the song was made. Holder was interviewed in London 5 June 1986 by Trevor Slaughter and Paul Lythe about the track. "It came about originally because a few people asked us for demo's of songs to cover. A lot of people wanted to cover 'My oh my'. I mean 'middle of the road' sort of people. Colin actually suggested it, saying we couldn't send them our own version, because they've all heard that. Anyway, we had people like Frank Sinatra saying that we ought to do a 'swing version' of it. Well, we weren't going to do it, so we got a mate of ours - Monty Babson - to sing it on the original demo, which went out to all these 'middle of the road' people. When I heard it, I really liked it, so as an added extra on the 12", I said 'Why don't we put my voice with Monty Babson's band?' and that's what we did. I just had a couple of drinks in the pub and went and sang with him in one take. We didn't spend any time on it or anything. There is actually a 'swing version' of 'All join hands', which I haven't put the vocal on yet."
The track was also performed on many UK TV shows such as David Frost, Hall of Fame, Russell Harty Show, Saturday Superstore, Rock and Pop Awards and Saturday Show which featured a different backing track. It also featured on Top of The Pops on a number of occasions.
7" Single (UK limited edition)
12" Single
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
. The song appears on their album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome is an album by the British rock group Slade. It was released December 3, 1983 and reached number 49 in the UK charts....
(released in 1983) and on the band's 1984 American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
counterpart release, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply
Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply
-Run Runaway:"Run Runaway", a celtic-flavoured rock-jig featuring some elliptical lyrics and the return of Jim Lea's fiddle. RCA saw the potential of the track and appointed John Punter to work on the track. The album version is extended to give more time for the Linn drum gallop...
. The song reached number two in the UK chart by Christmas 1983 and soon after became the band's second US Top 40 hit, reaching number 37. The single was kept from the #1 spot in the UK by The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella vocal group, who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track "Only You".-History:...
cover of Only You
Only You (Yazoo song)
-Track listing:7": Mute/7 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 3:447": Sire/9 2-98447 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Winter Kills" - 4:0112": Mute/12 MUTE 20 # "Only You" - 3:10# "Situation" - 5:20CD: Mute/CD MUTE 20...
. The single's chart run in the UK began at only #73, the following week it had moved into the top 40 at #36 and the week after it made #15. After, it stayed in the top 10 for 5 weeks.
Slade re-recorded the song in swing-style for the b-side of the single "Do You Believe in Miracles?
Do You Believe in Miracles?
"Do You Believe in Miracles" is a UK and German only single from rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in 1985 and peaked at #54 in the UK, spending 6 weeks on the chart...
", released in 1985. This version was apparently suggested by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
and was recorded with the Monty Babson Big Band. Holder did his vocal in one take after an evening in the pub.
The single was certified UK Gold by BPI in January 1984.
The single peaked at #305 for 1983 on rateyourmusic.
Background
The track came from an idea that Lea had while listening to Hill and Holder tuning up in the dressing room before a gig at a University in Wales. "It reminded me of bagpipes," says Jim. "I wrote the melody in my head to the drone of the strings". This was the first track that Lea and Holder had ever demoed because for the first time the group were working with a record producer - John PunterJohn Punter
John Punter is an English music producer and recording engineer. He has worked with many bands and musicians, such as Japan, Procol Harum, Roxy Music and Slade. His career in music spanned over 30 years and many different genres...
. The raw demo of Holder singing over Lea's piano was received with wild enthusiasm by Slade's record label.
In a 1987 interview, guitarist Dave Hill was asked by a fan which is his favourite single, Hill replied "although I didn't like 'My oh my' when I first heard it, by the time I started playing on it and promoting it, I discovered a certain magic and hidden power in it. I would say 'My oh my' is my favourite to date."
In a 1987 fan club interview, Holder was asked about the change of lyric in the demo of "My Oh My" compared to the single release. Holder replied "The record ends up the same as the demo. But sometimes it gets changed. 'My Oh My' got changed because John Punter didn't like on verse in it, so we put a new verse in. I in fact like the original demo verse, personally!"
In 2011, the song was performed live on German TV by the current lineup of Slade featuring original members guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell with bassist John Berry and vocalist Mal McNulty.
During 1985, a Swing version of the song was made. Holder was interviewed in London 5 June 1986 by Trevor Slaughter and Paul Lythe about the track. "It came about originally because a few people asked us for demo's of songs to cover. A lot of people wanted to cover 'My oh my'. I mean 'middle of the road' sort of people. Colin actually suggested it, saying we couldn't send them our own version, because they've all heard that. Anyway, we had people like Frank Sinatra saying that we ought to do a 'swing version' of it. Well, we weren't going to do it, so we got a mate of ours - Monty Babson - to sing it on the original demo, which went out to all these 'middle of the road' people. When I heard it, I really liked it, so as an added extra on the 12", I said 'Why don't we put my voice with Monty Babson's band?' and that's what we did. I just had a couple of drinks in the pub and went and sang with him in one take. We didn't spend any time on it or anything. There is actually a 'swing version' of 'All join hands', which I haven't put the vocal on yet."
Promotion
A promo video was made for the single which was shown in the US but was never seen in the UK until 1991 on a video compilation titled Wall of Hits.The track was also performed on many UK TV shows such as David Frost, Hall of Fame, Russell Harty Show, Saturday Superstore, Rock and Pop Awards and Saturday Show which featured a different backing track. It also featured on Top of The Pops on a number of occasions.
Formats
7" Single- "My Oh My" - 4:09
- "Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply" - 3:34
7" Single (UK limited edition)
- "My Oh My" - 4:09
- "Merry Xmas Everybody (Live & Kickin')" - 3:28
- "Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply" - 3:34
12" Single
- "My Oh My (Extended version)" - 5:30
- "Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply" - 3:34
- "Don't Tame A Hurricane" - 2:30
Chart performance
| Chart (1983) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart | 24 | ? |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 5 | 10 |
| Belgian Singles Chart | 4 | 8 |
| Canadian Singles Chart | 31 | 13 |
| Dutch Singles Chart | 9 | 7 |
| German Singles Chart | 4 | 18 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 3 | 7 |
| Norwegian Singles Chart | 1 | 13 |
| Polish Singles Chart | 21 | 9 |
| South African Singles Chart | 9 | 11 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 1 | 10 |
| Swiss Singles Chart | 2 | 13 |
| UK Singles Chart | 2 | 12 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 37 | 11 |
Cover versions
- In 1984, Swedish "dansband" Ingmar Nordströms recorded an instrumental version featuring saxophone for their album "Saxparty 11".
- In 1995, Norwegian band Hurra Torpedo recorded a cover for their single "Stockholm".
- In 1996, German rock band Extrabreit released a cover of the song on their album "Jeden Tag - Jede Nacht". The song was titled "Das Ruder" and featured extra writing credit to Kai Havaii and Stefan Kleinkrieg for the German lyrics.
- In 1998, techno duo Southern Cross recorded their own version of the track on the single "Running"
- In 2000, German singer Frank SchöbelFrank SchöbelFrank Schöbel Frank Schöbel Frank Schöbel (b. 11 December 1942, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany is a German musician. He was one of the most successful pop singers in communist East Germany (GDR) and remained so after the German reunification.-Career:...
recorded a version of the song. - In 2003, Reggae singer John HoltJohn Holt (singer)John Holt is a reggae singer and songwriter.-Biography:Holt was born in Kingston in 1947. By the age of 12, he was a regular entrant in talent contests run at Jamaican theatres by Vere Johns...
recorded his own version of the song for the various artists compilation album titled "Trojan Christmas Box Set". - In 2009, German musician Frank Zander & German singer Frank SchöbelFrank SchöbelFrank Schöbel Frank Schöbel Frank Schöbel (b. 11 December 1942, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany is a German musician. He was one of the most successful pop singers in communist East Germany (GDR) and remained so after the German reunification.-Career:...
recorded a version of the song and titled it "Wir Gehören Zusammen". The song was released as a single. - Other versions known are from numerous artists and bands including Godsettre, Alex Rosen, Kai Kill (Voi a voi), K & K Studio Rock Set, Oxford United & Prism, Combo Colossale, Hamburg Football Team, SAPO, Dave Glover and Bodies Falling Downstairs
Personnel
- Noddy Holder: Lead vocals and guitar
- Jim Lea: Bass guitar, piano, synthesizer and backing vocals
- Dave Hill: Lead guitar and backing vocals
- Don Powell: Drums