You Boyz Make Big Noize
Encyclopedia
You Boyz Make Big Noize is the 14th album by the British rock
group Slade
. It was released on 27 April 1987 and reached number 98 in the UK charts spending just one week in the UK charts. The album was based on a 70s sound with 80s technology. This was the last studio album by the original lineup; the next Slade album featured Dave Hill
and Don Powell
with a different lead singer and bass player, and was under the guise of Slade II.
but his working methods proved to lengthy and expensive for the band. Drummer Don Powell recalled "it took three days just getting drum sounds". Baker completed 2 tracks, John Punter
, who had produced previous Slade material, produced another two and Slade's Jim Lea finished the rest.
Following the failure of the two singles Still The Same
and That's What Friends Are For
, the album was an inevitable commercial disappointment. RCA lost interest in promoting the album.
Though by no means deserving of its ignoble failure, You Boyz Make Big Noize is not quite the triumphant swansong the band would have liked and undoubtedly reflects the disparate nature of the group at the time. Don Powell remembered "the album was missing a certain magic. The closeness that we'd had wasn't there".
To the ongoing heartache of their fans, Slade would never regain that closeness. After, Noddy Holder was adamant. "Never again!!" he wrote in his autobiography. Beyond the hit Radio Wall of Sound
in 1991, "never again" it was.
The album's title came after a Wessex studios tea-lady named Betty commented on Slade with the statement "you boys make big noise".
Don Powell was interviewed in early 1987 for the magazine of the Slade International Fan Club about the album, just after it had finished being recorded. "We finished the album yesterday, actually. We spent yesterday piecing it together and sorting out the running order. We know exactly which tracks will be on the album - all of which is new material. The new single 'Still the same' is also on it as well. The title of the album is 'You boyz make big noize'. When we were recording with Roy Thomas Baker in Wessex studios, the tea lady there made the comment 'You boys make big noise' and I think we've sort of kept it from then. I don't know when the album is coming out yet as we are still deciding on the cover design. RCA will probably wait to see how the single does. The album has taken us a long time to record, especially the tracks that John Punter
and Roy produced. We spent the first two days with Roy just trying to get the drum sound as he wanted it. He had forty odd mikes over my kit, and it sounded like thunder in the studios. The album is more of a sing-a-long one, as opposed to a heavy metal album. On most of the album it is Nod singing, though on one track Jim sings the first part with Nod joining in later."
Lea spoke of the album at the time of release "When I listened to 'You Boyz Make Big Noize', which is the last thing I did, I thought 'this really stands up, I can put this on and be proud of it'."
Aside from the album tracks and b-sides, there were a further five or six songs written by Holder and Lea which were demoed. Hill also demoed four of his own songs.
It was confirmed that a demo track titled "Love Is..." was recorded for the album although it has never been released. In a early 1990 fan club interview, Lea stated the song had a "Coz I Luv You
" feel, Slade's first number one hit in 1971 which featured the use of electric violin.
. Dave Hill discussed the songs failure in a 1987 fan club interview. "'Still the same' is basically being regarded as a flop in terms of what was expected of it. I think the record company were mostly disappointed as it was them rather than the group who chose it. We brought this record out, not in the usual Christmas period, which on the face of it seemed to me to be a feasible idea as an attempt to get away from the 'Slade only exist at Christmas time' situation. On listening to opinion though, it seems to have been regarded as another 'My Oh My
' type song, which perhaps should have come out at Christmas. When 'My Oh My' was released, it was just as slow to take off, but as soon as we got the radio play, it rocketed. 'Still the same' did virtually the same as 'My Oh My' chart-wise in its first few weeks, but at the point where 'My Oh My' picked up radio play, 'Still the Same' was dropped completely."
No promotional videos were created for the singles and only a small handful of TV performances were made by the band. The band had not performed live since 1983 due to Noddy Holder's personal reasons. The rumour at the time of release was a possible tour following this album. The tour never happened, most likely due to the failure of the album. Dave Hill mentioned the idea for a tour in a 1987 interview for the Slade fan club. "We could announce a tour now, but caution tells us that we'd do better to announce one on the back of a hit. We haven't called it a day on the touring and if luck would have it, we could be touring after this LP."
In a early 1987 interview with Jim Lea for the Slade fan club, Lea was asked about the reports of the band flying to the States to record a video for "Ooh la la in L.A." which was released as a U.S. only single. Jim responded "Well, when you are dealing with record companies, it all comes down to money, power strokes and the way they think a record is going to go. CBS deliberately held back on doing the video because, although they could see it picking up a few heavyweight stations, they wanted to wait to see if it picked up any more. It actually did pick up one or two more, but then suddenly tailed off, so the video idea was scrapped. It got to the stage when there was this
small matter of many tens of thousands of pounds and who was going to pay? It is a bit different in the States in that the record companies are totally ruled by the business affairs people, whereas over here the A&R men run things."
Holder stated the promotion he was doing for the album in a fan club interview "From about March till about two or three weeks ago, I have been doing radios and interviews solid. There have
been loads of Slade specials in different parts of the country."
By 1987, the band had also dropped out of the public eye which album and single sales proved. Rumours of split had been reported, especially after no band activity happened during 1986. Hill spoke of this in the 1987 interview. "Fans might be feeling a little left out and a bit disappointed, but they've got to understand that 21 years now is a long time to stay together as a group. We are a little older and we are still trying. I think that deep-seatedly within the group, every one of us would play live, but what we are searching for is a way to take us to another stage of success, and it's a hard route that we're trying."
Around the time, the band had felt unappreciated which Hill also commented on "We don't just want to go out and have people say we did a tour just to say we're around. Although the fans will be there and love it, the public at large will have an attitude of 'let's go and see how old Slade is, cos they're good for a laugh'. To try and put ourselves in a better category, I would like to see us up at the NEC and sell it out. So that we're not just doing the rounds for the rounds sake, we want to show our fans that we're not simply trying to stay together. We haven't reached the market that Dire Straits have captured and they've never been as exciting as us. If you think about us, we really ought to be in that level, shouldn't we?"
In a 1988 interview for the Slade fan club, Don Powell was asked about his thoughts on the failure of both singles "You Boyz Make Big Noize" and "We Won't Give In
". "I really don't know why we have problems like that. We just seen to get the token plays, but the records tend not to bite and get dropped. Obviously we are disappointed and will have to decide what we are going to do next. At the moment, no-one in the UK seems to want to know. We never seem to get any recognition for anything we do. Even rock encyclopaedias about the 70's never mention us and the BBC have virtually ignored us in their 'Rock and roll years' programmes."
"It just doesn't seem fair because Nod and Jim are still great songwriters and have never received the recognition they truly deserve. We had three singles in 1973 go straight to number one - even the Beatles didn't accomplish that, but it's a feat that's never remembered! I've had a few Radio One producers to dinner and they say they can only give records a token play, and if there's no reaction, that's as far as it goes."
. Originally by Donnie Iris & The Cruisers
, bassist Jim Lea thought the track sounded very Slade-like in its original format. Lea suggested that the song would fit in nicely with to the current mould of Bon Jovi
/Europe
, a telling observation about Slade's ongoing quest to style themselves to the times. One of several more obvious candidates for a single than the tracks that were actually chosen. Guitarist Dave Hill stated in a 1987 interview that "Roy liked the song, so we got him to produce it". The track is also a recommended track by allmusic.
The song was recorded at Wessex Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Love Is Like A Rock" was listed at #2 on the top three favourite track list. The song was listed at #3 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live. The song also listed at #3 of the top three choices for the next Slade single.
. The track was rushed out as a single in April 1987, "mainly because there's a certain person at RCA who is going wally over it" said guitarist Dave Hill at the time. The single peaked at #95 despite being a very commercial sound.
The song was recorded at Wessex Studios.
who produced other Slade material such as British and American hits Run Runaway
and My Oh My
. At the time, the single was to avoid the Christmas market and so was released in February 1987. Chosen by the record label themselves, who had hoped the record's anthemic sing-a-long style would reproduce the success of My Oh My, it flopped, immediately raising the question, would it have done any better at Christmas time? Probably not. Chris Ingham from Rock Backpages stated "On the surface Still The Same sounds like a defiant cry of individuality and constancy, but underneath it's a sad, resigned little song about a couple's inability to evolve; not festive fare." Hill explained in a 1987 interview that "in my view deserved to go a lot higher in the charts than it did".
The song was recorded at Air Studios.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Fools Go Crazy" was listed at #3 on the top three favourite track list.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
the rights said no. This is the last track on side one".
The song was mimed on BBC One's "Daytime Live" lunchtime show from Pebble Mill in Birmingham on 21 December 1987.
The song was recorded at Portland Studios.
song from a few years ago called 'Mama
'. The chorus is much more like us though. The song is laid back while still heavy".
The song was recorded at Portland Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Won't You Rock With Me" was listed at #1 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live.
Hill spoke about the track in 1987 "this is my favourite track on the album. There is something about the chorus on this one, which to me would make it a hit if it was released as a single. It is a very different sort of song for Slade. the lyric is very autobiographical. One verse is about Don being pissed all the time. There is mention of the Marquee, which refers to 'The Sunset Marquee', where a lot of bands stay. There is a verse about 'Barney's Beanery', where we used to play pool all the time. This song was in fact written originally for the 'Rogue's Gallery' album and is based on the last time we were in L.A, promoting Run runaway". Allmusic describes the track "Ooh La La in L.A." is, naturally, another anthemic and trashy barnstormer." The track is also recommended by allmusic.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, one fan commented on the song, "I think Ooh La La In L.A. would be a good choice for the next single as it is getting away from what is expected of Slade."
A video filmed in Los Angeles was planned to help promote the American single release of this song. The video was said to feature various places in the lyric, such as the Sunset Strip and Barney's Beanery. The video was scrapped after the single didn't achieve sufficient airplay in America.
The song was recorded at Utopia Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Ooh La La In L.A." was listed at #1 on the top three favourite track list. The song was also listed at #1 of the top three choices for the next Slade single.
The song was mimed on UK ITV show titled Get Fresh along with the track You Boyz Make Big Noize
on 15 August 1987. On the Get Fresh show, Holder states the band are two weeks away from shooting a promotional video for the song, telling the audience that it will be on TV soon.
. Hill stated the track was "a laid back heavy song with a lot of chant in it", in a 1987 interview. The song is included in Slade's list of highlight tracks on allmusic.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
in 1991. Hill described the track was "a very up-tempo song with a live party feel to it". The track is also a recommended track by allmusic.
The song was recorded at Portland/Readan Studios.
The song was recorded at Music Works/Wessex Studios.
song with Roy Thomas Baker, but in the end it was taking too long and cost a lot, so we got Jim to finish it off'".
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "It's Hard Having Fun Nowadays" was listed at #2 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live.
.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
's routine achievements, but the American band's southern cool - surely the key appeal of the group - was well outside the radar of the brash Wolverhampton boys."
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
The song was recorded at Readan Studios.
The song was recorded at Air Studios.
Joe Geesin of Get Ready to Rock wrote of the remaster "1987's You Boyz Make Big Noize was perhaps not the swansong the band would have wanted. The complete flop of two singles meant label RCA lost interest in promoting it and the single 'You Boyz Make Big Noize' would be put out later on a different label. While some good moments, classic Slade in others, most of the album is mediocre at best. The anthemic big choruses just weren't as catchy. Plenty of keyboards, layering and whatever just wasn't Slade, with or without the classic Slade harmonies. If they'd more of an album of 'Fools Go Crazy' maybe fans and label wouldn't have deserted Slade so drastically. They had enough personal problems without that. Sadly Slade went out with a whimper, at least until 1991's 'Radio Wall Of Sound' (sadly not included amongst the 9 bonus cuts here)."
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, several fan reviews were posted with the statement that the majority was positive. One review wrote "In my opinion, it is an excellent rock album which proves yet again that Slade are a great rock and roll band and in Noddy they have the best rock and roll singer in the world. Although I liked the two singles already released, I feel they were the wrong choice."
Another review wrote "With You Boyz Make Big Noize, Slade have done themselves and their fans proud. There is not one track I did not like, each track has something good to offer. I honestly feel that Slade should release something more hard-edged as a single." One fan stated "It's great. I am amazed for every album Slade make, they just get better." One positive review stated "I have just got the new album. It is a marvellous L.P. Twenty-one years and still making more noize than anyone else."
One fan stated "Being a Slade fan, what can i say about the new L.P. apart from I love it - great stuff. If I was not a Slade fan, I would say it is a very good album for a band that is still searching for a new image." Another fan stated "My only bad point about the L.P. is that I would have liked to have seen the songwords printed on the cover. Apart from that, a great album, well worth waiting for." One fan also stated "The album sleeve is excellent!"
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group Slade
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...
. It was released on 27 April 1987 and reached number 98 in the UK charts spending just one week in the UK charts. The album was based on a 70s sound with 80s technology. This was the last studio album by the original lineup; the next Slade album featured Dave Hill
Dave Hill
Dave Hill is an English musician, who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the English glam rock group, Slade. The music journalist, Stuart Maconie, commented "he usually wore a jumpsuit made of the foil that you baste your turkeys in and platforms of oil-rig-derrick height...
and Don Powell
Don Powell
Don Powell is a drummer who founded the English glam rock group, Slade.- Biography :As a child Powell joined the Boy Scouts where he became interested in the drums after being asked to join the band on a Sunday morning parade. After Etheridge Secondary Modern School he studied Metallurgy at...
with a different lead singer and bass player, and was under the guise of Slade II.
Background
As the band still would not tour or perform live, they hoped a hit album would put Slade where they belonged. The band hired producer Roy Thomas BakerRoy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
but his working methods proved to lengthy and expensive for the band. Drummer Don Powell recalled "it took three days just getting drum sounds". Baker completed 2 tracks, John Punter
John 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...
, who had produced previous Slade material, produced another two and Slade's Jim Lea finished the rest.
Following the failure of the two singles Still The Same
Still the Same (song)
"Still The Same" is the first and leading single from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize by rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in early 1987 and peaked at #73 in the UK, spending 4 weeks on the UK chart...
and That's What Friends Are For
That's What Friends Are For (Slade song)
"That's What Friends Are For" is Slade's second single in 1987 from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was only released in the UK. The style continued to follow a more pop based sound with synthesizers...
, the album was an inevitable commercial disappointment. RCA lost interest in promoting the album.
Though by no means deserving of its ignoble failure, You Boyz Make Big Noize is not quite the triumphant swansong the band would have liked and undoubtedly reflects the disparate nature of the group at the time. Don Powell remembered "the album was missing a certain magic. The closeness that we'd had wasn't there".
To the ongoing heartache of their fans, Slade would never regain that closeness. After, Noddy Holder was adamant. "Never again!!" he wrote in his autobiography. Beyond the hit Radio Wall of Sound
Radio Wall of Sound
"Radio Wall of Sound" is a song by the English rock band, Slade, issued as a single in 1991. It was included on their compilation album, Wall of Hits....
in 1991, "never again" it was.
Recording
You Boyz Make Big Noize was recorded at Wessex studios in London, Portland Studios, Redan Studios and Music Works.The album's title came after a Wessex studios tea-lady named Betty commented on Slade with the statement "you boys make big noise".
Don Powell was interviewed in early 1987 for the magazine of the Slade International Fan Club about the album, just after it had finished being recorded. "We finished the album yesterday, actually. We spent yesterday piecing it together and sorting out the running order. We know exactly which tracks will be on the album - all of which is new material. The new single 'Still the same' is also on it as well. The title of the album is 'You boyz make big noize'. When we were recording with Roy Thomas Baker in Wessex studios, the tea lady there made the comment 'You boys make big noise' and I think we've sort of kept it from then. I don't know when the album is coming out yet as we are still deciding on the cover design. RCA will probably wait to see how the single does. The album has taken us a long time to record, especially the tracks that John Punter
John 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...
and Roy produced. We spent the first two days with Roy just trying to get the drum sound as he wanted it. He had forty odd mikes over my kit, and it sounded like thunder in the studios. The album is more of a sing-a-long one, as opposed to a heavy metal album. On most of the album it is Nod singing, though on one track Jim sings the first part with Nod joining in later."
Lea spoke of the album at the time of release "When I listened to 'You Boyz Make Big Noize', which is the last thing I did, I thought 'this really stands up, I can put this on and be proud of it'."
Aside from the album tracks and b-sides, there were a further five or six songs written by Holder and Lea which were demoed. Hill also demoed four of his own songs.
It was confirmed that a demo track titled "Love Is..." was recorded for the album although it has never been released. In a early 1990 fan club interview, Lea stated the song had a "Coz I Luv You
Coz I Luv You
"Coz I Luv You" is a song by Slade, written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. It was the band's second hit single in the UK and the first of six number one singles. It was released on 30/10/1971 and was last seen on the charts on 05/02/1972 at #44...
" feel, Slade's first number one hit in 1971 which featured the use of electric violin.
Promotion
The album received little promotion from the label, largely due to the disappointing sales of lead single Still the SameStill the Same (song)
"Still The Same" is the first and leading single from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize by rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in early 1987 and peaked at #73 in the UK, spending 4 weeks on the UK chart...
. Dave Hill discussed the songs failure in a 1987 fan club interview. "'Still the same' is basically being regarded as a flop in terms of what was expected of it. I think the record company were mostly disappointed as it was them rather than the group who chose it. We brought this record out, not in the usual Christmas period, which on the face of it seemed to me to be a feasible idea as an attempt to get away from the 'Slade only exist at Christmas time' situation. On listening to opinion though, it seems to have been regarded as another 'My Oh My
My Oh My (Slade song)
"My Oh My" is a power ballad originally sung by rock band Slade. The song appears on their album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome 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...
' type song, which perhaps should have come out at Christmas. When 'My Oh My' was released, it was just as slow to take off, but as soon as we got the radio play, it rocketed. 'Still the same' did virtually the same as 'My Oh My' chart-wise in its first few weeks, but at the point where 'My Oh My' picked up radio play, 'Still the Same' was dropped completely."
No promotional videos were created for the singles and only a small handful of TV performances were made by the band. The band had not performed live since 1983 due to Noddy Holder's personal reasons. The rumour at the time of release was a possible tour following this album. The tour never happened, most likely due to the failure of the album. Dave Hill mentioned the idea for a tour in a 1987 interview for the Slade fan club. "We could announce a tour now, but caution tells us that we'd do better to announce one on the back of a hit. We haven't called it a day on the touring and if luck would have it, we could be touring after this LP."
In a early 1987 interview with Jim Lea for the Slade fan club, Lea was asked about the reports of the band flying to the States to record a video for "Ooh la la in L.A." which was released as a U.S. only single. Jim responded "Well, when you are dealing with record companies, it all comes down to money, power strokes and the way they think a record is going to go. CBS deliberately held back on doing the video because, although they could see it picking up a few heavyweight stations, they wanted to wait to see if it picked up any more. It actually did pick up one or two more, but then suddenly tailed off, so the video idea was scrapped. It got to the stage when there was this
small matter of many tens of thousands of pounds and who was going to pay? It is a bit different in the States in that the record companies are totally ruled by the business affairs people, whereas over here the A&R men run things."
Holder stated the promotion he was doing for the album in a fan club interview "From about March till about two or three weeks ago, I have been doing radios and interviews solid. There have
been loads of Slade specials in different parts of the country."
By 1987, the band had also dropped out of the public eye which album and single sales proved. Rumours of split had been reported, especially after no band activity happened during 1986. Hill spoke of this in the 1987 interview. "Fans might be feeling a little left out and a bit disappointed, but they've got to understand that 21 years now is a long time to stay together as a group. We are a little older and we are still trying. I think that deep-seatedly within the group, every one of us would play live, but what we are searching for is a way to take us to another stage of success, and it's a hard route that we're trying."
Around the time, the band had felt unappreciated which Hill also commented on "We don't just want to go out and have people say we did a tour just to say we're around. Although the fans will be there and love it, the public at large will have an attitude of 'let's go and see how old Slade is, cos they're good for a laugh'. To try and put ourselves in a better category, I would like to see us up at the NEC and sell it out. So that we're not just doing the rounds for the rounds sake, we want to show our fans that we're not simply trying to stay together. We haven't reached the market that Dire Straits have captured and they've never been as exciting as us. If you think about us, we really ought to be in that level, shouldn't we?"
In a 1988 interview for the Slade fan club, Don Powell was asked about his thoughts on the failure of both singles "You Boyz Make Big Noize" and "We Won't Give In
We Won't Give In
"We Won't Give In" is the final single from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize by rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea....
". "I really don't know why we have problems like that. We just seen to get the token plays, but the records tend not to bite and get dropped. Obviously we are disappointed and will have to decide what we are going to do next. At the moment, no-one in the UK seems to want to know. We never seem to get any recognition for anything we do. Even rock encyclopaedias about the 70's never mention us and the BBC have virtually ignored us in their 'Rock and roll years' programmes."
"It just doesn't seem fair because Nod and Jim are still great songwriters and have never received the recognition they truly deserve. We had three singles in 1973 go straight to number one - even the Beatles didn't accomplish that, but it's a feat that's never remembered! I've had a few Radio One producers to dinner and they say they can only give records a token play, and if there's no reaction, that's as far as it goes."
Track listing
Love Is Like A Rock
"Love Is Like A Rock" is one of two tracks produced by Roy Thomas BakerRoy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
. Originally by Donnie Iris & The Cruisers
Donnie Iris
Donnie Iris is an American rock musician known for his work with The Jaggerz and Wild Cherry during the 1970s, and for his solo albums during the 1980s...
, bassist Jim Lea thought the track sounded very Slade-like in its original format. Lea suggested that the song would fit in nicely with to the current mould of Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
/Europe
Europe (band)
Europe is a Swedish rock band formed in Upplands Väsby in 1979 under the name Force by vocalist Joey Tempest, guitarist John Norum and drummer Tony Reno. Although widely associated with glam metal, the band's sound incorporates heavy metal and hard rock elements...
, a telling observation about Slade's ongoing quest to style themselves to the times. One of several more obvious candidates for a single than the tracks that were actually chosen. Guitarist Dave Hill stated in a 1987 interview that "Roy liked the song, so we got him to produce it". The track is also a recommended track by allmusic.
The song was recorded at Wessex Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Love Is Like A Rock" was listed at #2 on the top three favourite track list. The song was listed at #3 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live. The song also listed at #3 of the top three choices for the next Slade single.
That's What Friends Are For
"That's What Friends Are For" was the other track produced by Roy Thomas BakerRoy Thomas Baker
Roy Thomas Baker is a multiple award-winning Anglo-American music producer, songwriter, arranger and Recording Academy Governor, who has produced Platinum and Gold certified pop and rock records from the 1970s to the present.- Career :Baker began his career at Decca Records in England at the age...
. The track was rushed out as a single in April 1987, "mainly because there's a certain person at RCA who is going wally over it" said guitarist Dave Hill at the time. The single peaked at #95 despite being a very commercial sound.
The song was recorded at Wessex Studios.
Still The Same
"Still the Same" was the lead single from the album and the highest charting at #73. The track was one of two produced by 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...
who produced other Slade material such as British and American hits Run Runaway
Run Runaway
"Run Runaway" is a hard rock song performed by English band Slade. The song was written by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder and was on their 1983 album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome...
and My Oh My
My Oh My (Slade song)
"My Oh My" is a power ballad originally sung by rock band Slade. The song appears on their album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome 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...
. At the time, the single was to avoid the Christmas market and so was released in February 1987. Chosen by the record label themselves, who had hoped the record's anthemic sing-a-long style would reproduce the success of My Oh My, it flopped, immediately raising the question, would it have done any better at Christmas time? Probably not. Chris Ingham from Rock Backpages stated "On the surface Still The Same sounds like a defiant cry of individuality and constancy, but underneath it's a sad, resigned little song about a couple's inability to evolve; not festive fare." Hill explained in a 1987 interview that "in my view deserved to go a lot higher in the charts than it did".
The song was recorded at Air Studios.
Fools Go Crazy
"Fools Go Crazy" was composed by Holder and Lea. It was produced by Lea as well. The track is synth-based in a vintage Slade manner. This reflected on the album's objective of a 70s sound with 80s technology. Hill announced in 1987 that the song is "a very up-tempo rocker, which sounds very 'Slade'. I think this one is going to be liked by the fans". Allmusic described the track "Fools Go Crazy" evokes some longing but still burns.The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Fools Go Crazy" was listed at #3 on the top three favourite track list.
She's Heavy
"She's Heavy" de-emphasises Slade's main signature sound. "This song is all about a big fat heavy bird who's got a heart of gold. A humorous track, though not about anyone in particular. The production is pretty heavy as well", Hill told the fan club in 1987.The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
We Won't Give In
"We Won't Give In" is the closest thing to Slade classic on the album. An anthem of resolution in the face of harshness. This track was later released as a single in the UK under Slade's own label Cheapskate Records. The single only reached #121 in the UK. It was also featured as part of the soundtrack for the film Knights and Emeralds. At the time Hill commented "this was thought by many people to be a good one for a single when it came out last year on the film soundtrack. The film company wanted it out as a single, but RCA, who ownedthe rights said no. This is the last track on side one".
The song was mimed on BBC One's "Daytime Live" lunchtime show from Pebble Mill in Birmingham on 21 December 1987.
The song was recorded at Portland Studios.
Won't You Rock with Me
"Won't You Rock with Me" is a stadium-rock styled track. Hill explained in 1987 "A good sounding track to open side two. The verses remind me a bit of a GenesisGenesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
song from a few years ago called 'Mama
Mama (Genesis song)
"Mama" was the first single from Genesis' 1983 self-titled album. It is recognizable for its harsh drum machine introduction composed by Mike Rutherford, which leads into minimalist synthesizer lines in minor keys and finally Phil Collins' reverb-laden voice. It remains the band's biggest...
'. The chorus is much more like us though. The song is laid back while still heavy".
The song was recorded at Portland Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Won't You Rock With Me" was listed at #1 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live.
Ooh La La In L.A.
"Ooh La La In L.A." details the period in 1984 when drummer Don Powell (named 'George' in the lyric) was briefly headline news as the boyfriend of Bob Dylan's daughter ('Miss Zimmerman') and Slade were in L.A. promoting Run Runaway. It was the other track produced by Punter. The track was later a single in the US although it failed to chart.Hill spoke about the track in 1987 "this is my favourite track on the album. There is something about the chorus on this one, which to me would make it a hit if it was released as a single. It is a very different sort of song for Slade. the lyric is very autobiographical. One verse is about Don being pissed all the time. There is mention of the Marquee, which refers to 'The Sunset Marquee', where a lot of bands stay. There is a verse about 'Barney's Beanery', where we used to play pool all the time. This song was in fact written originally for the 'Rogue's Gallery' album and is based on the last time we were in L.A, promoting Run runaway". Allmusic describes the track "Ooh La La in L.A." is, naturally, another anthemic and trashy barnstormer." The track is also recommended by allmusic.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, one fan commented on the song, "I think Ooh La La In L.A. would be a good choice for the next single as it is getting away from what is expected of Slade."
A video filmed in Los Angeles was planned to help promote the American single release of this song. The video was said to feature various places in the lyric, such as the Sunset Strip and Barney's Beanery. The video was scrapped after the single didn't achieve sufficient airplay in America.
The song was recorded at Utopia Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "Ooh La La In L.A." was listed at #1 on the top three favourite track list. The song was also listed at #1 of the top three choices for the next Slade single.
The song was mimed on UK ITV show titled Get Fresh along with the track You Boyz Make Big Noize
You Boyz Make Big Noize (song)
You Boyz Make Big Noize is a UK-only single from the same year and after Slade's 1987 album You Boyz Make Big Noize by rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea...
on 15 August 1987. On the Get Fresh show, Holder states the band are two weeks away from shooting a promotional video for the song, telling the audience that it will be on TV soon.
Me And The Boys
"Me And The Boys" uses a similar drum pattern to Queen's We Will Rock YouWe Will Rock You
"We Will Rock You" is a song written by Brian May and recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. Rolling Stone ranked it #330 of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" in 2004, and the RIAA placed it at #146 on its list of Songs of the Century...
. Hill stated the track was "a laid back heavy song with a lot of chant in it", in a 1987 interview. The song is included in Slade's list of highlight tracks on allmusic.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
Sing Shout (Knock Yourself Out)
"Sing Shout (Knock Yourself Out)" is another synth-based track. Lea spotted the good hook which he recycled by slowing the hook down for Slade's last hit Radio Wall of SoundRadio Wall of Sound
"Radio Wall of Sound" is a song by the English rock band, Slade, issued as a single in 1991. It was included on their compilation album, Wall of Hits....
in 1991. Hill described the track was "a very up-tempo song with a live party feel to it". The track is also a recommended track by allmusic.
The song was recorded at Portland/Readan Studios.
The Roaring Silence
"The Roaring Silence", is one of the least sounding Slade-like tracks on the record. It wasn't originally intended for the album. Hill recalled "the song wasn't originally going to go on the album, but it was put on instead of 'Don't Talk To Me About Love' because it sounded so good". The track is included in allmusic's list of Slade highlights.The song was recorded at Music Works/Wessex Studios.
It's Hard Having Fun Nowadays
"It's Hard Having Fun Nowadays", the album's closer is a return to the rough 'n' ready Slade of old. Hill recalled "another laid back heavy song and the last track on side two. we started thissong with Roy Thomas Baker, but in the end it was taking too long and cost a lot, so we got Jim to finish it off'".
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, a fan poll was created based on the album. "It's Hard Having Fun Nowadays" was listed at #2 of the top three songs that fans would like to see live.
You Boyz Make Big Noize
"You Boyz Make Big Noize", a Beastie Boys styled rap-rock single which was released on Slade's own label Cheapskate records, the first time in over seven years that a Slade release wasn't released through a major company. The record had various incarnations and mixes whilst attempting to generate swagger and humour. However, the single only peaked at #94. It featured female vocals for the first time since 1976 on the single Nobody's FoolNobody's Fool (Slade song)
"Nobody's Fool" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Nobody's Fools. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in 1976 and did not enter the UK charts...
.
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
You Boyz Make Big Noize (Instrumental)
"You Boyz Make Big Noize (Instrumental)" is for fans of Lea's stadium rock production style and karaoke candidates, a vocal-free version of the a-side that failed the charts.Gotta Go Home
"Gotta Go Home" is an uptempo track. Chris Ingham stated "the guitars and hook of Gotta Go Home certainly approximate ZZ TopZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
's routine achievements, but the American band's southern cool - surely the key appeal of the group - was well outside the radar of the brash Wolverhampton boys."
The song was recorded at Music Works Studios.
Don't Talk To Me About Love
"Don't Talk To Me About Love" is yet another track inspired by the ZZ Top sound, this time with Jim Lea taking lead vocals in the verses before Holder arrives to join in the chorus. Chris Ingham wrote "Don't Talk To Me About Love features one of the best latter-Slade choruses." Originally for the You Boyz Make Big Noize album, the song was replaced by b-side song "The Roaring Silence" as it had ended up sounding much better than expected.The song was recorded at Readan Studios.
Wild Wild Party
"Wild Wild Party" is a medium-tempo track, combining a simple riff with the tone of their 1979 track Hold Onto Your Hats. The track featured in the Knights and Emeralds movie soundtrack.The song was recorded at Air Studios.
Critical reception
Holder stated in a 1987 fan club interview about the album "We've had some good reviews and a couple of so-so reviews. The reviews we've had in the press have been on the whole very favourable. We've had good feedback from Europe as well, particularly Germany and Scandinavia. It's not coming out in the States until July or August, but CBS certainly like it. CBS are going to put out 'Ooh La La in L.A.' as the first single out there. In Germany at the moment, 'Ooh La La in L.A.' is at number 2 on the radio playlist and 'Still the Same' is at number 4, so things certainly seem to be going well over there."Joe Geesin of Get Ready to Rock wrote of the remaster "1987's You Boyz Make Big Noize was perhaps not the swansong the band would have wanted. The complete flop of two singles meant label RCA lost interest in promoting it and the single 'You Boyz Make Big Noize' would be put out later on a different label. While some good moments, classic Slade in others, most of the album is mediocre at best. The anthemic big choruses just weren't as catchy. Plenty of keyboards, layering and whatever just wasn't Slade, with or without the classic Slade harmonies. If they'd more of an album of 'Fools Go Crazy' maybe fans and label wouldn't have deserted Slade so drastically. They had enough personal problems without that. Sadly Slade went out with a whimper, at least until 1991's 'Radio Wall Of Sound' (sadly not included amongst the 9 bonus cuts here)."
In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July, August and September 1987, several fan reviews were posted with the statement that the majority was positive. One review wrote "In my opinion, it is an excellent rock album which proves yet again that Slade are a great rock and roll band and in Noddy they have the best rock and roll singer in the world. Although I liked the two singles already released, I feel they were the wrong choice."
Another review wrote "With You Boyz Make Big Noize, Slade have done themselves and their fans proud. There is not one track I did not like, each track has something good to offer. I honestly feel that Slade should release something more hard-edged as a single." One fan stated "It's great. I am amazed for every album Slade make, they just get better." One positive review stated "I have just got the new album. It is a marvellous L.P. Twenty-one years and still making more noize than anyone else."
One fan stated "Being a Slade fan, what can i say about the new L.P. apart from I love it - great stuff. If I was not a Slade fan, I would say it is a very good album for a band that is still searching for a new image." Another fan stated "My only bad point about the L.P. is that I would have liked to have seen the songwords printed on the cover. Apart from that, a great album, well worth waiting for." One fan also stated "The album sleeve is excellent!"
Chart performance
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 12 | 3 |
| UK Albums Chart | 98 | 1 |
Slade
- Noddy HolderNoddy HolderNeville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
- lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Dave HillDave HillDave Hill is an English musician, who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the English glam rock group, Slade. The music journalist, Stuart Maconie, commented "he usually wore a jumpsuit made of the foil that you baste your turkeys in and platforms of oil-rig-derrick height...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Jim LeaJim LeaJim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, violinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
, backing vocals, producer - Don PowellDon PowellDon Powell is a drummer who founded the English glam rock group, Slade.- Biography :As a child Powell joined the Boy Scouts where he became interested in the drums after being asked to join the band on a Sunday morning parade. After Etheridge Secondary Modern School he studied Metallurgy at...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional credits
- John PunterJohn PunterJohn 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...
- producer - Gerrard Johnson - keyboard programming
- Pete Hammond - keyboard programming
- Dave Garland - engineer
- Jerry Napier - engineer
- Mark Dearney - engineer
- Matt Butler - engineer
- Trevor Hallesey - engineer