Ginny, Ginny

"Ginny, Ginny"
Single by Slade
from the album Return to Base
B-side	"Dizzy Mama"
Released	25 May 1979 [1]
Genre	Rock
Length	3:39
Label	Barn
Songwriter(s)	Noddy Holder Jim Lea
Producer(s)	Slade
Slade singles chronology
"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" (1978) "Ginny, Ginny" (1979) "Sign of the Times" (1979)

"Ginny, Ginny" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1979 as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Return to Base . It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. "Ginny, Ginny" failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.

Background

"Ginny, Ginny" was released at a time when Slade, having returned to the UK from the United States in 1976, found themselves out of favour in the UK music scene, particularly with the explosion of punk rock. The single was another commercial disappointment and was Slade's fifth since 1976 not to enter the UK Singles Chart. ^[2]

Prior to its release as a single, the band introduced the song into the setlist of their January–February 1979 UK tour, where it was introduced as "Ginny Come and Get It While You Can". ^[3] In a 1979 fan club interview, Lea spoke of the upcoming single and the band's hopes it would return them to the charts, "It's very catchy, and we're going to make it, yeah! Our writing is returning to a more concise format. I mean, songs like 'Be' are hardly concise – they're clever, but hardly the sing-along down at the pub type song." ^[4] In a 1979 fan club interview after the single's release, drummer Don Powell stated, "It didn't sell enough to get into the charts, but we were pleased with it." ^[5]

Release

"Ginny, Ginny" was released in the UK by Barn, with distribution by Pinnacle, on yellow vinyl on 25 May 1979. ^{[6] [1]}

Critical reception

Upon its release, Jon Savage of Melody Maker described "Ginny, Ginny" as a "heavyish pop song which is surprisingly emotional and individual". He added, "They've dropped the yobbish approach and gone back to that vaguely Lennonesque sound that used to stand them in good stead: if played, successful. A small pleasure." ^[7] Rosalind Russell of Record Mirror wrote, "The climb back isn't going to be easy for Slade, but this might be a foothold on the bottom of the charts for them. Not the big one though, even if Nod has got a great voice." ^[8] Paul Walker of the Sandwell Evening Mail remarked, "Still the same distinctive Noddy Holder voice, but not quite so fervent as before". ^[9] Pat Stevens of the Nottingham Evening Post commented, "Some vague memories of the old Slade style can be noticed in this release, but it's not the same sort of searing quality that made them one of the top groups in the country a few years ago." ^[10]

Formats

7-inch single (UK and New Zealand) ^[11]

1. "Ginny Ginny" – 3:50
2. "Dizzy Mama" – 3:57

Personnel

Slade

• Noddy Holder – lead vocals, guitar
• Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
• Jim Lea – bass, backing vocals
• Don Powell – drums

Production

• Slade – production

Cover versions

In circa 1980, Lea recorded a version of the song as part of his side project, The Dummies, with his brother Frank. It remained unreleased until its appearance on the album A Day in the Life of the Dummies in 1992, on which it had the title "Jeanie, Jeanie". ^[12]

References

1. "News: Barn Records signs up to Pinnacle". Record Business. Vol. 2, no. 8. 7 May 1979. p. 2.
2. We'll Bring the House Down (UK 2007 CD reissue liner notes). Slade, Chris Ingham. Salvo. 2007. SALVOCD007.
3. Kemp, Dave (March–April 1979). "The New Slade Single". Slade News. No. 2. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2023– via sladefanclub.com.
4. Kemp, Dave (March–April 1979). "The Slade Interview: Jimmy Lea". Slade News. No. 2. p. 5. Retrieved 31 August 2023– via sladefanclub.com.
5. Kemp, Dave (July–August 1979). "Don Powell Interview". Slade News. No. 4. Retrieved 31 August 2023– via sladefanclub.com.
6. "News - Marketing: In Brief...". Music Week . 12 May 1979. p. 4. ISSN   0265-1548.
7. Savage, Jon (16 June 1979). "Singles". Melody Maker .
8. Russell, Rosalind (9 June 1979). "Singles". Record Mirror . p. 12. ISSN   0144-5804.
9. Walker, Paul (7 July 1979). "Roundabout (The Pop Scene) - New Singles: Slade are back with cooler style" . Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 11. Retrieved 31 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
10. Stevens, Pat (15 June 1979). "Turntable: Single Spins" . Nottingham Evening Post . p. 10. Retrieved 31 August 2023– via British Newspaper Archive.
11. Ginny, Ginny (UK and New Zealand 7-inch single label notes). Slade. Barn. 1979. BARN 002.
12. A Day in the Life of the Dummies (UK CD liner notes). The Dummies. Receiver Records Limited. 1992. RRCD 155.