"How Does It Feel" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Slade | ||||
from the album Slade in Flame | ||||
B-side | "So Far So Good" | |||
Released | 7 February 1975 September 1975 (US) | |||
Length | 3:15 (US single version) 4:46 (single version) 5:55 (album version) | |||
Label | Polydor | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Chas Chandler | |||
Slade singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio sample | ||||
Alternative Cover | ||||
"How Does It Feel" is song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1975 as the second single from the band's first soundtrack album and fifth studio album Slade in Flame ,in promotion of the film of the same name. [1] The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 15 in the UK,remaining in the charts for seven weeks. [2]
By 1974,Slade had become a big success in the UK,Europe and beyond;however the band felt that continuing to provide 'more of the same' was not what they wanted to do. Their manager Chas Chandler suggested they do a movie,to which the band agreed. To accompany the film,Holder and Lea began writing material for a soundtrack album,which would continue to see the band break out of their successful formula and try different musical ideas. [3] In late 1974,the lead single "Far Far Away" had reached No. 2,while Slade in Flame peaked at No. 6. [2] Following the film's release in January 1975,it was decided to release "How Does It Feel" as the second single the following month. It reached No. 15,which was the band's first single not to reach the UK Top 5 since their 1971 breakthrough with "Get Down and Get with It". [4]
The melody of "How Does It Feel" was the first Lea had ever written,while he was still in school. He came up with the idea on an old piano which he later described as having half the keys missing. [5] Although the tune never developed any further at that time,Lea later revisited it for use as the theme tune for Flame. Holder wrote the song's lyrics and it became "How Does It Feel". The song featured a brass section,performed by members of Gonzalez. [6] In the band's 1984 biography Feel the Noize!,Lea recalled:"It was an old song that I'd written and Nod put some great lyrics to it. Tommy Vance said that it was good but that we were in for a hard time. But it didn't matter to me whether it was number one or number 15... to me it was a much better record than we'd made before and that was all I cared about." [7]
Despite the song's disappointing charting,"How Does It Feel" is now widely considered as one of the band's finest songs. [8] In 1999,Noel Gallagher of Oasis said the song was "one of the best songs written,in the history of pop,ever". [9] In a 1986 fan club interview,guitarist Dave Hill spoke of the song:"It was totally different to anything we had ever done before,but you see we were capable of that sort of thing,though our manager/producer Chas Chandler used to keep us clear from that. Trying to be too clever was considered at the time to be going in another direction." [10] [11]
"How Does It Feel" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK,Ireland,across Europe,Scandinavia,Yugoslavia,Australia and Japan. [12] [13] In America,it was released by Warner Bros. Records in September 1975. [14] The B-side on the Polydor releases of the single was the Slade in Flame album track "So Far So Good". In America,"O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" featured as the B-side,also taken from Slade in Flame. In the UK,the first 200,000 copies of the single featured a colour sleeve. [15] [16]
No music video was created to promote the single. In the UK,the band performed the song on the music show Top of the Pops ,The Russell Harty Show and the children's show Crackerjack. The band also performed the song on the Dutch AVRO TV show TopPop . [17]
Upon its release as a single,Sue Byrom of Record &Popswop Mirror noted "How Does It Feel" was "very different from the usual Slade material",with "far less reliance on guitars and far more on an orchestral arrangement". She continued,"There's a gentle piano intro before Noddy comes in,singing in an almost subdued voice. Even when the song kicks off,the arrangement is very different. [It will] be interesting to see the fans' reaction,but I don't think they'll have too much trouble succeeding." [18] Barry Nelson of the Cheshire Observer remarked how Slade had gone from "straightforward 'yob-rock' band" to "tak[ing] tentative steps towards musical creativity" which "seems to be an admirable thing once the shock wears off". He felt the song was "infinitely more palatable than a lot of current releases" and added,"I hope that Noddy is rewarded for his initiative by an increased rather than a decreased following." [19] The Shepherds Bush Gazette and Hammersmith Post called it a "quiet,melodic record" which "follows the tradition set" by the preceding single,"Far Far Away" and concluded,"It's a long way from the raucous Slade of yesteryear,but I'm sure it'll get plenty of plays and do pretty well for itself." [20]
John Hutson of the Thanet Times noted that the song,which he considered "another slow" one like "Far Far Away","builds up to include crashing guitar chords together with some nice orchestration and piano work". [21] James Belsey of the Bristol Evening Post wrote,"One of the best tracks from Flame,starting slow and sensitive,breaking into heavy and then alternating between rock and orchestra. The hook is Noddy Holder's voice,and it's excellent." [22] Sidney Nelson of the Nottingham Evening Post commented that it "starts off slowly and gets only marginally more up tempo" and how the "restrained Holder voice comes over well on this brush with melody". [23] In the US, Cash Box stated,"It's a change of pace for Slade as the English thrashers have come up with an effective,almost ballad-like,single that contains the band's smoke without all the fire. Effective vocals and tight licks make this a record that's up on all fours." [24]
Chart (1975) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) [25] | 45 |
Ireland (IRMA) [26] | 11 |
UK Singles (OCC) [27] | 15 |
West Germany (GfK) [28] | 36 |
Slade are an English rock band formed in Wolverhampton in 1966. They rose to prominence during the glam rock era in the early 1970s,achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. The British Hit Singles &Albums names them the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles. They were the first act to have three singles enter the charts at number one;all six of the band's chart-toppers were penned by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. As of 2006,total UK sales stood at over 6,500,000. Their best-selling single,"Merry Xmas Everybody",sold in excess of one million copies. According to the 1999 BBC documentary It's Slade,the band have sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
"Cum On Feel the Noize" is a song by the English rock band Slade,which was released in 1973 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart,giving the band their fourth number one single,and remained in the charts for twelve weeks. The song was included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest. In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted 15th on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.
Slade in Flame is the first soundtrack album and fifth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 29 November 1974,reached No. 6 in the UK and was certified Gold by BPI in February 1975. The album was produced by Chas Chandler and contains songs featured in the band's film of the same name. The band tried to give the album a "sixties" feel,as the film was set in 1966.
Beginnings is the debut album by the British rock band Ambrose Slade,who later achieved fame as Slade. It was released on 9 May 1969,but failed to enter the charts. In the US,it was released under the title Ballzy. A re-issue as Beginnings of Slade was briefly released by Contour in 1975,but was quickly withdrawn from sale due to copyright issues.
Whatever Happened to Slade is the seventh studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 21 March 1977 by Barn Records,but did not enter any national album chart. By the time of the album's release,Slade's popularity was waning as were their record sales,which they acknowledged in the album's title. The glam rock movement,with which Slade was associated,had died,and the careers of other glam rock artists such as Mud,Gary Glitter and Sweet had hit the buffers. In Britain,where Slade had traditionally been most popular,the fashion of the day was punk rock. With this album,Slade stood their ground as a straight-ahead rock group;gone were their "glam" statements of the early decade.
Return to Base is the eighth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 1 October 1979 by Barn Records,and did not enter any national album charts. At the time of the album's release,the band's success had waned and were receiving little fortune. Forced to play at small halls and clubs around the UK,the only income they were reliant on was Noddy Holder and Jim Lea's songwriting royalties. Their recent singles had sold poorly and they were no longer drawing in large audiences. Prior to their last-minute call up for the 1980 Reading Festival,they were on the verge of disbanding.
"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1972 as the lead single from their third studio album Slayed? It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 1 in the UK,giving the band their third number one single,and remained in the charts for ten weeks. In the United States,the song reached No. 76.
Slade Smashes is a compilation album by the British rock band Slade. It was released 1 November 1980 and reached No. 21 on the UK charts. The album was issued by Polydor in the wake of new interest in the band following their successful appearance at the 1980 Reading Festival,filling in for Ozzy Osbourne. The album featured most of the band's big hits from their early and mid 1970s heyday in the UK as well as three of the band's singles from post-1977. This collection,alongside the band's subsequent 1981 studio release We'll Bring the House Down,further cemented Slade's comeback in the UK and Europe.
"We'll Bring the House Down" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1981 as the lead single from their ninth studio album We'll Bring the House Down. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Slade. The band's first single to reach the UK Top 40 since 1977,the song peaked at No. 10 in the UK,remaining in the chart for nine weeks.
"Gudbuy T'Jane" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1972 as the second single from their third studio album Slayed? It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 2 in the UK,remaining in the charts for thirteen weeks. The song was certified UK Silver by BPI in 1973. In the United States,the song reached No. 68. It was also included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest.
"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. 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. The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in October 1973.
"Everyday" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1974 as the second single from their fourth studio album,Old New Borrowed and Blue. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder,bassist Jim Lea and his wife Louise Lea (uncredited),and was produced by Chas Chandler. It reached number 3 in the UK Singles Chart and spent seven weeks in the top 50. The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in April 1974,only three days after its release.
"Far Far Away" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1974 as the lead single from the band's first soundtrack album and fifth studio album Slade in Flame,in promotion of the upcoming film of the same name. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 2 in the UK,remaining in the charts for six weeks. The song was certified UK Silver by BPI in November 1974.
"Thanks for the Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1975 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 7 in the UK,remaining in the charts for seven weeks.
"The Bangin' Man" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1974 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 3 in the UK,remaining in the charts for seven weeks. The song was certified UK Silver by BPI for sales over 250,000 that same year.
"In for a Penny" is a song by English rock band Slade,released in 1975 as the lead single from their sixth studio album,Nobody's Fools. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and was produced by Chas Chandler. It reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for eight weeks.
"Let's Call It Quits" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1976 as the second single from their sixth studio album,Nobody's Fools. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 50 for seven weeks.
"Get Down and Get with It" is a song by American R&B singer-songwriter Bobby Marchan,first released as "Get Down with It" as the B-Side to his 1964 single "Half a Mind". In 1967,American singer Little Richard would record his own version,which was released as a single. In 1971,the British rock band Slade recorded a version of the song as "Get Down and Get with It",based on Little Richard's version,which gave the band their first UK chart hit.
"Gypsy Roadhog" is a song by the British rock band Slade,released in 1977 as the only single from the band's seventh studio album Whatever Happened to Slade. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 48 in the UK.
You Boyz Make Big Noize is a song by English rock band Slade,released on 27 July 1987 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea,and was produced by Lea. Named after the band's 1987 album of the same name,the song reached number 94 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for the one week.