"My Friend Stan" | ||||
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![]() 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]
"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]
"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]
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]
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]
7-inch single
Slade
Production
Chart (1973) | Peak position |
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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 |
Old New Borrowed and Blue is the fourth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 15 February 1974 and reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It has been certified Gold by BPI. The album was produced by Chas Chandler. For the album, Slade attempted to begin breaking away from their usual rock formula. For example, the singles "My Friend Stan" and "Everyday" were piano-led and did not have the typical "Slade" sound.
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" is a song by the British rock band Slade, 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, giving the band their fifth number one single, and remained in the charts for ten weeks. The song was certified UK Silver by BPI in July 1973. The song would be included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest.
"All Join Hands" is a power ballad song by English rock band Slade, released in 1984 as the lead single from the band's twelfth studio album, Rogues Gallery. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter. It reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for ten 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.
"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.
"Look Wot You Dun" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1972 as a non-album single. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder, bassist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 4 in the UK, remaining in the charts for ten weeks. The song would be included on the band's 1973 compilation album Sladest.
"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. 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.
"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.
"Ruby Red" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1982 as the third single from the band's tenth studio album, Till Deaf Do Us Part. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. "Ruby Red" reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks.
"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.
"Give Us a Goal" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1978 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Chas Chandler. A football-themed song, it failed to enter the UK Singles Chart but did reach number 62 in the Record Business Singles Chart and number 70 in Gallup's National Top 100 Singles chart.
"Nobody's Fool" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1976 as the third and final single from their sixth studio album, Nobody's Fools. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Chas Chandler. "Nobody's Fool" failed to enter the UK Singles Chart, ending a run of 17 consecutive hits the band had achieved since 1971, but it did reach number 3 in the UK Star Breakers Chart.
That's What Friends Are For is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1987 as the second single from their fourteenth and final studio album, You Boyz Make Big Noize. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Roy Thomas Baker. "That's What Friends Are For" reached number 95 in the UK Singles Chart.
Slades Greats is a compilation album by the British rock band Slade. It was released by Polydor on 25 May 1984 and reached No. 89 in the UK charts. The compilation, a revised re-issue of the 1980 compilation Slade Smashes!, was released following the band's late 1983-early 1984 success with the singles "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway".
"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.
"Burning in the Heat of Love" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1977 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Chas Chandler. The song failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.
"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1978 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. The song failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.