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Old New Borrowed and Blue

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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.

Old New Borrowed and Blue
Studio album by
Slade
Released15 February 1974
Recordedlate 1973
GenreGlam rock
Length37:32 (57:40 with bonus tracks)
LabelPolydor (UK/Canada), Warner Bros. (US)
ProducerChas Chandler
Slade chronology
Sladest
(1973) 		Old New Borrowed and Blue
(1974) 		Slade in Flame
(1974)
Singles from Old New Borrowed and Blue
  1. "My Friend Stan"
    Released: 28 September 1973
  2. "Good Time Gals (America only)"
    Released: February 1974
  3. "Everyday"
    Released: 29 March 1974
  4. "When the Lights Are Out (America and Belgium only)"
    Released: May 1974

In the US, the album was released by the Warner Bros. label under the title Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet, minus the tracks "My Town" and "My Friend Stan" (as they had been previously released there on Sladest).

Background

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"Everyday"
"My Friend Stan"
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"We've just finished recording our next album. It's got a lot of new things on it. Nothing very different or out of character, we've spent more time on arrangements and little ideas and effects."

 —Don Powell discussing the album in 1974.[1][2]

Old New Borrowed and Blue was recorded amid various touring and promotional activities in late 1973, and also during the headline-making recovery of drummer Don Powell, who was involved in a near-fatal car crash in July, briefly throwing the band's existence into doubt. Despite his critical condition, Powell was able to make a recovery and the band soon entered the studio to record material for their new album. During recording of "My Friend Stan", Powell was still walking with the aid of a stick and had to be lifted onto his drum stool. On the album, the band attempted to continue their usual formula on some tracks, while others took a change in musical direction.[3] The album's title, as explained by Holder, came from the album's content, which the band felt had a mix of old, new, borrowed and blue songs.[4]

"My Friend Stan" was released as the album's lead single in September 1973 and reached No. 2 in the UK. Over Christmas 1973, the band would also achieve success with their No. 1 single "Merry Xmas Everybody". Old New Borrowed and Blue was released in February 1974 and reached No. 1 in the UK. In the UK, Old New Borrowed and Blue was awarded Gold by BPI prior to its release, based purely on pre-order sales.[5][6] At the time, a Slade spokesman had reported to the Record Mirror: "The album has sold twice as many cartridges and cassettes than their previous offerings."[7] In March, the album's second single "Everyday" reached No. 3. In America, Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet reached No. 168. "Good Time Gals" was issued there as a single in February 1974. Later in May, "When the Lights Are Out" was also issued in America and Belgium. Both singles failed to make any chart impact.[3]

Song information

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Slade appearing on the Dutch television show TopPop, a month after the album's release.

"Just Want a Little Bit" is a cover of the 1959 Rosco Gordon song, which was a minor hit in 1964 for Liverpool group The Undertakers. The song was later recorded in 1977 by The Animals too, of which Slade manager and producer Chas Chandler was bassist.[8] At the time, the song was a regular inclusion in Slade's live set.[9] "When the Lights Are Out" is the band's first track to feature Jim Lea on lead vocals. In a 1974 interview for the "19" readers, Holder jokingly commented: "There's nothing like a good singer and Jimmy's nothing like a good singer."[10] The song was later covered by Bob Segarini in 1978[11] and American rock group Cheap Trick on their 2009 album The Latest.[12] Lea would also record his own version with his brother Frank Lea under the name The Dummies in 1979.[13] "My Town" originally appeared as the B-side to "My Friend Stan".[14]

"Find Yourself a Rainbow" features honky-tonk piano as the main instrument, played by Tommy Burton. In a 1974 fab club interview, Powell stated: "Pub piano is played by a local landlord, Tommy Burton. He now owes us free booze for the rest of the year."[1][2] On the album's inner gatefold sleeve, the lyrics of the song include an extra verse which was not on the song's recording.[15] "Miles Out to Sea" was another song to later be recorded by The Dummies.[16] Of the up-tempo tracks "We're Really Gonna Raise the Roof" and "Do We Still Do It", AllMusic stated: "Slade fans can be assured that these guys hadn't lost the will to rock out."[17]

"How Can It Be" is a country-flavoured track with acoustic guitar.[9] "Don't Blame Me" originally appeared as the B-Side to "Merry Xmas Everybody".[18] In a 1979 fan club interview, Lea said of the song: ""Don't Blame Me" was a time-filler, I think that it was created as that. When it was used as a B-Side, we didn't even know it was being used, it was chosen by the offices."[19]

Chandler had persuaded Lea to finish "My Friend Stan" after he heard Lea playing the melody at home on his piano.[20] "Everyday" also features piano and was released as a single at Chandler's insistence. Jim Lea was totally opposed to it being an A-side and argued with Chandler for the duration[21] of a flight from the UK to Australia. When it was released, the band knew they were taking a risk but "Everyday" would become a firm favourite on stage.[22] The song featured Lea on guitar as guitarist Dave Hill was away on honeymoon at the time of the recording sessions.[20] "Good Time Gals" also featured as the B-Side to "Everyday".

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [23]
AllMusic (US edition)     [17]
BBC     [24]
Christgau's Record Guide (US)B[25]
Record Collector     [24]

Upon release, The Sun felt that the album marked the beginning of Slade becoming a "true album band". The reviewer commented that the songs were "toughening up" and the album was "expertly produced".[26] American magazine Cash Box described the album as "another powerful collection of 'Toons'", with "raw power" being "the most immediate sensation you feel from the LP".[27] At the Disc Music Awards 1974, the album was voted the tenth "best album of the year".[28]

AllMusic retrospectively stated that the album saw Slade's "songwriting efforts" enter "more mellow pastures". In a review of Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet, AllMusic said: "Full of trademark Slade rock & roll, Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet continues the band's arena style stomp. Dated, a bit, but still rockin' hard." Bob Stanley of The Times retrospectively felt the album was the "pick of their early albums", stating: "This is joyous, unshackled and unpretentious stuff that reminds you how they rattled off six No. 1s." In 2010, Classic Rock considered the album "superior: reputation cementing" and noted the album's mix of "wistful ballads" and "mouth-watering commercial, hard rock nuggets".

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, except "Just Want a Little Bit" by John Thornton, Ralph Bass, Earl Washington, Piney Brown and Sylvester Thompson

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Just Want a Little Bit"4:00
2."When the Lights Are Out"3:05
3."My Town"3:06
4."Find Yourself a Rainbow"2:11
5."Miles Out to Sea"3:49
6."We're Really Gonna Raise the Roof"3:09
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."Do We Still Do It"3:01
8."How Can It Be"3:01
9."Don't Blame Me"2:32
10."My Friend Stan"2:41
11."Everyday"3:10
12."Good Time Gals"3:33
Japanese '24 Bit remaster 2006' bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."The Bangin' Man" (non-album single "The Bangin' Man")Holder, Lea4:14
14."She Did It To Me" (B-side of single "The Bangin' Man")Holder, Lea3:18
2006 Salvo remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."I'm Mee I'm Now and That's Orl" (B-side of "Cum on Feel the Noize")3:40
14."Kill 'Em at the Hot Club Tonite" (B-side of "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me")3:20
15."The Bangin' Man" (1974 non-album single)4:11
16."She Did It to Me" (B-side of "The Bangin' Man")3:18
17."Slade Talk to "19" Readers" (Issued on a single-sided flexi-disc)5:33

Personnel

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Slade

  • Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Lea – bass, piano, guitar, backing vocals, lead vocals (track 2)
  • Don Powell – drums, backing vocals

Additional personnel

  • Chas Chandler – producer
  • Tommy Burton – piano (track 4)
  • Alan O'Duffy, George Chkiantz – engineer
  • Dave Ferrante – mixing
  • Wade Wood Associates – design
  • Ian Murray – art direction
  • Gered Mankowitz – photography

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[39] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b "9529714_orig.JPG (581x800 pixels)". sladefanclub.weebly.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b Slade Fan Club Newsletter October - November 1973
  3. ^ a b Old New Borrowed and Blue - 2006 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  4. ^ Slade Talk To 19 Readers interview
  5. ^ Slade Fan Club Newsletter January - February 1974
  6. ^ "4890704_orig.JPG (573x800 pixels)". sladefanclub.weebly.com. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  7. ^ Record Mirror magazine 9 March 1974
  8. ^ "Cover versions of Just a Little Bit by Tiny Topsy". SecondHandSongs. Retrieved 5 October 2016.
  9. ^ a b Thompson, Dave. "Old New Borrowed and Blue - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  10. ^ Slade Talk To "19" Readers - Track 17 on Salvo remaster
  11. ^ "Segarini* - Gotta Have Pop (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Cheap Trick - The Latest (Vinyl, LP) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  13. ^ "The Dummies - When The Lights Are Out / She's The Only Woman - Pye - UK - 7P 163". 45cat. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  14. ^ "Slade - My Friend Stan at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  16. ^ "The Dummies - Didn't You Use To Use To Be You? / Miles Out To Sea - Cheapskate - UK - CHEAP 3". 45cat. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  17. ^ a b Chrispell, James. "Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  18. ^ "Slade - Merry Xmas Everybody at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  19. ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  20. ^ a b Slade's Greatest Hits compilation booklet
  21. ^ THE NOIZE - THE SLADE DISCOGRAPHY by Ian Edmundson and Chris Selby, Amazon 2019
  22. ^ Slade's remastered album booklet Old New Borrowed and Blue
  23. ^ Dave Thompson. "Old New Borrowed and Blue - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  24. ^ a b "Slade - Slayed (CD)". Union Square Music. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  25. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 12 March 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  26. ^ "1974 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  27. ^ Cash Box magazine - Album Reviews - 23 February 1974 - page 26
  28. ^ [1] Archived 16 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  30. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Slade". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 237. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
  31. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Slade – Old New Borrowed and Blue" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Slade – Old New Borrowed and Blue". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Slade Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Albums: 101 to 175". Cash Box. Vol. 35, no. 47. 6 April 1974. p. 26. ISSN 0008-7289.
  36. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  37. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. 1974. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  39. ^ "British album certifications – Slade – Old New Borrowed and Blue". British Phonographic Industry.
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