- My Friend Stan
-
"My Friend Stan" 
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 Format 7" Single Genre Glam Rock Length 2:38 Label Polydor Records Writer(s) Noddy Holder; Jim Lea Producer Chas Chandler Slade singles chronology "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"
(1973)"My Friend Stan"
(1973)"Merry Xmas Everybody"
(1973)Audio sample file info · helpAlternative Cover 
Dutch cover of "My Friend Stan".Alternative Cover 
French cover of "My Friend Stan".Alternative Cover 
Japanese cover of "My Friend Stan"."My Friend Stan" is a single from glam rock band Slade which appeared on Slade's 1974 album Old New Borrowed and Blue.[1] The single was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in late 1973 and peaked at #2 in the UK, spending only 8 weeks on the chart which compared to Slade's eight previous singles was a disappointment. The single originally entered the charts at #4. It did stay in the top #10 for 5 weeks.[2] The single marked a change from their previous records with the single being more piano based, sounding more like a novelty track.[3]
Despite only reaching #2 in the UK, the single sold the same amount as the previous single "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me".[4][5]
The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in October 1973.[6]
The single peaked at #195 for 1973 on rateyourmusic.[7]
Contents
Background
At the time, Lea was persuaded to complete this song by manager Chas Chandler who'd heard him playing the melody on the piano at his home. Holder's lyrics were full of innuendo which was quite risque for the time. During recording, drummer Don Powell was walking with the aid of a stick and had to be lifted on to his drum kit.[8]
Shortly before release, Polydor records had to import 100,000 copies of the single into the UK, due to the phenomenal demand of the record.[9][10]
Subsequent to its original release on Old New Borrowed and Blue, "My Friend Stan" has appeared on several Slade compilation albums, including Greatest Hits, Wall of Hits, Slade Smashes, Slade Greats and The Very Best of Slade.[11]
The track was also recorded by artists The Romans and Muska.[12]
Music video
A Polydor Records promotional video was recorded at the Olympic Studios in Barnes, supposedly of the band actually recording "My Friend Stan". vocalist/co-writer Holder is seen in a grandad t-shirt, making funny faces and yawning, whilst bassist/co-writer Lea tries to hide behind the piano from the film cameras. Guitarist Dave Hill uses his trademark Superyob guitar, and drummer Powell is seen with short hair - the filming taking place shortly after Powell's near-fatal car crash.[13][14]
Track listing
- 7" Single
- "My Friend Stan" - 2:38
- "My Town" - 3:02
Critical reception
Upon release, Record Mirror magazine published a short article based on the feelings of a certain fan towards the single. "If you listen to the b-side of "My Friend Stan", you will hear a very good commercial song "My Town" which should have been the a-side. Friends of mine say that "My Friend Stan" is Slade's worst single. True, until you get the record and listen to the b-side. Then it becomes Slade's best single! It's certainly worth buying it if only for the b-side."[15]
Chart performance
Chart (1973) Peak
positionTotal
weeksAustralian ARIA Singles Chart[16] 39 3 Belgian Singles Chart[17] 5 8 Dutch Singles Chart[18] 10 5 French Singles Chart[19] 44 5 German Singles Chart[20] 5 18 Irish Singles Chart[21] 1 5 New Zealand Singles Chart[citation needed] 25 Norwegian Singles Chart[22] 5 8 Swiss Singles Chart[23] 6 8 UK Singles Chart[24] 2 8 Cover versions
- In 1973, Finnish singer Muska recorded a version of the song for her self-titled album. The song is titled 'Ystävättäret'.[25]
- In 1993, Belgian band The Romans recorded a version of the song for their album Major Panic.[26]
Personnel
- Noddy Holder: Lead vocals and guitar
- Jim Lea: Bass guitar, piano and backing vocals
- Dave Hill: Lead guitar and backing vocals
- Don Powell: Drums
References
- ^ "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Slade-Old-New-Borrowed-And-Blue/master/155203. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Slade's remastered album booklet Old New Borrowed and Blue
- ^ http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/4562753_orig.jpg
- ^ Slade Fan Club Newsletter December 1973
- ^ "Home". BPI. http://www.bpi.co.uk/. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/slade/my_friend_stan___my_town/
- ^ Slade's Greatest Hits compilation booklet
- ^ http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/2889143_orig.jpg
- ^ Slade Fan Club Newsletter October - November 1973
- ^ "Slade Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/artist/Slade. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. http://www.crazeeworld.plus.com/slade/2011/pages/the_music.htm#covers. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/4356911_orig.jpg
- ^ Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
- ^ Record Mirror magazine 13 October 1973 - Article titled Slade on the Flip
- ^ "Go-Set Australian charts ~ 1973". Poparchives.com.au. http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1973/1973.html. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "top20hitparade". Flanders-hitparade.net. http://www.flanders-hitparade.net/. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". dutchcharts.nl. http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Slade&titel=My+Friend+Stan&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ http://www.infodisc.fr/Bilan_S.php
- ^ musicline.de / PhonoNet GmbH. "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres, Genresuche, Genrelexikon, Künstler-Suche, Musik-Suche, Track-Suche, Ticket-Suche". musicline.de. http://musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/SLADE/single. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Jaclyn Ward - Fireball Media Group - http://www.fireballmedia.ie. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Slade&titel=My+Friend+Stan&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". hitparade.ch. http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Slade&titel=My+Friend+Stan&cat=s. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Slade - My Friend Stan". Chart Stats. 1973-11-24. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=6037. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Muska - Muska (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Muska-Muska/release/1887854. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Medium: Major Panic - The Romans (1993)". Second Hand Songs. 2004-12-20. http://www.secondhandsongs.com/medium/11428. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
Noddy Holder • Jim Lea • Dave Hill • Don Powell
Mal McNulty • John Berry • Steve Whalley • Steve Makin • Trevor Holliday • Dave Glover • Craig FenneyStudio albums Beginnings (Ambrose Slade, 1969) • Play It Loud (1970) • Slayed? (1972) • Old, New, Borrowed and Blue (1974) • Slade In Flame (1974) • Nobody's Fools (1976) • Whatever Happened to Slade? (1977) • Return to Base (1979) • We'll Bring the House Down (1981) • Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981) • The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983) • Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984) • Rogues Gallery (1985) • Crackers: The Party Album (1985) • You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)Live albums Compilations Sladest (1973) • Slade Smashes! (1980) • Slade's Greats (1984) • Wall of Hits (1991) • Feel The Noize- Greatest Hits (1997) • The Genesis of Slade (2000) • The Very Best of Slade (2005) • Slade Alive! - The Live Anthology (2006) • The Slade Box (Anthology 1969-91) (2006) • B-Sides (2007) • Live at the BBC (2009) • Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits (2009)Singles "You Better Run" (The N' Betweens) • "Genesis" (Ambrose Slade) • "Wild Winds are Blowing" • "Shape of Things to Come" • "Know Who You Are" • "Get Down and Get With It" • "'Coz I Luv You" • "Look Wot You Dun" • "Take Me Bak 'Ome" • "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" • "Gudbuy T' Jane" • "Cum On Feel the Noize" • "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" • "My Friend Stan" • "Merry Xmas Everybody" • "Everyday" • "The Bangin' Man" • "Far Far Away" • "How Does It Feel" • "Thanks for the Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)" • "In For a Penny" • "Let's Call It Quits" • "Nobody's Fool" • "Gypsy Roadhog" • "Burning in the Heat of Love" • "My Baby Left Me - That's All Right" • "Give Us a Goal" • "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" • "Ginny, Ginny" • "I'm a Rocker" • "Sign of the Times" • "Okey Cokey" • "Six of the Best (EP)" • "Live at Reading (EP)" • "Xmas Ear Bender (EP)" • "We'll Bring the House Down" • "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" • "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy" • "Lock Up Your Daughters" • "Rock and Roll Preacher" • "Ruby Red" • "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" • "My Oh My" • "Run Runaway" • "Slam the Hammer Down" • "All Join Hands" • "7 Year Bitch" • "Myzsterious Mizster Jones" • "Little Sheila" • "Do You Believe in Miracles" • "Still the Same" • "That's What Friends Are For" • "You Boyz Make Big Noize" • "Ooh La La in L.A." • "We Won't Give In" • "Let's Dance '88" • "Radio Wall of Sound" • "Universe"Video "Slade in Flame" • "Wall of Hits" • "Inside Slade - The Singles 1971-1991" • "The Very Best of Slade" • "Slade Alive! - The Ultimate Critical Review" •Related articles DiscographyCategories:- 1973 singles
- Slade songs
- Songs produced by Chas Chandler
- Songs written by Noddy Holder
- Songs written by Jim Lea
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