Kim Fowley got the band a contract with EMI and they recorded four tracks at Regent Sound studio in Denmark Street, London. On December 2nd 1966, the band that would become Slade released their first Number 1 hit record. Produced by Fowley and released on the Columbia Record label. You Better Run, a cover of a tune by The Young Rascals, which had been a hit in the US but was virtually unknown in the UK.
The B-side was Evil Witchman, (note the KT tax code stamp) a new set of lyrics (written in the studio as they rehearsed the song) by Fowley set over I Take What I Want, a track by The Artwoods played in the 'N Betweens unique style. It was a popular song with the Midlands R&B crowd for some time.
(The actual record playing on the above You Tube video is an.Unofficial 7" Repro. Single!)
The B-side was Evil Witchman, (note the KT tax code stamp) a new set of lyrics (written in the studio as they rehearsed the song) by Fowley set over I Take What I Want, a track by The Artwoods played in the 'N Betweens unique style. It was a popular song with the Midlands R&B crowd for some time.
The flyer above (courtesy of Chris Selby and Mark Lion) was passed out to advertise an appearance for a record signing at Cliff and Halifax in Wolverhampton on 3rd December 1966, to promote the new release. It was a record shop that published a local chart and You Better Run topped it for about six weeks, becoming the boys first Number 1 hit (even if it was only within the Midlands area).
Carole Williams was the secretary for the Astra Agency that the band signed with. She ran The 'N Betweens official fan club from her home until they ceased being The 'N Betweens at the end of 1968.
Security was never released in the UK or Europe, it was only available in the US by The In-Be-Tween. The B-side was Girl, I'm An Evil Witchman, as with You Better Run. It was released in the US on 21st October 1966, as it has been noted, Fowley was back in the States when You Better Run was released (much to EMI's annoyance).
In 1985, "The In-Betweens" were included in the compilation LP "The Sixties Lost And Found, - Volume 4 - Back Beat".
These two tracks were also recorded with Kim Fowley, Hold Tight was a cover of a Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich hit single, whilst Ugly Girl was a reworking of Fowley's own Animal Man.
The tracks recorded with Fowley remained unreleased on CD format until the release of The Genesis Of Slade CD in 1996. A compilation of early recordings put together by John Haxby with the co-operation of Johnny Howells but with no involvement from Slade or their management. This compilation is a must have for any Slade fan.
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| The Austrian CD on TMC. |
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| "OOH POO PA DOO" Acetate! |
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| "BETTER RUN" Acetate, December, 1966! |
Word has it that a re-release is possible in the not-to-distant future?
The You Better Run 7" sold for £140 at auction in 2005
You Better Run
(Written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Cavaliere)
What you trying to do to my heart
What you trying to do to my heart
You fool around you're telling lies
You hang around with the other guys
What you trying to do with my heart
Chorus
You better run
You better hide
You better leave my side
What you trying to do to my soul
What you trying to do to my soul
Everything I had was yours
Now I'm closing all the doors
What you trying to do with my soul
Chorus
You better run
You better hide
You better leave my side
I love you girl I love you so
Can't you see don't you know
I can't stand your alibis
Your telling lies drive me wild
What you trying to do to my head
What you trying to do to my head
Now I'm gonna draw that line
You're not gonna take my mind
What you trying to do to my head
Repeat Chorus 3 times
You better run
You better hide
You better leave my side
Evil Witch Man
(Fowley - Powell - Hill - Holder - Lee*)
I'm just what you need
I'm an evil witchman babe, yes I am
It's an evil night tonight
We'll never stop our loving, no, oh no
'Cause you keep demanding more
And baby that's what I'm here for, girl child
You are turning me sideways
As you breathe upon my neck, ooh girl
If you wanna own me
You'll have to blow up my mind, my crazy mind
I'm just what you need, girl child
Girl child, I want you, just you
[*= N.B. They misspelt "Lea" as "Lee" on the label!]
[Thanks to Chris Selby for tracking down the "Evil Witchman" lyrics!]
Security
( Otis Redding )
I want security yeah, an' I want it in the evenin' allright
Security yeah, come on, give me your lovin' at night
Don't want no money, no no no no no no, don't want no papers
It's a pity I can't have you, all-in baby allright
Security yeah, come on, give me your lovin' that's right
Security yeah, I don't want it in the evenin' that's right
Come on an' take me babe, you know they tell me babe
They think you are the one for me
Darlin' how can I forget you baby allright
Come on baby now, I want a little security baby every night
Security
Security baby
Oh
Yeah
Baby
Security
Come on
Don't want no money, no no no no no no no, don't want no papers
It's a pity I can't have you, all-in baby, allright
Security yeah, come on, give me your lovin' allright
Baby I want a little security now, give yourself security baby
My my my security, come on come on, baby, a little bit more
A little more security baby, every night every night
Yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
Hold Tight
(Ken Howard & Alan Blaikley)
Hold tight count to three, gotta stay close by me
An' hold tight sing an' shout, just jump around about
An' hold tight shut your eyes, girl you can idolise
Aye-yey-yey-yey-yey, forget the other guys
[Chorus]
You'll never fall, each time you call, hold tight, hold tight
Hold tigh-igh-igh-igh-ight
Hold tight make me feel what you say is for real
An' hold tight carousel no need to ring my bell
An' hold tight we will fly, swingin' low swingin' high
High-igh-igh-igh-igh, we're gonna reach the sky
[Chorus]
You'll never fall, each time you call, hold tight, hold tight
Hold tigh-igh-igh-igh-ight
[Break]
Hold tight count to three, gotta stay close by me
An' hold tight sing an' shout, just jump around about
An' hold tight shut your eyes, girl you can idolise
Aye-yey-yey-yey-yey, forget the other guys
[Chorus]
You'll never fall, each time you call, hold tight, hold tight
Hold tigh-igh-igh-igh-ight
Ugly Girl
(Fowley - Powell - Hill - Holder - Lea)
(Spoken)
Children, this is a song about the ugliest girl in the world
She is our Fan Club President in Afghanistan
An' she's kinda ugly, really ugly, now listen closely everybody
An' you can see how beautiful ugliness is
She's got big green eyes all over her face
She's got a-long red ears all over the place
She's got a big fat nose, and I don't know what to do with it, honey
Those teeth hangin' down, they look like money
(Spoken)
You know, you can tell we love her can't you
Let's have a little harmony from the other voices...
My baby...so ugly, you can imagine, her mother didn't like her either
Listen everybody, not everybody can have an ugly girl
Any idiot can have a pretty girl
Let's have some more pretty singin' gentlemen
She's got a-thin legs, an' they're, er, also, er, thighs
They're a-walkin' baby all the night
Her feet are large, they're extra size
An' baby, er, they idolise but don't you know I want her so
Oh, I still love that girl...hit it
(Spoken)
She's about the ugliest girl, here she comes
Listen to her stamp like a thousand elephants
Like ten million jet planes whenever she talks
She's my special, extra special
Groovy jet-age supersonic monster baby-child
Oh she's so nice
We're leavin' you now
We're gonna fade away
We're gonna fade away...
Buy our next record, it's even groovier than this one, ha
We're goin' to fade away
Fade away ...
Need
( Fowley - Powell - Hill - Holder - Lea )
Baby, I need you, I need your lovin' so much
Your big wide lips, they're killin' me baby
An' I want you so much
I need your lovin' ( so much ) in the mornin' ( so much )
Need your lovin' ( so much ) in the evenin' ( so much ), oh my baby
You kill me with rubber lips, those crazy lips
Oh baby, I need you, I need you, oh baby
Come on, I need you baby, allright
I need your lovin' tonight ( oh yeah )
I want your lovin' in the mornin'
Want your lovin' in the evenin'
All night long, come on baby, I need ya ya
An' baby, if you really want our love
You gotta get down on your hands an' knees, and start to beg
A - one more time now, let me hear you beg baby allright
It's happenin' baby ( allright )
It's comin' along, it's all happenin' baby, you know it
Oh baby baby ( allright )
Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby, oh baby
I need you so much, I need you
I need you so much, oh baby ... I want you
[ My thanks to Gégé Slayed for tracking down the "Need" lyrics! ]
cool!
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