Run Runaway 1984

January 27th, 1984

RCA - RCA-385

In 1984, the song "Run Runaway" became the first single to be taken from their album 'The Amazing Kamikazee Syndrome'. It was actually the third since 'My Oh My' had been the showcase single for the album and their 1982 release, '(And Now - The Waltz) C'est La Vie', had been added to the album.

The album version features an extended drum gallop before blasting out the fantastic guitar riff. Most impressive is how the track truly kicks in with Noddy shrieking “Hold on!” and the most irresistible fiddle melody begins. Noddy’s lyrics are totally nonsensical and yet they work in every way possible. The fantastic backing vocals fit perfectly whilst the entire song is a showcase for the band‘s musical creativity. The entir song never fails to deliver everything Slade stand for.


Many people refer this song to an influence of Big Country where I must stress that at the time of release, Big Country had not created anything remotely similar to the Run Runaway sound. The melody is in fact inspired by the hymn "There Is a Happy Land". Holder himself perfectly summed the song up as "a rocky Scottish jig".

The song became the band's biggest American hit, benefitting from heavy play on MTV, peaking at #20 and spending a total of eight weeks in the Top 40. It was also number one for two weeks on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart and proved to be the band's last top 10 hit in the UK. 

Dave Thompson, from allmusic described the song as "building on the anthemic power of the earlier "My Oh My" - itself their biggest U.K. single in nine years - "Run Runaway" is raucous chanting, swirling guitars, wild violin, and even a taste of heavy metal bagpipes, helped along by a drum sound that is pure early '80s". The single peaked at #193 for 1984 on rateyourmusic.

A music video was created for the single, filmed at Eastnor Castle, Ledbury, Herefordshire, England. The track was also performed on many UK TV shows such as Hall of Fame as well as a few Top of The Pops performances. The track was also performed at Montreaux Festival in 1984 along with Slam The Hammer Down.

In February 1985 it was performed on ITV's 'Saturday Live' (with a different backing track) when the band were promoting the 7 Year Bitch single.


America got Run Runaway first and when it took off CBS put out My Oh My as the follow up. Run Runaway coupled with My Oh My promo'd in the US in 1984 on a CBS 12" (AS 1832) playing at 33rpm. I don't know if it came before the official release but Run Runaway promo'd in several guises. The blue promo has the Don't Tame A Hurricane B-side.



The white promo with exactly the same catalogue number has Run Runaway on both sides. Note the playing time clocks in at 3:42 as do the European 7". In the UK this edit can be found on 'Feel The Noize - Slade Greatest Hits' and should have been used as an album bonus track by Salvo in 2007 remaster catalogue.

1997 Compilation CD
Polydor - 537 105-2
Original Release

 Reissue, minus the "Feel The Noize" in the title!



  • Run Runaway
  • Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind

There's little obvious difference between the 7" and 12". The 12" run out groove is stamped with RCAT 385 A-1U-1-1-1 and engraved with a 'guiness harp' followed by the letters 'TOPIA'.


Visually, regarding info, it suggests that they both feature the same audio, no bonus track and no remix on the 12". This is not actually the case though, the 7" gives a time check of 4:59 but, although the label doesn't state as such, the 12" runs for 5:37. Had the 7" had been a Radio Edit then the album version and the 12" version would have been special. Sadly, the only real difference is an extended intro of drums and extra phased guitar intro causing the vocal to drop half a minute later at 1:30. Most people probably never even noticed.

It's interesting to note that Run Runaway is published in 1983 whilst Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind is 1984. Two Track Stereo was obviously recorded in January '84.

Canada, 1984 - 7", Vinyl, Single.
CBS Associated - ZS4 04398.
Run Run Away / Don't Tame A Hurricane :-




This beautiful Japanese 7" (courtesy of hawkheriberto on discogs)





The single's chart run in the UK for a total of 12 weeks:
  • 04/02/1984 - #54
  • 11/02/1984 - #40
  • 18/02/1984 - #34
  • 25/02/1984 - #19
  • 03/03/1984 - #10
  • 10/03/1984 - #7
  • 17/03/1984 - #14
  • 24/03/1984 - #20
  • 31/03/1984 - #32
  • 07/04/1984 - #53
The single was a huge hit worldwide:
  1. Belgium - #27 for 1 week
  2. Canada - #15 for 16 weeks
  3. Germany - #19 for 12 weeks
  4. Ireland - #8 for 4 weeks
  5. New Zealand - #21 for 12 weeks
  6. Norway - #7 for 5 weeks
  7. Poland - #6 for 10 weeks
  8. Sweden - #4 for 7 weeks
Slade's only top 20 hit in America lasted it's chart run for a total of 17 weeks:
  • 07/04/1984 - #67
  • 14/04/1984 - #56
  • 21/04/1984 - #50
  • 28/04/1984 - #44
  • 05/05/1984 - #39
  • 12/05/1984 - #34
  • 19/05/1984 - #32
  • 26/05/1984 - #27
  • 02/06/1984 - #25
  • 09/06/1984 - #23
  • 16/06/1984 - #20
  • 23/06/1984 - #27
  • 30/06/1984 - #43
  • 07/07/1984 - #65
  • 14/07/1984 - #80
  • 21/07/1984 - #84
  • 28/07/1984 - #98


Reverse of Picture Cover of the Netherlands - RCA - 1983 Release!



My thanks to Gordon Kerr for supplying the cover art. The track has been covered by Dominoo, Acid Drinkers, Great Big Sea, Bart Foley, Off Kilter, Rednex and Prydein.



Run Runaway
(Noddy Holder & Jim Lea)

I like black and white
Dreaming in black and white
You like black and white
Run Runaway

See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run Runaway

If you're in the swing
Money ain't everything
If you're in the swing
Run Runaway

See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run Runaway


If you gotta crush
Don't beat about the bush
When I gotta crush
Run Runaway

See chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run Runaway

Oh now can't you wait
Love don't come on a plate
Oh now can't you wait
Run Runaway

See the chameleon
Lying there in the sun
All things to everyone
Run Runaway

Run Runaway
Run Runaway
Run Runaway

Two Track Stereo - One Track Mind
(Noddy Holder & Jim Lea)

With her one track mind
With her one track mind
She was a hooked on two track stereo
With her one track mind
Woh-ho-oh

Well she always had lousy timing
But she'd like making love to music
Wearing headphones
Woh-ho-oh
Wearing headphones
Yeah-yeah-yeah

They get in the way of talking
And it don't sound the same
When you have to shout sweet nothing's
Woh-ho-oh
Through her headphones
Oh-ho-ho-ho

With her one track mind
Her brain in her behind
She was hooked on two track stereo
With her one track mind
Woh-ho-oh
Yeah-hey-hey

She'd be late for a date on purpose
Making sure that she keeps you waiting
And while she makes up
Woh-ho-oh
Another new face
Woh-ho-ho-ho

She was always forgetting something
And she'd easily lose her head
And there'd be nowhere woh--ho-oh
To hang her headphones yeah-yeah-yeah

With her one track mind
Her brain in her behind
She was hooked on two track stereo
With her one track mind
Woh-ho-oh
Yeah-hey-hey

Oh well she always had lousy timing
Wearing headphones while she's out eating
Or out walking
Like a zombie yeah


With her one track mind
Her brain in her behind
She was hooked on two track stereo
With her one track mind
Woh-ho-oh
One track mind
What's going through her mind