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.
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.
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
Canada, 1984 - 7", Vinyl, Single.
CBS Associated - ZS4 04398.
Run Run Away / Don't Tame A Hurricane :-
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
- Belgium - #27 for 1 week
- Canada - #15 for 16 weeks
- Germany - #19 for 12 weeks
- Ireland - #8 for 4 weeks
- New Zealand - #21 for 12 weeks
- Norway - #7 for 5 weeks
- Poland - #6 for 10 weeks
- Sweden - #4 for 7 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
4 comments:
I quite like Run Runaway as a song, though I wouldn't profess to being an active fan of Slade. (Don't dislike them but have only ever listened passively to them). I know OF several of their songs but that's about it.
I would, however, respectfully question your statement that Big County had not, at that time, produced anything like that sound. Run Runaway would arguably be most reminiscent of BC's very first single, "Harvest Home" which was released in September 1982. The chord progressions are in a similar order, though not held for the same number of beats. Even the album on which that song appears, "The Crossing" was released a good six months before the date you list as Run Runaway's release.
Important to note, of course, that both bands were really just incorporating elements of Celtic music. Elements which predate the 20th Century, of course. It's probably one of those times where different people came up with similar ideas at similar times, and to those of us not involved it looks as though one might have borrowed from another.
I can remember people comparing this to Big Country's second single "Fields Of Fire" which was released in February 1983.
I couldn't actually pin it down to one actual Big Country song in particular? It just sounded like them, because of the style of guitar playing. There's nothing like experimenting with different styles to get people talking!
I wonder if the black and white is a reference to stout.Perhaps a modern drinking song.I have listened to Slade and this song had much more potential than anything Big Country released.
Post a Comment