| "Still The Same" | |||||||||||||||
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UK/European cover of "Still the Same". |
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| Single by Slade | |||||||||||||||
| from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize | |||||||||||||||
| B-side | Gotta Go Home | ||||||||||||||
| Released | 02 February, 1987 | ||||||||||||||
| Format | 7" Single, 12" single | ||||||||||||||
| Recorded | 1986 | ||||||||||||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||||||||||||
| Length | 3:53 | ||||||||||||||
| Label | RCA Records | ||||||||||||||
| Writer(s) | Noddy Holder; Jim Lea | ||||||||||||||
| Producer | John Punter; Jim Lea | ||||||||||||||
| Slade singles chronology | |||||||||||||||
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"Still The Same" is the first and leading single from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize by rock band Slade. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea.[1] The single was released in early 1987 and peaked at #73 in the UK, spending 4 weeks on the UK chart.[2] This was Slade's last UK charting single from the 80s.[3]
A commermorative double pack was released to celebrate 21 years of Slade's career. Two bonus tracks featured - "The Roaring Silence" and "Don't Talk to Me About Love".[4]
To avoid becoming a 'Christmas' hit band, Slade did not release this single for Christmas in 1986 but left it until early 1987. Due to its commercial failure, RCA and the band wondered what it may have had if it was released at Christmas instead.[5]
The song peaked at #14 on the 'Sounds Magazine' Hot Metal 60 Chart. In Germany, the single went straight to #2 on the "NDR 2" radio station.[6][7]
The b-side "Gotta Go Home" was originally exclusive to the single, eventually being released on CD via the 2007 compilation "B-Sides" and the remaster of "You Boyz Make Big Noize". For the commermorative double pack single, "The Roaring Silence" was taken from the "You Boyz Make Big Noize" album whilst "Don't Talk to Me About Love" was exclusive to the double pack. "Don't Talk to Me About Love" was also later issued on CD via "B-Sides" and the remaster of "You Boyz Make Big Noize".
The editor of the 1988 Slade fan club magazine sent the "You Boyz Make Big Noize" album to 20 listeners of different musical tastes, aged from 18 and 52. The listeners were asked to choose their top three tracks. "That's What Friends Are For" was listed at #2 of the three.[8][9]
The single peaked at #999 for 1987 on rateyourmusic.[10]
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No video was created for the single to promote it however Slade mimed the track on UK TV twice, on the Tom O'Connor show and Saturday superstore.[11] The Tom O'Connor show was performed on 9 February 1987 whilst the Saturday Superstoe was performed on 14 February 1987.[6][7]
Dave Hill discussed the songs failure in a 1987 fan club interview. "'Still the same' is basically being regarded as a flop in terms of what was expected of it. I think the record company were mostly disappointed as it was them rather than the group who chose it. It was always up for a single though, right from the demo stage. We have a situation at Radio One at the moment where they now run this playlist. There have also been a few changes in the people who run the programmes. We brought this record out, not in the usual Christmas period, which on the face of it seemed to me to be a feasible idea as an attempt to get away from the 'Slade only exist at Christmas time' situation. On listening to opinion though, it seems to have been regarded as another 'My Oh My' type song, which perhaps should have come out at Christmas. Everyone can say what they like now, and if it was a hit, they'll all be saying what a great idea it was. When 'My Oh My' was released, it was just as slow to take off, but as soon as we got the radio play, it rocketed. 'Still the same' did virtually the same as 'My Oh My' chart-wise in its first few weeks, but at the point where 'My Oh My' picked up radio play, 'Still the Same' was dropped completely, especially by Radio One."[12]
Due to the lack of Radio One play, it was presumed this was why the single failed to do commercially better. BBC Radio DJs were no longer able to choose what singles were played but by a panel of producers. Only 10 singles were added into the "A List" whilst "Still The Same" remained in the "B List".[6][7]
As the single failed to enter the top #60, no promotional video was created.[6][7]
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[13] | 73 | 4 |
In 2003, the track was covered by Belgian band Mama's Jasje which became a hit in Belgium, peaking at #4.[14] The track was titled Voor Jou Alleen which translates to For You Alone. As a result of the changed lyrics, Peter Van Laet also received writing credits.[15]
