| "That's What Friends Are For" | |||||||||
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UK/European cover of "That's What Friends Are For". |
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| Single by Slade | |||||||||
| from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize | |||||||||
| B-side | Wild Wild Party | ||||||||
| Released | 20 April, 1987 | ||||||||
| Format | 7" Single, 12" single | ||||||||
| Genre | Rock | ||||||||
| Length | 3:17 | ||||||||
| Label | RCA Records | ||||||||
| Writer(s) | Noddy Holder; Jim Lea | ||||||||
| Producer | Roy Thomas Baker; Jim Lea | ||||||||
| Slade singles chronology | |||||||||
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"That's What Friends Are For" is Slade's second single in 1987 from the album You Boyz Make Big Noize.[1] It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was only released in the UK. The style continued to follow a more pop based sound with synthesizers. The track was produced by Roy Thomas Baker who worked on only two tracks from the album due to Baker using most of the album's budget on the two tracks alone.[2] The single was released in 1987 and peaked at #95 in the UK, spending 1 week on the chart.[3] This was to be Slade's last release under RCA records before being dropped. The single was released a short time after the album's release.[4]
The track was rushed out as a single in April 1987, "mainly because there's a certain person at RCA who is going wally over it" said guitarist Dave Hill at the time.[5]
The 12" version of the single featured a cover of Hi Ho Silver Lining, taken from the album Crackers, Wild Wild Party and Lock Up Your Daughters (Live).[6]
The b-side "Wild Wild Party" was originally used in the English film "Knights and Emeralds", eventually being released on CD via the 2007 compilation "B-Sides" and the remaster of "You Boyz Make Big Noize".
The track was performed on BBC show The Krankies in August the same year.[7]
"That's What Friends Are For" was reviewed on Radio One's 'Singles Out' programme on Good Friday 1987. The single received a positive thumbs up by Aled Jones, The Wizzard and Janice Long.[8][9]
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 #1 of the three.[10][11]
Contents |
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart[12] | 95 | 1 |
