Till Deaf Do Us Part

Till Deaf Do Us Part
Studio album by Slade
Released 13 November 1981
Recorded 1981
Studio Portland Studios
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 38:41
Label RCA Records
Producer Slade
Slade chronology
We'll Bring the House Down
(1981)		 Till Deaf Do Us Part
(1981)		 Slade on Stage
(1982)
Alternative cover

Alternative cover
Singles from Till Deaf Do Us Part
  1. "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy"
    Released: 15 May 1981
  2. "Lock Up Your Daughters"
    Released: 4 September 1981
  3. "Ruby Red"
    Released: 12 March 1982
  4. "Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)"
    Released: April 1982

Till Deaf Do Us Part is the tenth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 13 November 1981 and reached No. 68 on the UK charts.[1] The album was produced by Slade. Although not as successful as We'll Bring the House Down earlier in the year, this album sold well. The track "Lock Up Your Daughters" was a UK Top 30 hit and became a staple at Slade concerts.

Later in the 1990s, re-issues of the album on CD replaced the album's original artwork with a group photo.[2]

Background

Slade performing at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff in December 1981, a month after the album's release.

Following Slade's performance at the Reading festival in 1980, interest in the band was revived and the band were now able to fill concert halls once again. The band's 1981 album We'll Bring the House Down was also a success, reaching No. 25 in the UK, while the title track entered the UK Top 10. During the same year, the band continued their resurgence with the recording of Till Deaf Do Us Part. In May 1981, the band released the lead single "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy", however it failed to chart. The band had been confident that the up-tempo record was well-suited as a follow-up to "We'll Bring the House Down", but the band's manager Chas Chandler disagreed. The single was half-heartedly released on the Cheapskate label, with RCA handling marketing and distribution.[3]

The band blamed Chandler for the single's failure and decided to manage themselves from then on, ending a twelve-year partnership. However, this did not stop Chandler from negotiating a major record deal with RCA for them. In September, RCA released the second single from the upcoming album, "Lock Up Your Daughters". It reached No. 29 in the UK. In December, Till Deaf Do Us Part was released as the band's RCA debut and first album of all new material since 1979's Return to Base. It reached No. 68 and a few of the album's songs quickly became part of Slade's live set, including "Rock and Roll Preacher" which became the band's new opener.[4] In March 1982, "Ruby Red" was released as the third single, reaching No. 51 in the UK, while in April, "Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)" was released in Germany, peaking at No. 49.

In a 1981 fan club interview, Holder spoke of the album's title and general theme: "It came about because everyone always says how loud we are. We based the album around volume, all the tracks are rock and it is a loud album. The track Till Deaf Do Us Part is all about bending your ear and being deafened. We've used a lot of organ on the album. That's basically the only difference. We think that it's a much better sound than we've ever had before. It's a solid rock album from start to finish, except for the instrumental piece – which is a slowish theme, but all the others are fast and solid rock. There's no acoustic rock on the album like songs such as "Don't Waste Your Time" and "Sign of the Times," which we have had on previous LPs."[5]

Song information

"Rock and Roll Preacher" opens with Holder delivering a mock ceremony of the communion of rock and roll. "Lock Up Your Daughters" was performed on Top of the Pops twice in 1981, however it was believed the single suffered as both performances clashed with two big blockbuster movies on ITV; Earthquake and Jaws. "Till Deaf Do Us Part" was described by Holder as being "all about concerts and what the crowds get up to." "Ruby Red" had been written around 1978 but the band felt their original recording of it did not meet their expectations. The song was further developed and then recorded for Till Deaf Do Us Part.[6] "She Brings Out the Devil in Me" developed into a song from a lick the band used to play at soundchecks. Holder then added a melody and lyrics to the lick.[5] "A Night to Remember", described by Holder as an "out-and-out rock track", became part of Slade's live set, where it was extended to include a drum, bass and violin solo.

"M'Hat, M'Coat" was written by guitarist Dave Hill - his first writing credit on a Slade track since 1972. Holder described the track as an "eerie number". Years later, Hill was asked by Record Collector if he regretted not writing more for the group and he admitted he did, but was reluctant to upset the commercially winning Holder/Lea formula. Hill told Ken Sharpe: "I think I fell into the George Harrison trap of backing off." Speaking of the song in 1989, Hill said: "It's just something I used to play around with when we were touring Europe and Jim said we should record it. So, we were in the studio and Nod was bashing out a few chords and really Jim rearranged it. We really recorded it on the spur of the moment and I think that's why it turned out so well."[7] "It's Your Body Not Your Mind" is an up-tempo track with "double meanings about things at school". "Let the Rock Roll Out of Control" is another track about the band's audiences at their shows. Holder described "That Was No Lady That Was My Wife" as being "it's about all the Flash Harry's that go down the discos – a type of 'oldest swinger in town' thing." It was particularly written about the band's tour manager Haden Donovan.

"Knuckle Sandwich Nancy" has lyrics which refer to a real-life incident suffered by Holder. During a 1978 gig in Porthcawl, a bouncer became too aggressive with the fans, to which Holder told him to lay off. The bouncer later attacked Holder after the show, giving him a broken nose and black eyes. Holder would press charges and the bouncer was sent to jail for three months.[8][9] "Till Deaf Resurrected" is a short reprise of the title track, with large vocal harmonies.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[10]
Get Ready To Rock![11]
Kerrang![12]
Soundsunfavourable[13]
Melody Makerfavourable[13]

Upon release, Kerrang! positively reviewed the album, stating: "Slade are a much needed tonic and it's amazing in the sorry days of 81 that Britain hasn't made that much more of them. At last their collective stack heels are planted firmly where they belong, that old habit of writing classic material has been rekindled. Uncompromising entertainment guaranteed."[12] Melody Maker stated: "Slade are back - bigger and badder than ever. That the band have regained their confidence, that they're as merciless a rocking machine as any other group in this generally heartless and synthetic year and that they're gonna blow their crowds into tiny little pieces on next month's tour is as plain as hat on Noddy's head from the opening bars of "Rock and Roll Preacher". The album on the whole reaffirms Slade as one of our most enduring and uncompromising bands."[13] Sounds wrote: "Here is an album hinging entirely on the lame pun of its title. Slade proceed to muddle their way through two sides of lads, lager and loose women (as they would have it). Bandits in a play-pen, tearaways in a time-warp. It's sad. Not only is the record boring and deliberately thick, but it doesn't even work on those terms. Slade sound dreadfully worn out, about as convincing as Alexander Haig on a peace march."[13]

In the September–December 1986 Slade fan club magazine, results of a 1986 opinion poll were published. Fans votes for Slade's best album of the 1980s had placed Till Deaf Do Us Part at No. 3.

AllMusic retrospectively wrote: "Till Deaf Do Us Part is Slade's hardest-rocking album ever. Their playing is at its fiercest and the material totally kicks ass. Recommended for rockers."[14] Joe Geesin of the webzine Get Ready to Rock! stated: "Till Deaf Do Us Part was another great set. Still classically Noddy Holder, but less cheese, not classic Slade but some damn good hard rock with that boot stomping Slade trademark. A very underrated period of the band's career."[11] Q later listed the album at No. 16 on the "20 Most Painfully Punning Album Titles of All Time."[15]

Track listing

All tracks written by Holder and Lea except where noted.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)" 5:45
2."Lock Up Your Daughters" 3:27
3."Till Deaf Do Us Part" 3:29
4."Ruby Red" 2:53
5."She Brings Out the Devil in Me" 3:27
6."A Night to Remember" 3:54
7."M'Hat M'Coat"Hill1:42
8."It's Your Body not Your Mind" 3:04
9."Let the Rock Roll out of Control" 4:00
10."That Was no Lady that Was My Wife" 2:35
11."Knuckle Sandwich Nancy" 3:14
12."Till Deaf Resurrected" 1:05
Total length:38:41

Personnel

Slade

Additional credits

Charts

Chart Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[16] 68

References

  1. ↑ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/30945/slade/
  2. ↑ https://www.discogs.com/Slade-Till-Deaf-Do-Us-Part/release/5127457
  3. ↑ Till Deaf Do Us Part - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  4. ↑ Till Deaf Do Us Part - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  5. 1 2 "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  6. ↑ http://www.crazeeworld.plus.com/slade/history-info-interviews1a.htm
  7. ↑ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  8. ↑ Mickey P. "From Roots To Boots!: August 1978". Sladestory.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  9. ↑ "Slade Scrapbook Website - Cuttings 1979". Sladescrapbook.com. 1979-10-27. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  10. ↑ Ginsberg, Geoff. "Till Deaf Do Us Part - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  11. 1 2 "Get Ready to ROCK! Review of CD album resissues by rock band Slade called Whatever Happened To Slade?,We'll Bring The House Down, Till Deaf Do Us Part". Getreadytorock.com. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  12. 1 2 "Slade Bells". Sladeinengland.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  13. 1 2 3 4 http://www.sladescrapbook.com/cuttings-1981.html
  14. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/till-deaf-do-us-part-mw0000456590
  15. ↑ "Rocklist.net...Q - 150 Rock Lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
  16. ↑ "Slade | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
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