That's What Friends Are For (Slade song)

"That's What Friends Are For"
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
Songwriter(s) Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer(s) Roy Thomas Baker (A-Side)
Jim Lea (B-Sides)
Slade singles chronology
"Still The Same"
(1987)		 "That's What Friends Are For"
(1987)		 "You Boyz Make Big Noize"
(1987)

"Still The Same"
(1987)		 "That's What Friends Are For"
(1987)		 "You Boyz Make Big Noize"
(1987)
Audio sample
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That's What Friends Are For is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1987 as the second single from their fourteenth studio album You Boyz Make Big Noize. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Roy Thomas Baker.[1] It reached No. 95 in the UK, remaining in the charts for the one week.[2]

Background

Following the moderate success of the band's 1985 albums Rogues Gallery and Crackers: The Christmas Party Album, Slade began writing and recording material for their next album in 1986. Hoping to record a hit album that would put them back in the public eye, the lead single "Still the Same" was released in February 1987 but stalled just inside the UK Top 75. In choosing the next single, RCA selected "That's What Friends Are For" as the album's second single.[3] Released in April 1987, a week prior to the release of You Boyz Make Big Noize, the song reached No. 95 in the UK.[2] The commercial failure of both the single and album meant "That's What Friends Are For" was the band's last UK release under RCA.[4]

"That's What Friends Are For" was one of two tracks from the album to be produced by Roy Thomas Baker. Initially the band hired Baker to produce the entire album, but felt his working methods proved too lengthy and expensive. In the end, Baker completed only two tracks, using most of the album's budget on them alone.[3] Prior to the single's release, in a 1987 fan club interview, guitarist Dave Hill said: ""That's What Friends Are For" looks to be the next single, mainly because there's a certain person up at RCA who is going wally over it." Describing the song, Hill said: "This is a 'scarf waver' type of number".[5]

Release

"That's What Friends Are For" was released on 7" and 12" vinyl by RCA Records in the UK only. In Europe, it was given a 12" vinyl release, and a 7" vinyl release in Australia and New Zealand.[6][7] The B-Side, "Wild Wild Party", was originally written and recorded in 1986 for the soundtrack of the British film Knights & Emeralds, along with another Slade track "We Won't Give In". It would later appear on the band's 2007 compilation B-Sides. On the 12" single, three B-Sides were included: "Hi Ho Silver Lining," "Wild Wild Party" and "Lock Up Your Daughters (Live)".[8] The band's cover of "Hi Ho Silver Lining" was taken from the band's 1985 album Crackers: The Christmas Party Album,[9] while "Lock Up Your Daughters" was taken from the band's 1982 live album Slade on Stage.[10]

Promotion

No music video was filmed to promote the single. A video was reported as being possible had the single received sufficient airplay and reached the UK Top 50.[11] In the UK, the band performed the song on the BBC children's show The Krankies Elektronik Komik.[12]

Formats

7" Single
  1. "That's What Friends Are For" - 3:17
  2. "Wild Wild Party" - 2:55
12" Single
  1. "That's What Friends Are For" - 3:17
  2. "Hi Ho Silver Lining" - 3:24
  3. "Wild Wild Party" - 2:55
  4. "Lock Up Your Daughters (Live)" - 4:03

Critical reception

Upon release, "That's What Friends Are For" was a single reviewed on BBC Radio One's Singles Out programme on 18 April. The single received a thumbs up by Welsh singer/presenter Aled Jones, Dominica calypso musician The Wizzard and English radio broadcaster Janice Long.[11] In a review of You Boyz Make Big Noize, Kerrang! said: "The 12 songs here all bear the unmistakable Slade stamp, 12 potential singles, 12 stomp-along, shout-it-out choruses. As ever Noddy sings his heart out, but after all this time even he sounds a little jaded, and "That's What Friends Are For" leans heavily on the sentimental."[13] In the album's 2007 Salvo remaster liner notes, writer Chris Ingham commented that the song was "a strong record packed with memorable hooks".[3]

Chart performance

Chart (1987) Peak
position
UK Singles Chart[2] 95

Personnel

Slade
Additional personnel

References

  1. ↑ "Slade - You Boyz Make Big Noize at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  2. 1 2 3 "slade | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  3. 1 2 3 You Boyz Make Big Noize - Salvo 2007 remaster booklet liner notes
  4. ↑ "Slade Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  5. ↑ Ian Edmundson. "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  6. ↑ "ALL Discography @ www.collectadisc.co.uk". Collectadisc.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  7. ↑ "Slade - That's What Friends Are For at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  8. ↑ "12" Singles - Slade - That's What Friends Are For / Hi Ho Silver Linning - RCA - UK - PT 41271". 45worlds.com. 1987-02-12. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  9. ↑ "Slade - Crackers (The Christmas Party Album) (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  10. ↑ "Slade - Slade On Stage at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  11. 1 2 "1987 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  12. ↑ "Slade - Thats What Friends Are For". YouTube. 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2013-09-22.
  13. ↑ "Vinyl Album - Slade - You Boyz Make Big Noize - RCA - Europe". 45worlds.com. 1987-04-30. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
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