Rock 'n' Roll Bolero
| "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Slade | ||||
| B-side | "It's Alright Buy Me" | |||
| Released | 6 October 1978[1] | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Barn | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Slade | |||
| Slade singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1978 as a non-album single. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. The song failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.
Background
Having returned to the UK from the United States in 1976, Slade found themselves out-of-favour at the time of the UK's Punk rock explosion. Slade's waning success soon led to the band playing small gigs, including universities and clubs, but despite being successful at filling small venues, their new records were barely selling. "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" was released in October 1978 and was one of the band's string of singles to fail to chart during this period.[2]
"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" featured the return of Lea's electric violin; the first time on a Slade single since 1971's "Coz I Luv You".[3] The song was originally recorded in June 1978 under the working title "I've Been Rejected".[4] In July, the band re-recorded the song as "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" at Portland Studios in London.[5] In a 1979 fan club interview, Lea said of the song: "The comment on "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" is that it was different for Slade, but it was ordinary compared to everything else that was going around at the time. But I really dig the record myself!" He further added: "It's great on record, but it's us thinking, it's not us being ourselves."[6]
Critical reception
Upon its release, Steve Gett of Record Mirror commented, "A more mellow Slade here: gone are the raucous Noddy Holder vocals and the crashing guitars. The fact remains that they're in dire need of a hit and this could be the one."[7] John Pidgeon of Melody Maker remarked, "Same as ever, apart from the Syn-drum, sole concession to modernity. How can a group who strung so many hits together a few years back fade so completely? It wasn't them who changed, so it must be us."[8] Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic, in a retrospective review of the bootleg album Gospel According to Noddy!, praised the B-side, "It's Alright Buy Me", as "unbelievably catchy and just cooks".[9]
Formats
7-inch single (UK, Germany and Belgium)[10]
- "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" – 4:04
- "It's Alright Buy Me" – 3:20
7-inch single (France)[11]
- "It's Alright Buy Me" – 3:20
- "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero" – 4:04
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea – electric violin, bass, backing vocals
- Don Powell – drums
Production
- Slade – production ("Rock 'n' Roll Bolero")
- Chas Chandler – production ("It's Alright Buy Me")
References
- ^ John Shearlaw, ed. (7 October 1978). "News: Just Released". Record Mirror. p. 5. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ We'll Bring the House Down - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
- ^ "Slade - Coz I Luv You at Discogs". Discogs.com. 12 March 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
- ^ Powell, Don; Falkenberg, Lise Lyng (11 October 2013). Look Wot I Dun: Don Powell of Slade - Don Powell, Lise Lyng Falkenberg - Google Books. ISBN 9781783230006. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Don's 1978 Diary - Don Powell Official Website". Donpowellofficial.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ "1979 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ^ Gett, Steve (14 October 1978). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 10. ISSN 0144-5804.
- ^ Pidgeon, John (14 October 1978). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 17.
- ^ Ginsberg, Geoff. "Slade - Gospel According to Noddy! Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ Rock 'n' Roll Bolero (UK, German and Belgian 7-inch single sleeve/label notes). Slade. Barn. 1978. 2014 127.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ It's Alright Buy Me (French 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. Barn. 1978. 2014 127.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
