Ginny, Ginny

"Ginny, Ginny" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1979 as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album Return to Base.[1] 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 charts.

"Ginny, Ginny"
Single by Slade
from the album Return to Base
B-side"Dizzy Mama"
Released25 May 1979
GenreRock
Length3:39
LabelBarn
Songwriter(s)Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer(s)Slade
Slade singles chronology
"Rock 'n' Roll Bolero"
(1978)		 "Ginny, Ginny"
(1979)		 "Sign of the Times"
(1979)

Background

Having returned to the United Kingdom 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.[2] Slade released "Ginny, Ginny" in May 1979 as the lead single from their upcoming album Return to Base. However, it was another commercial flop, failing to enter the UK Top 75. Despite this, the song did enter the Top 200 Best Sellers Chart, which was confirmed by Barn Records managing director Mike Hales in a Slade fan club magazine at the time.[3][4]

"Ginny, Ginny" originally had the titles "Jeanie" and "Ginny Come and Get It While You Can" before the band settled on its final title. Prior to release, Lea spoke of the song and the band's hopes of returning to the charts: "It's very catchy, and we're going to make it, yeah. Our writing is returning to a more concise format."[5] In a 1979 fan club interview after the single's release, drummer Don Powell spoke of the song: "It didn't sell enough to get into the charts, but we were pleased with it."[6][7]

Release

"Ginny, Ginny" was released on 7" vinyl by Barn Records in the UK and New Zealand. The B-side, "Dizzy Mama", would later appear as a track on the band's 1981 album We'll Bring the House Down.[8] In the UK, the single was released on yellow-coloured vinyl in the hope of gaining more sales.[9] In New Zealand, a standard black-coloured vinyl was released.[10] "Ginny, Ginny" would also later appear as the B-side to the band's 1980 Belgian-only single "I'm a Rocker".[11]

Critical reception

Upon release, Record Mirror didn't feel the song would become a big hit, though it "might be a foothold on the bottom of the charts".[12] New Musical Express felt the song was "a lot better than previous comeback attempts, but still not quite strong enough to compete with other chart contenders".[13]

Formats
7" Single
  1. "Ginny Ginny" - 3:50
  2. "Dizzy Mama" - 3:57

Cover versions
  • During 1979-80, Jim Lea would record his own version of the song, "Jeanie, Jeanie", with his brother Frank as part of his side-project The Dummies. This version of the song would not surface until 1992, when it was included on A Day in the Life of the Dummies, an album that gathered The Dummies' recordings.[14]

Personnel

References
  1. "Slade - Return To Base at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  2. We'll Bring the House Down - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  3. Slade News - Issue 4 - July–August 1979
  4. "1979 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  5. Slade News - Issue 2 - March–April 1979
  6. Slade News - Issue 4 - July–August 1979
  7. "1979 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  8. "Slade - Ginny, Ginny at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. "Slade - Ginny, Ginny (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  10. "Slade - Ginny, Ginny (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  11. "Slade - I'm A Rocker / Ginny, Ginny - WEA - Belgium - WEAL 18333". 45cat. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  12. "1979 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  13. "1979 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  14. "The Dummies (3) - a day in the life of The Dummies (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
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