My Friend Stan

"My Friend Stan" (stylised as "MY FRIEИD STAИ") is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1973 as the first single from the band's fourth studio album Old New Borrowed and Blue.[2] It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler. It reached No. 2 in the UK, spending eight weeks on the chart.[3] The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in October 1973.[4]

"My Friend Stan"
German/European cover of "My Friend Stan".
Single by Slade
from the album Old New Borrowed and Blue
B-side"My Town"
Released28 September 1973[1]
GenreGlam rock
Length2:38
LabelPolydor Records
Songwriter(s)Noddy Holder, Jim Lea
Producer(s)Chas Chandler
Slade singles chronology
"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"
(1973)		 "My Friend Stan"
(1973)		 "Merry Xmas Everybody"
(1973)

Background

"My Friend Stan", alongside the compilation Sladest, was Slade's first release following drummer Don Powell's near fatal car crash in July 1973. The accident threw the band's future into doubt, however Powell survived and was soon able to join the band in recording material for their new album Old New Borrowed and Blue. One of the earliest songs to be recorded, "My Friend Stan" saw Powell still walking with the aid of a stick. He had to be lifted onto his drum stool during recording.[5]

"My Friend Stan" was released in September 1973 and reached No. 2 in the UK. Prior to its release, Polydor had to import 100,000 copies of the single into the UK due to the high pre-order demand.[6][7] After Lea had come up with the song's melody, the band's manager Chas Chandler persuaded him to complete it after he had heard Lea playing the melody on his home piano.[8]

Release

"My Friend Stan" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Japan.[9][10] The B-side, "My Town", would later appear as an album track on Old New Borrowed and Blue.[11]

Promotion

A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was recorded at the Olympic Studios in Barnes. The video portrays the band recording the song, and features guitarist Dave Hill using his trademark Superyob guitar.[12][13] In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of the Pops. In France, they performed it on the TV show Dimanche Salvador. In America, the band performed the song on the TV show Midnight Special in 1974.[14]

Critical reception

Upon release, Record Mirror said the song was a "much slower Slade offering" and "really rather subdued". They concluded that the song was an "obvious number one" and "in some ways more memorable than some of the earlier rampagers".[15]

Track listing
7" Single
  1. "My Friend Stan" - 2:38
  2. "My Town" - 3:02

Chart performance
Chart (1973) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[16] 44
Belgian Singles Chart[17] 7
Dutch Singles Chart[18] 10
French Singles Chart[19] 44
German Singles Chart[20] 5
Irish Singles Chart[21] 1
Norwegian Singles Chart[22] 5
Swiss Singles Chart[23] 6
UK Singles Chart[3] 2

Cover versions
  • In 1973, Finnish singer Muska recorded a version of the song for her self-titled album. The song is titled "Ystävättäret".[24]
  • In 1993, Belgian band The Romans recorded a version of the song for their album Major Panic.[25]

Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel

References
  1. http://www.45cat.com/record/2058407
  2. "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  3. "SLADE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  4. "Home". BPI. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  5. Old New Borrowed and Blue - 2006 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  6. "1973 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  7. Slade Fan Club Newsletter December 1973
  8. "CD Album - Slade - Greatest Hits - Feel The Noize - Polydor - UK". 45worlds.com. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  9. "ALL Discography @ www.collectadisc.co.uk". Collectadisc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  10. "Slade - My Friend Stan at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  11. "Slade - Old New Borrowed And Blue at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  12. "1986 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  13. Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
  14. "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. "1973 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  16. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  17. "Slade - My Friend Stan". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  18. Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  19. "InfoDisc : Tout les Titres par Artiste". Archived from the original on 19 March 2005. Retrieved 22 July 2017.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  20. "Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, News". Musicline.de. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  21. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  22. Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  23. Steffen Hung. "Slade - My Friend Stan". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  24. "Muska". Muska.fi. 5 February 1975. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  25. "The Romans - Major Panic". Ultratop.be. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
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