After several albums featuring few original compositions from the quartet came and went (1969's Beginnings, 1970's Play It Loud), the group began to write their own tunes, grew their hair long, and assumed the look of the then-burgeoning glam movement, joining the same cause championed by such fellow Brits as David Bowie and T. Rex. This new direction paid off in 1971 with the number 16 U.K. single "Get Down and Get With It," which soon touched off a string of classic singles and led to Slade becoming one of the most beloved party bands back home. They released Slayed? in 1972. Slade also utilized another gimmick, humorously misspelled song titles, as evidenced by such singles as "Coz I Luv You," "Look Wot You Dun," "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy t'Jane," "Cum on Feel the Noize," "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me," and "Merry Xmas Everybody" (the latter of which re-entered the charts every holiday season for years afterward). Several attempts at cracking the U.S. market came up empty (with track listings between their U.K. and U.S. full-lengths differing), although such albums as Slade Alive! and Slayed? are considered to be some of the finest albums of the glam era.
Slade continued to score further hit singles back home, including such correctly spelled tracks as "My Friend Stan," "Everyday," "Bangin' Man," "Far Far Away," "How Does it Feel," and "In for a Penny," but with glam rock's dissolution and punk's emergence by the mid-'70s, the hits eventually dried up for the quartet. Despite the change in musical climate, Slade stuck to their guns and kept touring and releasing albums, as the title to their 1977 album, Whatever Happened to Slade, proved that the group's humor remained intact despite their fall from the top of the charts. A large, dedicated following still supported the group as they offered a performance at the 1980 Reading Festival that was considered one of the day's best, resulting in sudden renewed interest in the group back home and Slade scored their first true hit singles in six years with 1981's "We'll Bring the House Down" and "Lock up Your Daughters."
Slade received a boost stateside around this time as well, courtesy of the U.S. pop-metal outfit Quiet Riot, who made a smash hit out of "Cum on Feel the Noize" in 1983 that resulted in a strong chart showing for Slade's 1984 release Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (issued as The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in the U.K. a year earlier). Slade then enjoyed a pair of U.S. MTV/radio hits, "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My." Holder and Lea also tried their hand at producing another artist around this time as well, as they manned the boards for Girlschool's 1983 release Play Dirty. Despite another all-new studio release, Rogues Gallery, and Quiet Riot covering another classic Slade tune ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now"), Slade was unable to retain their newfound American audience or rekindled British following and they eventually faded from sight once more, this time without a comeback waiting around the corner. During the '90s, a truncated version of the group dubbed Slade II was formed (without Holder or Lea in attendance), while Holder became a popular U.K. television personality as well as the host of his own '70s rock radio show. A 21-track singles compilation, Feel the Noize: The Very Best of Slade, was issued in 1997 (re-released under the simple title of Greatest Hits a couple of years later), which proved to be a popular release in England.
Discography
Beginnings (as Ambrose Slade, 1969)
Play It Loud (1970)
Slayed? (1972)
Slade Alive! (1972)
Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
Slade in Flame (1974)
Nobody's Fools (1976)
Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
Return to Base (1979)
We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983), re-released in 1984 as:
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
Rogues Gallery (1985)
Crackers - The Christmas Party Album (1985)
You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
Keep on Rockin' (1994) (as Slade II), is the only studio album by Slade II. The album was released in 1994 and has seen various re-issues and guises under alternative names such as Wild Nites (1999), Cum on Let's Party! (2002) and Superyob (2003).
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Slade less commonly refers to Grady Slade, Jr, a Rap artist
3. Slade also refers to a rapper who made music from 2013-2016 under the label, Chapter 9. He currently makes music under a new alias, Dante Oasis.
FAR AWAY
Slade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've seen the bridges of the world and they're for real
I've had a red light of the wrist
Without me even gettin' kissed
It still seems so unreal
I've seen the morning in the mountains of Alaska
I've seen the sunset in the east and in the west
And passed the hound-dog singer's home
It still seems for the best
And I'm far, far away
With my head up in the clouds
And I'm far, far away
With my feet down in the crowds
Lettin' loose around the world
But the call of home is loud
Still is loud
I've seen the Paris lights from high upon Montmartre
And felt the silence hanging low in No-Man's-Land
And all those spanish nights were fine
It wasn't only from the wine
It still seems all in hand
And I'm far, far away
With my head up in the clouds
And I'm far, far away
With my feet down in the crowds
Lettin' loose around the world
But the call of home is loud
Still is loud
I've seen the yellow lights go down the Mississippi
The grand Bahama island stories carry on
And all those arigato smiles
Stay in your memory for a while
There still seems more to come
And I'm far, far away
With my head up in the clouds
And I'm far, far away
With my feet down in the crowds
Lettin' loose around the world
But the call of home is loud
Still is loud
And I'm far, far away
With my head up in the clouds
And I'm far, far away
With my feet down in the crowds
And I'm far, far away
But the sound of home is loud
Still is loud
Slade's "Far Away" is an introspective look at the experience of a life on the road, of constantly traveling from place and place while searching for something. The song is full of vivid imagery and nostalgia, transporting the listener to various corners of the world. The first verse begins with the Mississippi river and bridges before moving on to the memory of being in close proximity to someone special ('I've had a red light of the wrist / Without me even gettin' kissed / It still seems so unreal'). The second verse takes the listener to the mountains of Alaska and watching the sunrise and sunset on opposite ends of the world. The verses culminate in Rome and the home of a hound-dog singer, both of which are still remembered fondly ('It still seems for the best').
The chorus, however, is a reminder that no matter how far one may wander, or how loud the call of the road, the call of home is just as powerful. The song invokes the feeling of being caught in two opposing worlds, the one of stardom and travel, and the one of family and home. Overall, "Far Away" is an ode to the beauty of travel and adventure, as well as a reminder of the importance of keeping family close, even when physically far apart.
Line by Line Meaning
I've seen the yellow lights go down the Mississippi
I have witnessed the sunset in Mississippi with its vibrant yellow lights
I've seen the bridges of the world and they're for real
I have been to various parts of the world and have seen the constructions of different bridges that prove their existence
I've had a red light of the wrist, Without me even gettin' kissed, It still seems so unreal
I have encountered a strange situation where a red light flashed on my wrist without even being kissed, and it still feels surreal
I've seen the morning in the mountains of Alaska
I have witnessed the sunrise in the Alaskan mountains with its awe-inspiring beauty
I've seen the sunset in the east and in the west
I have experienced the sunset from both the eastern and western parts of the world
I've sang the glory that was Rome
I have sung the praises of the glorious history of Rome
And passed the hound-dog singer's home
I have gone past the house of the famous hound-dog singer
It still seems for the best
All my experiences so far still seem to be the best memories of my life
And I'm far, far away, With my head up in the clouds
I am currently situated far away from my home, with my mind constantly wandering and dreaming
And I'm far, far away, With my feet down in the crowds
Although I am far away, I blend in with the crowds and enjoy myself like any other person
Lettin' loose around the world
I am having a free and unrestrained time exploring various parts of the world
But the call of home is loud, Still is loud
Despite my adventures, my longing for the comfort of my home is still strong and persistent
I've seen the Paris lights from high upon Montmartre
I have gazed upon the illuminated beauty of Paris from the heights of Montmartre
And felt the silence hanging low in No-Man's-Land
I have felt the eerie and haunting silence that prevails in deserted areas or war zones
And all those spanish nights were fine, It wasn't only from the wine, It still seems all in hand
My pleasant memories from the Spanish nights were not only due to the wine, but everything felt natural and under control
The grand Bahama island stories carry on
The captivating tales of Grand Bahama Island still remain with me
And all those arigato smiles, Stay in your memory for a while
The memories of the friendly Japanese people and their 'arigato' smiles linger in my memory
There still seems more to come
I feel like there are still more experiences and adventures to look forward to in my travels
But the sound of home is loud, Still is loud
Even though I may hear the sounds of new places and cultures, the sound of my home continues to be the loudest and most alluring
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIM LEA, NEVILLE HOLDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@muftydog
Im a singer and Jeesh,Noddy's vocals are so deceptive. You think 'Oh,i can sing that' until you try it and you realise how high it is. Mental voice!
@evidoring3990
That was the second song for my father to his funeral, one of his favorite. RIP Papa I will will always love you till the end of time.
@peterlewis3540
OH my GOD i was twelve when Slade released this classic, im now 61, and still enjoying it.
@leegambrill7125
Likewise
@GeekerThings
I think what’s amazing is I can’t think of a modern day singer that comes close to Noddy’s vocals. Dude was insanely talented!
@user-sd6cs4md4d
Он и сейчас талант!!!
@santorini8423
and you never will, top bloke as well
@CasualGameDev
He seems to borrow some of his technique/style from John Lennon, which is also what Liam Gallagher did. I can hear small traces of both Liam and John in his voice(obviously he came before Liam) but he has a unique rasp and vibrato that sets him apart. I am a massive Beatles and Oasis fan, and this is the first song I've heard from Slade other than Cum On Feel The Noise, and I must say it is definitely something I'd listen to again!
@onyxsh0cks456
@CasualGameDev noddy is ten times the singer Lennon could ever be.
@onyxsh0cks456
Kevin dubrow