Far Far Away (song)

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"Far Far Away"
File:Sladesingle-farfaraway.jpeg
Single by Slade
from the album Slade in Flame
B-side O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday
Released 11 October 1974
Format 7" Single, CD Single
Genre Glam rock
Length 3:33
Label Polydor Records
Writer(s) Noddy Holder; Jim Lea
Producer(s) Chas Chandler
Slade singles chronology
"The Bangin' Man"
(1974)		 "Far Far Away"
(1974)		 "How Does It Feel"
(1975)
Alternative Cover
German 1993 reissue of "Far Far Away".
German 1993 reissue of "Far Far Away".
Audio sample
noicon
file info · help

"Far Far Away" is a single from rock band Slade which was released in 1974 to promote the upcoming film titled Slade in Flame.[1] It appeared on the soundtrack album of the same name.[2] The song was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and was originally titled "Letting Loose Around The World".[3] It peaked at #2 in the UK, spending 6 weeks on the chart and 5 weeks in the top 10[4] and was certified UK Silver by BPI in November 1974.[5]

Background

As referenced in singer Noddy Holder's biography, "Far Far Away" remains his favourite Slade song.[6] Holder originally came up with the lyrics while standing on a balcony overlooking the Mississippi river in Memphis. Manager Chas Chandler inspired Holder to complete the song. Jim contributed the chorus to Holder's verse.[7]

In an early 1986 Slade fan club magazine interview, guitarist Dave Hill spoke of the song's lyrics. "The song was written about being abroad wasn't it? 'Yellow lights go down the Mississippi' and all that - being in the States and wanting to go back home. They were just experiences. Obviously, when you are on the road, you are writing about being on the road, you're writing about what's going on."[8]

Promotion

A promotional video was created for the single, whilst the band also performed the song on the German TV show Disco and Dutch TV. No TV performances of the song were created within the UK, and no live performances by the band could help promotion at the time as the band were still filming Slade in Flame.[9]

Music video

At the time the video was being made, Slade were involved in the filming of Slade in Flame. They therefore used the film crew to record this video. Bassist/co-writer Jim Lea couldn't recall whether it was Gavrik Lasey or Richard Loncraine who actually directed the video. The video featured the group performing the song whilst wearing the 'Flame' outfits, and using the camera trick of each member's face appearing seven times on the screen and revolving in a circular manner.[10]

Critical reception

Upon release, Record Mirror magazine reviewed the single. "Want a surprise? Then listen to this Slade single which is taken from the forthcoming film Flame. This is a very melodic Noddy, no screaming or shouting - practically gentle by Slade standards, but it's very good, strong chorus line and backing. Just the name Slade normally means an instant hit, in this case, it'll be a well deserved hit."[11]

Later success in Germany

In 1993, the fashion label C&A published a TV advertisement ("Don Quixote")[12] using the song. Following the popularity of that ad the song was re-released in Germany the same year[13] and reached number 19 on the German Singles charts.[14]

In 1996, Slade II performed the song live on a German TV show. This lineup featured original members guitarist Dave Hill and drummer Don Powell with bassist Craig Fenney and vocalist Steve Whalley. In 2009, the song was performed on the German TV show Die ultimative Chartshow by the current lineup of Slade featuring Hill and Powell with bassist John Berry and vocalist Mal McNulty. In 2011, the song was performed live on the German RSH Pop Awards Show, which was broadcast nationally, by the current lineup of Slade where the band also performed My Oh My.

Trivia

  • The single peaked at #63 for 1974 on rateyourmusic and #4886 for overall singles.[15]
  • The Record Mirror polls of early 1975 voted "Far Far Away" as number one in the top single poll.[16]
  • "Far Far Away" was voted #2 of the top three Slade single sleeves in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979.[17]
  • In 2011, Far Far Away has been chosen to get Slade back in the UK charts through a Facebook group.[18]

Cover versions

  • In 1993, the electronic band Red 2 recorded a cover of the song and released it as a single in Germany and Belgium.[19]
  • In 1996, the reformed version of glam rock band Mud performed the track live.
  • In 1999, Denmark band Pretty Maids recorded a version for their album First Cuts... and Then Some.
  • In 2006, Denmark band Fenders recorded a cover of the song on their album It's Magic - hits fra 70'erne.
  • Other versions known are from numerous artists and bands including Rock Ghosts, The Cloggs, Vilperin Perikunta, Jorma Lehtelä, SAPO, Miljoonasade, Danny (the big D), Daily Terror, Andre Verhage, Mongo Raxx, Dr Rock, Tape Five, and Akrain.[20]
  • The song was covered and translated on Ukrainian by singer-songwriter Yuriy Veres 2012 album 60/70.
  • The Wonder Stuff covered the song in 2012 on the disc of cover versions called 'From the midlands with love' that accompanied their "Oh No It's... The Wonder Stuff" CD.

Chart performance

Chart (1974) Peak
position		 Total
weeks
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[21] 23
Belgian Singles Chart[22] 24 3
Dutch Singles Chart[23] 13 7
Finnish Singles Chart 12
French Singles Chart[24] 49 10
German Singles Chart[14] 8 15
Irish Singles Chart[25] 2 5
New Zealand Singles Chart[26] 16
Norwegian Singles Chart[27] 1 25
UK Singles Chart[28] 2 6
Chart (1993) Peak
position		 Total
weeks
German Singles Chart[14] 19 18

Formats

7" Single
  1. "Far Far Away" - 3:33
  2. "O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" - 3:51
7" Single (German 1993 reissue)
  1. "Far Far Away" - 3:33
  2. "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" - 4:26
CD Single (German 1993 issue)
  1. "Far Far Away" - 3:34
  2. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" - 3:41
  3. "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" - 4:26
CD Single (German 1993 issue, cardboard version)
  1. "Far Far Away" - 3:34
  2. "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" - 4:26

Personnel

  • Noddy Holder: Lead vocals and guitar
  • Jim Lea: Bass guitar, organ and backing vocals
  • Dave Hill: Lead guitar and backing vocals
  • Don Powell: Drums

References

  1. ↑ Flame; IMDB.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Noddy Holder's biography Who's Crazee Now?
  7. ↑ Slade's Greatest Hits compilation booklet
  8. ↑ Slade International Fan Club newsletter March - April - May 1986
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
  11. ↑ Record Mirror magazine 12 October 1974
  12. ↑ C&A ad "Don Quixote"; Youtube.
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Slade Fan Club Newsletter February - March 1975
  17. ↑ Slade Fan Club Magazine January - February 1980
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ InfoDisc
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Slade; Tsort
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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