B-side Good Time Gals Format 7" Single Length 3:05 | Released 29 March 1974 Genre Glam rock, soft rock Label Polydor Records | |
"Everyday" is a single from glam rock band Slade that appeared on the album Old New Borrowed and Blue, and was written by the usual collaboration of lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in 1974 and peaked at number 3 in the UK, spending seven weeks on the chart, the shortest time of any charting Slade single at that time. The single's first week upon release peaked at number 6 and stayed in the top 10 for four weeks. Everyday marked a change from Slade's usual style. The public did not expect a ballad to be released and - with the exception of "Far Far Away" - Slade would not reach higher than number 3 in the UK again until 1983's "My Oh My".
Contents
The single was certified UK Silver by BPI in April 1974.
The single was awarded a Silver Disc only three days after its release.
The Record Mirror polls of early 1975 voted "Everyday" in the top ten singles poll.
Background
Upon its release, the band knew they were taking a risk, but "Everyday" had become a firm favourite on stage when the crowd would sing along - which they never expected.
The song was born out of an evening at Lea's house when his friends asked how he wrote songs. Lea's wife promptly sang the opening melody of the verse (with the lyric "I can see you look at me" which was not used in the final finished version), which Lea later completed. This was a recording that guitarist Dave Hill did not actually play on, as he was away on honeymoon and so he missed some of the recording sessions for the new album. Jim Lea did all the guitar parts.
Originally, the band did not want the song released as a single, but Chas Chandler did. After a big argument, the single was agreed for release. This was mainly between Chandler and Lea, during the flight to Australia for the band's short tour there.
Record Mirror released a short notice based on the upcoming release of the single: "Slade's new single, by popular demand, will be 'Everyday' c/w 'Good Time Gals' - both taken from their number one album Old New Borrowed and Blue. The cuts, both Lea/Holder compositions, are released on March 29 in time for the big Slade tour. A spokesman for the band said album tracks had been used purely because of the big demand."
The front cover of the Slade Fan Club Newsletter for April and May 1974 featured a reprint of Holder's original handwritten lyrics for the song.
In April 2005, the single was listed at number 9 of 100 on BBC Radio 2's Sold on Song library.
By the time Slade released "Everyday" in March 1974, they were the biggest pop phenomenon the UK had seen since The Beatles a decade earlier. But "Everyday" broke with the Midland band's tradition of foot-stomping, dancefloor-breaking hits. Although 1973 had seen them become the first group ever to have three singles enter the charts at number 1 ("Cum On Feel The Noize", "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" and the hardy perennial "Merry Xmas Everybody"), "Everyday" was Slade's first ballad - which may explain its relatively disappointing number 3 chart position. As ever, the song came from Slade’s own Lennon & McCartney - bassist Jim Lea and rhythm guitarist/ singer Noddy Holder. From early on in Slade’s history it had been these two who fuelled the band's success, but both knew that for the laddish, big-booted, Slade, releasing a ballad was a calculated risk. The song originated at a party at Jim Lea's house. Asked how to write a hit song, he replied with the standard "Easy, anyone can do it", and then sat down at the piano and - with a little help from his wife Louise - began the song that became "Everyday". Holder then added the decidedly affectionate and most un-Slade-like lyrics. Although never one of Slade's biggest hits, "Everyday" soon became a fans' favourite in concert, with its chorus regularly sung back to the band. It was a rare sentimental concession from the band who built their reputation on some of the best-loved rock 'n' roll of the 1970s.
In 2013 the song was used as part of the UK advert for the Nexus 7 tablet. As a result, it re-entered the UK chart in late November at number 93. On 1 December 2013 the song rose to number 69, due to downloads.
Promotion
No promotional video was created for the single as at the time, Slade were busy with the "Crazee Nite" UK tour, and had no time to record a video. The band performed "Everyday" twice on UK show Top of The Pops (28 March 1974 and 11 April 1974), as well as a performance on the Jimmy Savile UK show Clunk Click. The song was also performed on the Dutch TV show Top Pop.
Track listing
- "Everyday" - 3:05
- "Good Time Gals" - 3:28
Critical reception
Upon the single's release, Record Mirror wrote: "Gone the stomping, barnstorming, rabble-rousing - gone temporarily, as Slade enter a gentle ballad era. It'll only last for one single, in fact; but it's a quite remarkable change of style for the young gentlemen. The plaintive side of Nod emerges on the song he wrote with Jim. Mind you, the rasp has not vanished from Nod's voice. This lull, this leaning on lilting rather than lambasting, is not only welcome - it's great stuff. Lovely little melody; nice performance. Smash hit. And already one of my favourite Slade efforts - chart certain."
In early 2010, Classic Rock magazine featured Slade as part of their "The Hard Stuff Buyers Guide", where the magazine reviewed numerous Slade albums. As part of this article, an "Essential Playlist" listed 14 Slade songs, including "Everyday".