B-side Sign Of The Times Format 7" Single Label RCA Records | Released 4 September 1981 Length 3:26 Writer(s) Noddy Holder; Jim Lea | |
"Lock Up Your Daughters" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Till Deaf Do Us Part. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in September 1981 and peaked at #29 in the UK, spending a total of 8 weeks on the chart. The release was under RCA records which was Slade's first major label in years since using their own label to release material.
Contents
Background
At the time of the single's peak, the fans and band were disappointed that the single wasn't as big as "We'll Bring the House Down" was. The fan club newsletter of the time explained that when Slade performed the track on Top of the Pops twice, the two appearances clashed with two big blockbuster movies on ITV, both "Earthquake" and "Jaws". This is believed to have caused a small backlash in sales and commercial success.
The single had a more metal influenced sound, much like the 1981 hit We'll Bring The House Down after Slade's performance at Reading 1980 attracted many metal fans. This track became a staple at concerts. The b-side "Sign of the Times" had been released as a single beforehand, in 1979, from the band's Return to Base album.
The song featured on Top of The Pops as well as a small number of European TV shows.
Upon release, the single was reviewed on BBC Radio One's Round Table show. It received a thumbs up from BBC presenter and radio DJ Mike Read, BBC radio presenter Dave Lee Travis and musician Eddy Grant.
British disc jockey and radio personality Alan Freeman, who attended Slade's performance at the 1981 Donington festival also played the song frequently upon release on Capital Radio.
Shortly after the single's release, the Slade fan club asked guitarist Dave Hill about a single cover for the single. Hill replied "RCA have done it. I don't know what they've done - they will probably show it to us tomorrow. I bet it's a drawing of a daughter locked up!"
In the September-December 1986 Slade fan club magazine, the poll results were announced for the 1986 opinion poll based on Slade’s material. For the best single of the 80s, Lock Up Your Daughters placed at #3.
On 24 April 2012, guitarist Dave Hill appeared the Professional Music Technology store in Birmingham where "An evening with Dave Hill" was based, featuring Hill speaking about his career through a live interview/chat session in front of 150 people. During the event, Hill was asked by a fan, Jonathan Ritchie, whether he contributed to Slade tracks without getting any writing credit. Hill stated that the guitar solo in Lock Up Your Daughters was written by himself.
Promotion
The song was performed on the UK music show Top of the Pops twice as well as on a Dutch TV show, most likely to be Top Pop although this is unconfirmed. Slade's live touring was also a form of promotion for the single.
Music Video
A promotional video was created for the single despite being rarely shown, if at all. The promotional video was filmed on 7 September 1981 at the band's regular recording studio Portland Studios in London. In the video, Holder wore a black T-shirt he owned with the artwork of the band's 1981 album We'll Bring the House Down. One segment for the instrumental break was Slade standing on a mantelpiece.
Track listing
- "Lock Up Your Daughters" - 3:31
- "Sign of the Times" - 3:58
Critical reception
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 which included Lock Up Your Daughters.