That's What Friends Are For (Slade song)

Background

Following the band's moderate success with the 1985 album Rogues Gallery, the band started recording their next album in 1986. The band hoped that the album, if it could become a commercial success, would catapult the band to where they felt they belonged. The first single "Still The Same" was released in February 1987 but stalled at #73 in the UK chart. "That's What Friends Are For" was the album's next single, rush-released in April 1987 shortly after the album's own release. Despite being another radio-friendly song with a pop-based sound using synthesizers and a mass-group vocal chorus, the single only peaked at #95 in the UK, spending just one week on the chart in early May that year. Partly due to the band's lack of commercial success from the beginning of 1985, the song was to be Slade's last UK release under RCA Records, although RCA would agree to distribute the following Cheapskate Records single "You Boyz Make Big Noize" in July 1987, and also issued the final Slade RCA single "Ooh La La in L.A." in America and Germany only around the same time. The single came from Slade's final studio album.

The song's producer Roy Thomas Baker would also produce the album track "Love is Like a Rock" from the same album however, due to his costly and time consuming style of working, he used most of the album's budget on the two tracks alone. As a result, he had to be dropped from producing any further tracks, although he did start work on a third; the album closer "It's Hard Having Fun Nowadays". "That's What Friends Are For" was recorded at Wessex Studios, which was the same studio used for the recordings of "Love is Like a Rock" and part of "The Roaring Silence".

On 27 March 1987, guitarist Dave Hill was interviewed at Music Works Studio by fans Trevor Slaughter and Nomis, where the band were recording the future single and title track "You Boyz Make Big Noize". This interview was published in the Slade International Fan Club Newsletter of April-June 1987. In the interview Hill was asked for updates on the present position of the album and next single. Hill revealed "Well, the album was supposed to be released towards the end of April, but in view of the fact that "Still the Same" wasn't a hit, RCA may wait a little longer until the next single peaks before releasing the album. As you know, Roy Thomas Baker has produced two songs, "Love is Like a Rock" and "That's What Friends Are For". "That's What Friends Are For" looks to be the next single, mainly because there's a certain person up at RCA who is going wally over it. We are, however, doing a new song here now, which is a sort of 'rock rap' thing with a Beastie Boys feel to it. This track is provisionally called "You Boyz Make Big Noize"."

In the same interview Hill was asked if he could talk through each song on the album, and for "That's What Friends Are For" he stated "Another track produced by Roy Thomas Baker. This is a 'scarf waver' type of number, which now looks fairly definite for the next single."

Release

"That's What Friends Are For" was released on 7" and 12" vinyl via RCA Records. The single was released in the UK only and was distributed by RCA/Ariola, and marketed by RCA Records.

The single's b-side "Wild Wild Party" was originally written and recorded in 1986 for the British film Knights & Emeralds, along with another Slade track "We Won't Give In". The "We Won't Give In" track ended up being included on the You Boyz Make Big Noize album, whilst "Wild Wild Party" became a b-side only on the "That's What Friends Are For" single. It was originally exclusive to the rare Knights & Emeralds soundtrack, which was released on 10 Records in 1986, and was eventually released for the first time digitally on the 2007 compilation B-Sides and as a bonus track on the 2007 Salvo remaster of You Boyz Make Big Noize.

For the 12" vinyl of the single, three b-sides were used; "Hi Ho Silver Lining," "Wild Wild Party" and "Lock Up Your Daughters (Live)". The cover of the 1967 song "Hi Ho Silver Lining", which was first released in March 1967 by The Attack and then followed a few days later by Jeff Beck, was taken from the band's 1985 album Crackers: The Christmas Party Album. The song was written by American songwriters Scott English and Larry Weiss. The live version of the band's 1981 UK hit "Lock Up Your Daughters" was taken from the 1982 album Slade on Stage. The three b-sides were all produced by Lea himself.

Both 7" and 12" versions of the single came with a full colour picture sleeve which featured an edited photography of the band holding a flag with "Slade" written on it. The back sleeve used the same photograph. Quick On The Draw Ltd. handled the sleeve design. This sleeve design would be re-used for the "Ooh La La in L.A." single.

Following the song's original release as a single and on the You Boyz Make Big Noize album, the song would also appear as one of two b-sides on the German 12" vinyl release of the "Ooh La La in L.A." single. Since then it has appeared on two Slade compilation; the 1990 Bear Tracks German compilation Slade Story 3, and the 2006 Salvo four-disc box-set compilation The Slade Box. Additionally the song has also appeared on unofficial Russian 2CD+DVD set Anthology 1969-1991 Volume Two.

Promotion

As with the rest of the singles from the You Boyz Make Big Noize, and unlike the singles from the previous Rogues Gallery album, the single did not have a music video created to promote it. This was due to its initial lack of success upon release. In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter of April-June 1987, fan club editor Trevor Slaughter revealed that the brand new single may have a video made to help promote it, if the single gets enough airplay and looks as though it will go into the UK Top 50. Slaughter also noted that either way, RCA would almost certainly be trying to arrange some TV promotion for the single.

In April 1987 the band appeared on the BBC Children show The Krankies Elektronik Komik. For the performance Holder used his Ovation 12 string guitar, which he would also use when promoting other material during the year from the You Boyz Make Big Noize album, on shows Saturday Superstore, The Tom O'Connor Show and Get Fresh. Since appearing unofficially on YouTube in November 2008, the performance on the show has gained over 49,000 views. This performance was first noted in the Slade International Fan Club newsletter of April-June 1987, where Slaughter stated "We have just heard that the group have done The Krankies T.V. show, which goes out at the end of April."

Formats

1. "That's What Friends Are For" - 3:17
2. "Wild Wild Party" - 2:55

1. "That's What Friends Are For" - 3:17
2. "Hi Ho Silver Lining" - 3:24
3. "Wild Wild Party" - 2:55
4. "Lock Up Your Daughters (Live)" - 4:03

Critical reception

"That's What Friends Are For" was the subject of reviewing on BBC Radio One's 'Singles Out' programme on 18 April 1987 (Good Friday). The single received a positive thumbs up by Welsh singer and presenter Aled Jones, Dominica calypso musician The Wizzard and English radio broadcaster Janice Long. This event was reported in the Slade International Fan Club Newsletter of April-June 1987.

In the Slade International Fan Club newsletter for July-September 1987, several fan reviews were posted based on the album. One fan stated "With regards to the single "That's What Friends Are For" and the new album, I think they are both excellent but the promotion seems practically non-existent with hardly any mention in the music press. How are people meant to know the album exists when most shops do not stock records until they are in the charts. (A view shared by many)."

In the Slade International Fan Club Newsletter of July-September 1988, fan club editor Paul Lythe revealed that the fan club had an opinion poll based on non-Slade fans only who gave their views on the You Boyz Make Big Noize and title track single. For the poll Lythe asked twenty people aged between 18 and 52, with varied musical tastes, to listen to the album as least twice before making comments and chose their three best tracks. The three most popular tracks, in order, were "That's What Friends Are For," "Still the Same" and "We Won't Give In". Lythe noted that "It is very noticeable that the slower tracks seem to be the most popular choices..." It was revealed that 75% of the people put at least one of the four album singles into their top three, whilst 45% put two of those singles in their top three. It was concluded by Lythe that "This must surely prove that the lack of airplay is the main reason for the lack of success last year!!"

In the booklet of the 2007 Salvo remaster of the You Boyz Make Big Noize album, the writer Chris Ingham spoke of the song, stating "That's What Friends Are For", one of Roy Thomas Baker's productions, was rushed out as a single in April 1987 and suffered a similar fate to "Still the Same", despite being a strong record packed with memorable hooks."

Personnel

Additional personnel