"Ruby Red" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1982 as the third single from the band's tenth studio album, Till Deaf Do Us Part. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. "Ruby Red" reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks.[2]
"Ruby Red" was written and recorded in 1978 but the band's original attempt recording of the track did not meet their expectations and it was left unreleased. When writing for and recording Till Deaf Do Us Part in 1981, Holder and Lea returned to the song, developed it further and the band then recorded it for the album. In a 1981 fan club interview, Noddy Holder revealed, "It's a number that we've had around for a long time. Me and Jim wrote it maybe two or three years ago. We first recorded it [at Portland Studios] when Chas was producing us, but we never managed to get it down how we actually wanted it. When we were recently looking through the songs that we'd got for the [new] album, we remembered that we'd never been able to get 'Ruby Red' down on tape properly, but that it was a good, strong, commercial song. So we added some new riffs to it and got it down. It might be in line for the next single."[3]
Releaseedit
"Ruby Red" was released in the UK on 4 March 1982. The first 20,000 copies of "Ruby Red" were issued in a gatefold picture sleeve with a special bonus single which contained live recordings of "Rock and Roll Preacher" and "Take Me Bak 'Ome". Both tracks were recorded at Newcastle City Hall in December 1981 and would later appear on the band's third live album, Slade on Stage (1982).[1][4][5]
Music videoedit
The song's music video was directed by Eric Boliski. It features the band performing the song on stage, interspersed with other shots showing a lady in red portraying the "Ruby" character in the song.[6]
Critical receptionedit
Upon its release as a single, Peter Trollope of the Liverpool Echo noted that "Ruby Red" is "just Slade doing what they do best: playing it loud 'n' proud" and added it "should pull in the plays".[7] Jim Whiteford of The Kilmarnock Standard praised it as "cheering, raucous, pop-rock held together by Noddy Holder's foghorn vocals and some simple but effective playing by the group". He concluded, "Just the number to wake the nation up after the spell of sleeping sickness inspired by 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' chart-topper (yawn!)"[8]Jennie Matthias, as guest reviewer for Melody Maker, commented, "Nothing like a meaty song with mindless lyrics. I shouldn't really like this but as I like noise I've got no choice with this record. Pure heavy metal. It's an obvious Slade single which means, shame, shame, shame, it won't be a hit."[9]
Julie Burchill of NME remarked, "A good old-fashioned beery belch of celebration – that's Slade's cup of nausceous rock and roll revelry. Is it uplifting or disgustipating? Well, you pays your money and you... are sick all voer your platform boots, either way."[10] Sunie of Record Mirror was negative in her review, stating, "This lot can never reclaim their old turf and thus their old standing: it's just not there any more. Given this fact, I don't know why they don't have the bottle to go wholeheartedly HM, instead of dithering about in a sort of nomansland between their original terrace pop and real hard rock. 'Ruby Red' inhabits said terrain, and a pretty unimpressive effort it is too."[11]
In a retrospective review of Till Deaf Do Us Part, Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic described the song as "wonderfully Slade-esque" and a "good album track".[12] In 2007, rock music journalist Chris Ingham considered it a "salute to a fun-loving girl who likes her food" and a "neatly constructed melodic rocker".[13]
^Dave Kemp, ed. (November–December 1981). "Noddy Holder Interview". The Slade Supporters Club. Retrieved 13 September 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
^Wheatcroft, Howard (25 March 1982). "Slithering Slade back again... and again". Macclesfield Express Advertiser and Times and Courier. p. 10. Retrieved 13 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Slade on Stage (UK vinyl LP notes). Slade. RCA. 1982. RCALP 3107.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Slaughter, Trevor (September–December 1986). "Slade on Video - Part Two". Slade International Fan Club. Retrieved 13 September 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
^Trollope, Peter (9 March 1982). "In the Groove: Pick of the new single releases". Liverpool Echo. p. 2. Retrieved 13 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^Sunie (13 March 1982). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 14. ISSN 0144-5804.
^Ginsberg, Geoff. "Slade - Till Deaf Do Us Part; Album Reviews, Songs & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
^Till Deaf Do Us Part (UK 2007 CD reissue liner notes). Slade, Chris Ingham. Salvo. 2007. SALVOCD008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Ruby Red (UK 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1982. RCA 191.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Ruby Red (UK 7-inch gatefold double pack single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1982. RCA 191.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^"Top 100 Singles". Record Business. Vol. 5, no. 1. 29 March 1982. p. 6.
January 01, 1970
ruby, song, ruby, song, english, rock, band, slade, released, 1982, third, single, from, band, tenth, studio, album, till, deaf, part, written, lead, vocalist, noddy, holder, bassist, produced, slade, ruby, reached, number, singles, chart, remained, three, wee. Ruby Red is a song by English rock band Slade released in 1982 as the third single from the band s tenth studio album Till Deaf Do Us Part It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and was produced by Slade Ruby Red reached number 51 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 75 for three weeks 2 Ruby Red Single by Sladefrom the album Till Deaf Do Us PartB side Funk Punk amp Junk Released4 March 1982 1 GenreRockLength2 53LabelRCASongwriter s Noddy Holder Jim LeaProducer s SladeSlade singles chronology Lock Up Your Daughters 1981 Ruby Red 1982 Rock and Roll Preacher Hallelujah I m on Fire 1982 Audio sample source source filehelp Contents 1 Background 2 Release 3 Music video 4 Critical reception 5 Formats 6 Personnel 7 Charts 8 ReferencesBackground edit Ruby Red was written and recorded in 1978 but the band s original attempt recording of the track did not meet their expectations and it was left unreleased When writing for and recording Till Deaf Do Us Part in 1981 Holder and Lea returned to the song developed it further and the band then recorded it for the album In a 1981 fan club interview Noddy Holder revealed It s a number that we ve had around for a long time Me and Jim wrote it maybe two or three years ago We first recorded it at Portland Studios when Chas was producing us but we never managed to get it down how we actually wanted it When we were recently looking through the songs that we d got for the new album we remembered that we d never been able to get Ruby Red down on tape properly but that it was a good strong commercial song So we added some new riffs to it and got it down It might be in line for the next single 3 Release edit Ruby Red was released in the UK on 4 March 1982 The first 20 000 copies of Ruby Red were issued in a gatefold picture sleeve with a special bonus single which contained live recordings of Rock and Roll Preacher and Take Me Bak Ome Both tracks were recorded at Newcastle City Hall in December 1981 and would later appear on the band s third live album Slade on Stage 1982 1 4 5 Music video editThe song s music video was directed by Eric Boliski It features the band performing the song on stage interspersed with other shots showing a lady in red portraying the Ruby character in the song 6 Critical reception editUpon its release as a single Peter Trollope of the Liverpool Echo noted that Ruby Red is just Slade doing what they do best playing it loud n proud and added it should pull in the plays 7 Jim Whiteford of The Kilmarnock Standard praised it as cheering raucous pop rock held together by Noddy Holder s foghorn vocals and some simple but effective playing by the group He concluded Just the number to wake the nation up after the spell of sleeping sickness inspired by The Lion Sleeps Tonight chart topper yawn 8 Jennie Matthias as guest reviewer for Melody Maker commented Nothing like a meaty song with mindless lyrics I shouldn t really like this but as I like noise I ve got no choice with this record Pure heavy metal It s an obvious Slade single which means shame shame shame it won t be a hit 9 Julie Burchill of NME remarked A good old fashioned beery belch of celebration that s Slade s cup of nausceous rock and roll revelry Is it uplifting or disgustipating Well you pays your money and you are sick all voer your platform boots either way 10 Sunie of Record Mirror was negative in her review stating This lot can never reclaim their old turf and thus their old standing it s just not there any more Given this fact I don t know why they don t have the bottle to go wholeheartedly HM instead of dithering about in a sort of nomansland between their original terrace pop and real hard rock Ruby Red inhabits said terrain and a pretty unimpressive effort it is too 11 In a retrospective review of Till Deaf Do Us Part Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic described the song as wonderfully Slade esque and a good album track 12 In 2007 rock music journalist Chris Ingham considered it a salute to a fun loving girl who likes her food and a neatly constructed melodic rocker 13 Formats edit7 inch single 14 Ruby Red 2 53 Funk Punk amp Junk 2 57 7 inch gatefold with special bonus single 15 Ruby Red 2 53 Funk Punk amp Junk 2 57 Rock and Roll Preacher Live version 6 00 Take Me Bak Ome Live version 4 33Personnel editSlade Noddy Holder lead vocals guitar Dave Hill lead guitar backing vocals Jim Lea bass organ backing vocals Don Powell drums Production Slade productionCharts editChart 1982 Peakposition UK Singles Chart OCC 2 51 UK Record Business Top 100 Singles 16 48References edit a b Simon Hills ed 6 February 1982 News Slade double Record Mirror p 3 ISSN 0144 5804 a b Slade full Official Chart History Official Charts Company Retrieved 13 September 2023 Dave Kemp ed November December 1981 Noddy Holder Interview The Slade Supporters Club Retrieved 13 September 2023 via sladefanclub com Wheatcroft Howard 25 March 1982 Slithering Slade back again and again Macclesfield Express Advertiser and Times and Courier p 10 Retrieved 13 September 2023 via British Newspaper Archive Slade on Stage UK vinyl LP notes Slade RCA 1982 RCALP 3107 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Slaughter Trevor September December 1986 Slade on Video Part Two Slade International Fan Club Retrieved 13 September 2023 via sladefanclub com Trollope Peter 9 March 1982 In the Groove Pick of the new single releases Liverpool Echo p 2 Retrieved 13 September 2023 via British Newspaper Archive Whiteford Jim 19 March 1982 Records The Kilmarnock Standard p 12 Retrieved 13 September 2023 via British Newspaper Archive Matthias Jennie 13 March 1982 Singles Melody Maker p 16 Burchill Julie 13 March 1982 Singles New Musical Express p 21 Sunie 13 March 1982 Singles Record Mirror p 14 ISSN 0144 5804 Ginsberg Geoff Slade Till Deaf Do Us Part Album Reviews Songs amp More AllMusic Retrieved 13 September 2023 Till Deaf Do Us Part UK 2007 CD reissue liner notes Slade Chris Ingham Salvo 2007 SALVOCD008 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Ruby Red UK 7 inch single sleeve notes Slade RCA 1982 RCA 191 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Ruby Red UK 7 inch gatefold double pack single sleeve notes Slade RCA 1982 RCA 191 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link Top 100 Singles Record Business Vol 5 no 1 29 March 1982 p 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruby Red song amp oldid 1221502608, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
