"Run Runaway"
Single by Slade
from the album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome and Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply
B-side"Two Track Stereo One Track Mind"
Released13 January 1984
Genre
Length
  • 5:00 (album version)
  • 3:42 (single version)
  • 5:26 (12-inch version)
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)John Punter
Slade singles chronology
"My Oh My"
(1983)		 "Run Runaway"
(1984)		 "Slam the Hammer Down"
(1984)
Audio sample
  • file
  • help
Audio
"Run Runaway" on YouTube

"Run Runaway" is a song by British rock band Slade, released in 1984 as the third single from the band's 11th studio album, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, and as the lead single from the album's US counterpart, Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea and produced by John Punter. It reached No. 7 in the United Kingdom and was the band's breakthrough hit in the United States, where it reached No. 20.

Background

Having recorded much of The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in 1982, Slade's label, RCA Records, felt the album lacked chart potential and in the effort to amend that, RCA suggested the band work with producer John Punter.[3] Holder and Lea then wrote and demoed two songs; "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway". Both were received with enthusiasm by RCA and Punter was hired to work on the two tracks.[4] With the UK/European success of "My Oh My" in late 1983, The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome was rush-released by RCA in December.

"Run Runaway", described by Holder as "a rocky Scottish jig",[5] features Lea on electric fiddle. In a 1984 interview, Holder said: "We always wanted to do a jig with the old violin going and that. We decided to go in and put a sort of rock beat behind an old Scottish jig."[6] In a 1986 fan club interview, Lea revealed that he had come up with the song's melody while holding a conversation with someone.[7] The song bears melodic and structural similarities to the 19th century hymn "There Is a Happy Land".[8]

Release

"Run Runaway" was released on 7-inch and 12-inch vinyl by RCA Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. It was released by CBS in the United States and Canada.[9] The B-side on all RCA versions of the single was "Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind", which was exclusive to the single and would later appear on the band's 2007 compilation B-Sides. On the CBS releases, "Don't Tame a Hurricane" appeared as the B-side, which would be included as an album track on Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The 12-inch vinyl, released in the UK and Germany, featured an extended version of "Run Runaway" as the A-side.

Promotion

Front entrance of Eastnor Castle in 1992

In the UK, the band performed the song on the TV music show Top of the Pops, while performances were filmed at the Hall of Fame and Rhyl Sun Centre.[10] The band also performed the song at the 1984 Montreux Festival and on German and Swedish TV. In America, the song was performed on American Bandstand and The Dance Show.[11]

A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was directed by Tim Pope for GLO Productions. It was shot at Eastnor Castle in Ledbury, Herefordshire. The video featured the band performing the song in front of an audience dressed in tartan. Other sequences showed a marching bagpipe band and a kilted Scot grappling with a caber. The video was a big success in America, where it received constant showing on MTV.[7]

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single, Radio Luxembourg DJ Mike Hollis, writing for the Daily Mirror, stated, "Slade are back – and how! A tremendous single. I reckon the boys are set for a great 1984."[12] Tommy Vance, reviewing for Kerrang!, praised it as a "good single" and wrote, "I know for a fact that this is based on a traditional tune or melody – I just can't remember which one. This is very cleverly done, however, and the sound is great."[13] In a retrospective review by AllMusic, Dave Thompson described "Run Runaway" as "storming" and wrote, "Building on the anthemic power of the earlier 'My Oh My', 'Run Runaway' is raucous chanting, swirling guitars, wild violin, and even a taste of heavy metal bagpipes, helped along by a drum sound that is pure early '80s."[5]

Chart performance

In January 1984, "Run Runaway" was released as the album's third single and reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart.[14] The 1983 success of Quiet Riot's version of Slade's 1973 UK chart topper "Cum On Feel the Noize" led to Slade signing with CBS Associated Records for their first American record deal since the 1970s. The label soon repackaged The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome into Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply and released "Run Runaway" as the lead single in March 1984.[4] With surging interest in the band and a music video benefiting from heavy play on MTV, "Run Runaway" was Slade's breakthrough hit in the United States and would remain the band's biggest success there; it peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached No. 1 on the Billboard Rock Top Tracks Chart.[15][16]

Track listings

7-inch single (RCA release)

  1. "Run Runaway" – 3:43
  2. "Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind" – 2:54

7-inch single (CBS release)

  1. "Run Runaway" – 3:43
  2. "Don't Tame a Hurricane" – 2:33

12-inch single (UK/German release)

  1. "Run Runaway" – 5:26
  2. "Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind" – 2:52

Personnel

Slade

  • Noddy Holder – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Jim Lea – electric violin, bass, backing vocals, producer of "Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind" and "Don't Tame a Hurricane"
  • Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Don Powell – drums

Additional personnel

  • John Punter – producer of "Run Runaway"
  • Mike Nocito, Pete Schwier – engineers on "Run Runaway"
  • Shoot That Tiger! – design
  • Andrew Christian – art direction

Charts

Cover versions

  • In 1986, Czech singer Petra Janů released a Czech-language cover version titled "My Chceme gól" (We want goal), with new, association football-themed lyrics.
  • In 1993, Polish band Acid Drinkers recorded a cover on their album Fishdick.
  • In 1995, Canadian band Great Big Sea recorded a cover of the song on their album Up.
  • Also in 1995, Canadian band Captain Tractor used the melody and chorus in their song Lord of the Dance on their album East of Edson.
  • In 2000, Eurodance group Dominoo released an EP with four different versions of the song.
  • In 2001, Bart Foley recorded a version of the song for the compilation Slade Remade: A Tribute to Slade.
  • In 2001, Off Kilter released a version of the song on their album Etched in Stone.
  • In 2007, Swedish techno-country group Rednex recorded a cover of the song.
  • In 2007, Celtic rock band Prydein recorded a cover of the song on their album Loud Pipes.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Masley, Ed (8 July 2014). "Best '80s pop-metal songs, from Def Leppard to Poison". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Stanley, Bob (13 September 2013). "Deluxe and Delightful: Glam". Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 342. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  3. ↑ "Don's 1983 Diary – Don Powell Official Website". Donpowellofficial.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome – 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  5. 1 2 Song Review by Dave Thompson. "Run Runaway – Slade | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Noddy Holder (Slade) "Run Runaway" on TVAM 1984". YouTube. Archived from the original on 14 December 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  7. 1 2 "1986 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  8. ↑ "Run Run Away (1983) – Song ID Blog". Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  9. ↑ "ALL Discography @ www.collectadisc.co.uk". Collectadisc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  11. ↑ "RARE HQ FOOTAGE @ Run Run Away *****1984 SLADE". YouTube. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Hollis, Mike (31 January 1984). "Mike Hollis's Top Tips". Daily Mirror. p. 19. Retrieved 25 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ↑ Vance, Tommy (9 February 1984). "Singles". Kerrang!. No. 61. p. 40. ISSN 0262-6624.
  14. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Slade Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Slade Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  17. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 277. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  18. ↑ "Slade – Run Runaway" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6737." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "European Top 100 Singles". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 1, no. 1. 19 March 1984. p. 10.
  21. ↑ "Slade | Rц V". Ruv.is. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  22. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Run Runaway". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  23. ↑ "Slade – Run Runaway". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Slade – Run Runaway". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Slade – Run Runaway". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Singles". Kerrang!. No. 64. 22 March 1984. p. 54. ISSN 0262-6624.
  27. ↑ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffman, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 318. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "AOR Hot Tracks". Radio & Records. No. 534. Radio & Records, Inc. 18 May 1984. p. 70. ISSN 0277-4860.
  29. ↑ "National Airplay: Contemporary Hit Radio". Radio & Records. No. 537. Radio & Records, Inc. 8 June 1984. p. 88. ISSN 0277-4860.
  30. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Slade – Run Runaway" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  31. ↑ "Kent Music Report No 548 – 31 December 1984 > National Top 100 Singles for 1984". Kent Music Report. Retrieved 12 January 2022 – via Imgur.com.
  32. ↑ "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Retrieved 13 September 2022 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  33. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1984" (PDF). Music Week. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
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