Slam the Hammer Down
"Slam the Hammer Down" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Slade | ||||
from the album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome & Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply | ||||
B-side | "Slam the Hammer Down (Hotter)" | |||
Released | 1984 | |||
Genre | Hard rock | |||
Length | 2:50 | |||
Label | CBS | |||
Songwriter(s) | Noddy Holder, Jim Lea | |||
Producer(s) | Jim Lea | |||
Slade singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio sample | ||||
| ||||
"Slam the Hammer Down" is a song by the British rock band Slade, released in 1984 as a promotional-only single from the band's American studio album Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply.[1] It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Lea.
Background
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 for their first American record deal since the 1970s. The label soon repackaged the band's 1983 album The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome into Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply.[2] "Run Runaway" successfully broke the band in America, while "My Oh My" also reached the Top 40. Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply, released in April, reached No. 33.[3] During 1984, "Slam the Hammer Down" was also released as a promotional-only 12" vinyl single by CBS.[4] For the release, Shep Pettibone was commissioned to remix the song into two versions: "Hot" on the A-side and "Hotter" on the B-side.[2]
"Slam the Hammer Down" opens with a shouted soliloquy by Holder from a helicopter.[5] Speaking of the song's lyrics in a 1984 fan club interview, Holder said: "Another motor-racing theme - translate the double meaning at your leisure."[6] The band performed the song at the 1984 Montreux Festival.[7]
Critical reception
In a review of The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome, Record Mirror described the song as a "meaty great splodge of gut gurgling notes and Holder's voice freshly rubbed down with 00 gauge wire wool". Jerry Harris of Sounds highlighted "Slam the Hammer Down" as one of his favourite tracks from the album. He described it as "classic Slade party material".[8] Kerrang! noted Holder's "formidable voice" on the song, adding that the track was a "raucous, rollicking and simply addictive little riot that kicks the album off with a resounding start".[8]
In a review of Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply, Chicago Tribune said the song "should satisfy even the most demanding metal-head".[6] In a retrospective review of the album, Joe Geesin of Get Ready to Rock! said "The riffs were still big, and the solos were if anything better, more metal, if commercial metal (check out opener "Slam the Hammer Down")."[9]
Track listing
- 12" Single
- "Slam The Hammer Down (Hot)" - 2:50
- "Slam The Hammer Down (Hotter)" - 3:50
Personnel
- Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals, producer
- Don Powell - drums
Additional credits
- Shep Pettibone - remixes
References
- ^ "Slade - Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ a b The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
- ^ "Slade - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "ALL Discography @ www.collectadisc.co.uk". Collectadisc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "CD Album - Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - Salvo - Europe". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ a b "1984 - Slade Fan Club www.sladefanclub.com". Sladefanclub.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
- ^ a b "1983 Press Cuttings". Slade Scrapbook. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- ^ "Get Ready to ROCK! Review of CD album resissues by rock band Slade called The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome,You Boyz Make Big Noize,The Collection 70-87,Rogues Gallery". Getreadytorock.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
- v
- t
- e
- Dave Hill
- Don Powell
- Noddy Holder
- Jim Lea
- John Berry
- Russell Keefe
- Steve Whalley
- Steve Makin
- Craig Fenney
- Trevor Holliday
- Dave Glover
- Mal McNulty
- Beginnings (Ambrose Slade, 1969)
- Play It Loud (1970)
- Slayed? (1972)
- Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
- Slade in Flame (1974)
- Nobody's Fools (1976)
- Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
- Return to Base (1979)
- We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
- Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
- The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983)
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
- Rogues Gallery (1985)
- Crackers (1985)
- You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
- Slade Alive! (1972)
- Slade Alive, Vol. 2 (1978)
- Slade on Stage (1982)
- Coz I Luv You (1972)
- Sladest (1973)
- Slade Smashes! (1980)
- Slades Greats (1984)
- The Slade Collection 81–87 (1991)
- Wall of Hits (1991)
- The Slade Collection Vol. 2, 79–87 (1993)
- The Genesis of Slade (1996)
- Feel the Noize – Greatest Hits (1997)
- Get Yer Boots On: The Best of Slade (2004)
- The Very Best of Slade (2005)
- Slade Alive! – The Live Anthology (2006)
- B-Sides (2007)
- Rockers (2007)
- In for a Penny: Raves & Faves (2007)
- Live at the BBC (2009)
- Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits (2009)
- Cum On Feel the Hitz: The Best of Slade (2020)
- The Slade Box (2006)
- When Slade Rocked the World (2015)
- Six of the Best
- Alive at Reading
- Xmas Ear Bender
- "You Better Run" (The N' Betweens)
- "Wild Winds Are Blowing"
- "Shape of Things to Come"
- "Know Who You Are"
- "Get Down and Get with It"
- "Coz I Luv You"
- "Look Wot You Dun"
- "Take Me Bak 'Ome"
- "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
- "Gudbuy T'Jane"
- "Cum On Feel the Noize"
- "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"
- "My Friend Stan"
- "Merry Xmas Everybody"
- "Everyday"
- "When the Lights Are Out"
- "The Bangin' Man"
- "Far Far Away"
- "How Does It Feel"
- "Thanks for the Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)"
- "In for a Penny"
- "Let's Call It Quits"
- "Nobody's Fool"
- "Gypsy Roadhog"
- "Burning in the Heat of Love"
- "My Baby Left Me - That's All Right"
- "Give Us a Goal"
- "Rock 'n' Roll Bolero"
- "Ginny, Ginny"
- "Sign of the Times"
- "Okey Cokey"
- "We'll Bring the House Down"
- "Wheels Ain't Coming Down"
- "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy"
- "Lock Up Your Daughters"
- "Ruby Red"
- "Rock and Roll Preacher (Hallelujah I'm on Fire)"
- "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"
- "My Oh My"
- "Run Runaway"
- "Slam the Hammer Down"
- "All Join Hands"
- "7 Year Bitch"
- "Myzsterious Mizster Jones"
- "Little Sheila"
- "Do You Believe in Miracles"
- "Still the Same"
- "That's What Friends Are For"
- "You Boyz Make Big Noize"
- "Ooh La La in L.A."
- "We Won't Give In"
- "Let's Dance '88"
- "Radio Wall of Sound"
- "Universe"
- Slade in Flame
- Wall of Hits
- Discography
- List of songs recorded by Slade
- The Dummies
- A Day in the Life of the Dummies
- "Shooting Me Down"
- Keep On Rockin' (Slade II album)
- Therapy (James Whild Lea album)