Ginny, Ginny (1979)
Ginny, Ginny is Slade's first single from their eighth studio album Return to Base. Released by Barn Records on 25 May 1979, it failed to chart in the UK. The song was written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Slade.
Background
Having returned to the UK from the United States in August 1976, Slade found themselves disregarded in favour of the emerging punk rock movement. Their 1977 album Whatever Happened to Slade had proved a commercial failure while their tour that spring had shown that they could no longer fill large venues. Slade's waning success soon led to the band playing small gigs after that, including universities and clubs. Although they could still draw small crowds, the band's new releases were all chart failures.
After a string of non-album singles, which all failed to chart, the band released "Ginny, Ginny" in May 1979 as the lead single from the upcoming album Return to Base. Continuing the band's low popularity at the time, the single failed to enter the UK Top 75. Despite this, the song did enter the Top 200 Best Sellers Chart, which was confirmed by Barn Records managing director Mike Hales in a Slade fan club magazine at the time.
"Ginny, Ginny" originally had the titles "Jeanie" and "Ginny Come and Get It While You Can" before the band settled on its final title. Before its release as a single, the song was featured in the band's live-set. Prior to release, Lea spoke of the song and the band's hopes of returning to the charts: "It's very catchy, and we're going to make it, yeah. Our writing is returning to a more concise format. I mean songs like "Be" are hardly concise, they're clever, but hardly the sing-along down at the pub type song." In a 1979 fan club interview after the single's release, Don Powell spoke of the song: "It didn't sell enough to get into the charts, but we were pleased with it."
Release
"Ginny, Ginny" was released on 7" vinyl by Barn Records in the UK and New Zealand. The B-side, "Dizzy Mama", would later appear as a track on the band's 1981 album We'll Bring the House Down. In the UK, the single was released on yellow-coloured vinyl in the hope of gaining more sales. In New Zealand, a standard black-coloured vinyl was released. "Ginny, Ginny" would also later appear as the B-side to the band's 1980 Belgian-only single "I'm a Rocker".
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Formats
7" single
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
Cover versions
Background
Having returned to the UK from the United States in August 1976, Slade found themselves disregarded in favour of the emerging punk rock movement. Their 1977 album Whatever Happened to Slade had proved a commercial failure while their tour that spring had shown that they could no longer fill large venues. Slade's waning success soon led to the band playing small gigs after that, including universities and clubs. Although they could still draw small crowds, the band's new releases were all chart failures.
After a string of non-album singles, which all failed to chart, the band released "Ginny, Ginny" in May 1979 as the lead single from the upcoming album Return to Base. Continuing the band's low popularity at the time, the single failed to enter the UK Top 75. Despite this, the song did enter the Top 200 Best Sellers Chart, which was confirmed by Barn Records managing director Mike Hales in a Slade fan club magazine at the time.
"Ginny, Ginny" originally had the titles "Jeanie" and "Ginny Come and Get It While You Can" before the band settled on its final title. Before its release as a single, the song was featured in the band's live-set. Prior to release, Lea spoke of the song and the band's hopes of returning to the charts: "It's very catchy, and we're going to make it, yeah. Our writing is returning to a more concise format. I mean songs like "Be" are hardly concise, they're clever, but hardly the sing-along down at the pub type song." In a 1979 fan club interview after the single's release, Don Powell spoke of the song: "It didn't sell enough to get into the charts, but we were pleased with it."
Release
"Ginny, Ginny" was released on 7" vinyl by Barn Records in the UK and New Zealand. The B-side, "Dizzy Mama", would later appear as a track on the band's 1981 album We'll Bring the House Down. In the UK, the single was released on yellow-coloured vinyl in the hope of gaining more sales. In New Zealand, a standard black-coloured vinyl was released. "Ginny, Ginny" would also later appear as the B-side to the band's 1980 Belgian-only single "I'm a Rocker".
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- Record Mirror wrote: "The climb back isn't going to be easy for Slade, but this might be a foothold on the bottom of the charts for them. Not the big one though, even if Nod has got a great voice."
- Melody Maker commented: "Slade return (yet again) with a heavyish pop song which is surprisingly emotional and individual. They've dropped the yobbish approach and gone back to that vaguely Lennonesque sound that used to stand them in good stead: if played, successful. A small pleasure."
- New Musical Express stated: "Another stab at stardom from the once superb Slade. A lot better than previous comeback attempts but still not quite strong enough to compete with other chart contenders I fear. Hope I'm wrong 'cos I used to love them. Is it all over now? The single is pressed on yuk yellow vinyl. Suppose it may help sell a few more copies."
Formats
7" single
- "Ginny Ginny" - 3:50
- "Dizzy Mama" - 3:57
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals, producer
- Don Powell - drums, producer
Additional personnel
- Andy Miller – engineer
- Dave Garland, Mark O'Donoughue – assistant engineers
- George Peckham – cutting engineer
Cover versions
- During 1979-80, Jim Lea would record his own version of the song, "Jeanie, Jeanie", with his brother Frank as part of his side-project The Dummies. This version of the song would not surface until 1992, when it was included on A Day in the Life of the Dummies, an album that gathered The Dummies' recordings.