How Does It Feel (1975)
How Does It Feel is Slade's second and final single from their fifth studio album/first soundtrack album Slade in Flame, in promotion of the film of the same name. Released by Polydor on 7 February 1975, it reached No. 15 in the UK and remained in the charts for seven weeks. In the United States, the song was released by Warner Bros. Records in September 1975, but failed to chart. The song was written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler.
Background
By 1974, Slade had become a big success in the UK, Europe and beyond; however the band felt that continuing to provide 'more of the same' was not what they wanted to do. The band's manager Chas Chandler suggested Slade do a movie, to which the band agreed. Rather than producing a film portraying the band's "happy-go-lucky" image, the subject matter was based on the gritty tale of the rise and fall of a fictional 1960s group called Flame.
To accompany the film, Holder and Lea began writing material for a soundtrack album, which would continue to see the band break out of their successful formula and try different musical ideas. In late 1974, the lead single "Far Far Away" had reached No. 2, while Slade in Flame peaked at No. 6. Following the film's release in January 1975, it was decided to release "How Does It Feel" as the second single. For its release as a single, the song was edited to reduce its duration. Released in February, "How Does It Feel" reached No. 15, which was the band's first single not to reach the UK Top 5 since their 1971 breakthrough with "Get Down and Get with It".
The melody of "How Does It Feel" was the first Lea had ever written back in circa 1963, while he was still in school. He came up with the idea on an old piano which he later described as having half the keys missing. Although the tune never developed any further at that time, Lea later revisited it for use as the theme tune for Flame. Holder wrote the song's lyrics and it became "How Does It Feel". The song featured a brass section, performed by members of Gonzalez. In the band's 1984 biography Feel the Noize!, Lea recalled: "The DJ's loved it. It was an old song that I'd written and Nod put some great lyrics to it. Tommy Vance said that it was good but that we were in for a hard time. But it didn't matter to me whether it was number one or number 15... to me it was a much better record than we'd made before and that was all I cared about."
In a 1986 fan club interview, Dave Hill spoke of the song: "Yes, it was totally different to anything we had ever done before, but you see we were capable of that sort of thing before, though our manager/producer Chas Chandler used to keep us clear from that - keeping the stimulus of the right type of music for the right people. Trying to be too clever was considered at the time to be going in another direction. Whether it has helped us in the long run is questionable. We were maybe cleverer in those early years, which could have introduced us to new things - but it never happened, apart from "How Does It Feel". It was already written and it just happened to fit in with the film. It wasn't a huge hit unfortunately, but I thought it was a good idea."
Despite the song's disappointing charting in 1975, "How Does It Feel" is now widely considered as one of the band's finest songs. In 1999, Noel Gallagher of Oasis said the song was "one of the best songs written, in the history of pop, ever".
Release
"How Does It Feel" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, Australia and Japan. In America, it was released by Warner Bros. Records in September 1975. For its American release, the song was edited down even further, with a length of just over three minutes. The B-side on the Polydor releases of the single was the Slade in Flame album track "So Far So Good". In America, "O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" featured as the B-side, also taken from Slade in Flame. In the UK, the first 200,000 copies of the single featured a colour sleeve.
Promotion
No music video was created to promote the single. In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of The Pops, The Russell Harty Show and the children's show Crackerjack. The band also performed the song on the Dutch AVRO TV show TopPop.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
Belgian Ultratop 50 Wallonia Chart: #45
French Singles Chart: #6
German Singles Chart: #36
Irish Singles Chart: #11
New Zealand Singles Chart: #24
UK Singles Chart: #15
Formats
7" single
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
Cover versions
Background
By 1974, Slade had become a big success in the UK, Europe and beyond; however the band felt that continuing to provide 'more of the same' was not what they wanted to do. The band's manager Chas Chandler suggested Slade do a movie, to which the band agreed. Rather than producing a film portraying the band's "happy-go-lucky" image, the subject matter was based on the gritty tale of the rise and fall of a fictional 1960s group called Flame.
To accompany the film, Holder and Lea began writing material for a soundtrack album, which would continue to see the band break out of their successful formula and try different musical ideas. In late 1974, the lead single "Far Far Away" had reached No. 2, while Slade in Flame peaked at No. 6. Following the film's release in January 1975, it was decided to release "How Does It Feel" as the second single. For its release as a single, the song was edited to reduce its duration. Released in February, "How Does It Feel" reached No. 15, which was the band's first single not to reach the UK Top 5 since their 1971 breakthrough with "Get Down and Get with It".
The melody of "How Does It Feel" was the first Lea had ever written back in circa 1963, while he was still in school. He came up with the idea on an old piano which he later described as having half the keys missing. Although the tune never developed any further at that time, Lea later revisited it for use as the theme tune for Flame. Holder wrote the song's lyrics and it became "How Does It Feel". The song featured a brass section, performed by members of Gonzalez. In the band's 1984 biography Feel the Noize!, Lea recalled: "The DJ's loved it. It was an old song that I'd written and Nod put some great lyrics to it. Tommy Vance said that it was good but that we were in for a hard time. But it didn't matter to me whether it was number one or number 15... to me it was a much better record than we'd made before and that was all I cared about."
In a 1986 fan club interview, Dave Hill spoke of the song: "Yes, it was totally different to anything we had ever done before, but you see we were capable of that sort of thing before, though our manager/producer Chas Chandler used to keep us clear from that - keeping the stimulus of the right type of music for the right people. Trying to be too clever was considered at the time to be going in another direction. Whether it has helped us in the long run is questionable. We were maybe cleverer in those early years, which could have introduced us to new things - but it never happened, apart from "How Does It Feel". It was already written and it just happened to fit in with the film. It wasn't a huge hit unfortunately, but I thought it was a good idea."
Despite the song's disappointing charting in 1975, "How Does It Feel" is now widely considered as one of the band's finest songs. In 1999, Noel Gallagher of Oasis said the song was "one of the best songs written, in the history of pop, ever".
Release
"How Does It Feel" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, across Europe, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, Australia and Japan. In America, it was released by Warner Bros. Records in September 1975. For its American release, the song was edited down even further, with a length of just over three minutes. The B-side on the Polydor releases of the single was the Slade in Flame album track "So Far So Good". In America, "O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" featured as the B-side, also taken from Slade in Flame. In the UK, the first 200,000 copies of the single featured a colour sleeve.
Promotion
No music video was created to promote the single. In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of The Pops, The Russell Harty Show and the children's show Crackerjack. The band also performed the song on the Dutch AVRO TV show TopPop.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- Record Mirror said: "Another two songs from Flame - and the a-side is very different from the usual Slade material, with far less reliance on guitars and far more on an orchestral arrangement. There's a gentle piano intro before Noddy's voice comes in, singing in an almost subdued voice. Even when the song kicks off, the arrangement is very different. Be interesting to see the fans reaction but I don't think they'll have too much trouble succeeding."
- Disc said: "If I remember correctly this is the song that opens the film Flame. It's a Lea-Holder composition and a good one. I particularly like the piano on this. Starting quietly it builds up, simmers down, flares up and so on. Before this copy arrived, I'd only heard the song once and knew it well enough to sing to. One of Slade's best - it'll go far."
- Liverpool Echo wrote: "Slade have come up with one of their best singles ever this week. Noddy sounds a bit like John Lennon as he gives all he's got on this poignant ballad. The song stands out from all the rest and really captures what Flame is all about."
- Barry Nelson of the Cheshire Observer commented: "The band's new single is infinitely more palatable than a lot of current releases. I hope that Noddy is rewarded for his initiative by an increased rather than a decreased following."
- Acton Gazette commented: "The soundtrack of Flame, this is a quiet, melodic record. It's a long way from the raucous Slade of yesteryear, but I'm sure it'll get plenty of plays and do pretty well for itself."
- John Hutson of Thanet Times wrote: "Another slow song from the film Flame. It builds up to include crashing guitar chords together with some nice orchestration and piano work."
- Andy Gray of the Newcastle Evening Chronicle wrote: "Lonely piano opening, then group-plus orchestral backing. Subdued Noddy, more tuneful, less bawling. Manager Chas Chandler has wanted a new style for Slade for some time and might have it here, though it does get hectic at times. It ends with a long instrumental passage. Slade working to an arrangement - that is something new!"
- American magazine Cash Box listed the single as one of their "picks of the week" during August 1975. They wrote: "It's a change of pace for Slade as the English thrashers have come up with an effective, almost ballad-like, single that contains the band's smoke without all the fire. Effective vocals and tight licks make this a record that's up on all fours."
- In a review of the Slade in Flame album, Record Mirror said: ""How Does It Feel" has a slower relaxed beat with grasping dramatic vocals delivered with as much feeling as Sir Larry's "Richard III". The closing passage on this number is very stylish, featuring musical flute, symbols, organ and guitar, making this track the Ritziest of the lot."
- Disc said in a review of the album: "Only occasionally, do they stray from the usual mould. The first track is one of those exceptions. It's called "How Does It Feel". For once Noddy's voice is allowed to take almost total precedence and the result is a poignant and unusual number."
- Gary Tannyan of the Star-Phoenix (Saskatoon, Canada) wrote: "The best example of Slade as an all-rounded exciting pop-rock b and can be found on the opening album cut "How Does It Feel". With a soft piano introduction the song takes off in a pop ballad fashion with spice added by a heavy but unobtrusive chorus."
Retrospective reviews
- In a 1986 fan club opinion poll, Slade fans voted "How Does It Feel" as the band's third best single of the 1970s.
- In a retrospective review of Slade in Flame, Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic commented: "From the opening number, "How Does It Feel," Slade sets a different tone. A piano and vocal intro greets the listener. Of course, by the end of the song the full band is rocking furiously."
- In 2010, Classic Rock listed the song as one of 14 Slade songs that belong on an "Essential Playlist". They also wrote of the album: "The band were still capable of being loud and yobbish, of course, but the wistful maturity of the album's singles - "How Does It Feel" and "Far Far Away" - began to show evidence of a new versatility."
Chart performance
Belgian Ultratop 50 Wallonia Chart: #45
French Singles Chart: #6
German Singles Chart: #36
Irish Singles Chart: #11
New Zealand Singles Chart: #24
UK Singles Chart: #15
Formats
7" single
- "How Does It Feel" - 4:46
- "So Far So Good" - 2:59
- "How Does It Feel" - 3:15
- "O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" - 3:58
- "How Does It Feel" - 3:15
- "How Does It Feel" - 3:15
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea - bass, piano, organ, backing vocals
- Don Powell - drums
Additional personnel
- Chas Chandler - producer
- Members of Gonzalez - brass section
Cover versions
- In 2001, English rock vocalist Chris Farlowe recorded a version of the track for the tribute album Slade Remade.
- In 2006, English rock group Def Leppard released their own version of the song as an iTunes exclusive bonus track for their album Yeah!.
- In 2016, English singer-songwriter James Blunt performed a version of the song as part of his set at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Invictus Games in Orlando, Florida.
- In 2017, British singer Joanna Forest released her own version of the song on her debut album Stars Are Rising. It was released as the album's first single.