Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine (1973)
Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine is Slade's fourth single from their third studio album Slayed?. Released in the United States only by Polydor in July 1973, the single reached No. 114 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart.
The song is a cover of the 1956 song "Let the Good Times Roll" by Shirley & Lee, merged with the 1960 Johnny Preston song "Feel So Fine", which itself was a reworking of Shirley & Lee's 1955 song "Feel So Good". "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was written by Leonard Lee, with Slade's version produced by Chas Chandler.
Background
By the time Slayed? was released in late 1972, Slade had become a big success in the UK, Europe and other parts of the world. However, they had yet to make a commercial breakthrough in the United States. Both "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Gudbuy T'Jane" had entered the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, as had "Cum On Feel the Noize" in June 1973. "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was chosen by Polydor as band's next American single. Released in July, it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but did reach No. 14 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart, which equated to No. 114 on the Hot 100. Despite a number of following releases in the US, "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was Slade's last charting single there until they achieved a commercial breakthrough with 1984's "Run Runaway".
"Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was a regular and popular inclusion in Slade's live set during the early 1970s. "Feel So Fine" had first been performed by the first incarnation of the 'N Betweens. They recorded the song in 1965, featuring Dave Hill and Don Powell, but prior to Noddy Holder and Jim Lea's joining the band. Slade's version of the song later inspired Twisted Sister's own live performances of the track, which was also a medley of the two Shirley & Lee songs. Holder told Disc in 1972: "We don't use [the song] in our act anymore; but it was a favourite when we did. We put that down [in the studio] mainly to show Dave's guitar off a bit. We've got some good fast guitaring there."
Release
"Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor in the US only. The B-side, "I Don' Mind", was also taken from Slayed?. In addition to the main release, a promotional-only version of the single was also issued, which featured "special edited version" of the song on the A-side. Exclusive to the single, this edited version cut the song down to three minutes.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart: #14
Formats
7" single
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
The song is a cover of the 1956 song "Let the Good Times Roll" by Shirley & Lee, merged with the 1960 Johnny Preston song "Feel So Fine", which itself was a reworking of Shirley & Lee's 1955 song "Feel So Good". "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was written by Leonard Lee, with Slade's version produced by Chas Chandler.
Background
By the time Slayed? was released in late 1972, Slade had become a big success in the UK, Europe and other parts of the world. However, they had yet to make a commercial breakthrough in the United States. Both "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and "Gudbuy T'Jane" had entered the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, as had "Cum On Feel the Noize" in June 1973. "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was chosen by Polydor as band's next American single. Released in July, it failed to enter the Billboard Hot 100, but did reach No. 14 on Billboard's Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart, which equated to No. 114 on the Hot 100. Despite a number of following releases in the US, "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was Slade's last charting single there until they achieved a commercial breakthrough with 1984's "Run Runaway".
"Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was a regular and popular inclusion in Slade's live set during the early 1970s. "Feel So Fine" had first been performed by the first incarnation of the 'N Betweens. They recorded the song in 1965, featuring Dave Hill and Don Powell, but prior to Noddy Holder and Jim Lea's joining the band. Slade's version of the song later inspired Twisted Sister's own live performances of the track, which was also a medley of the two Shirley & Lee songs. Holder told Disc in 1972: "We don't use [the song] in our act anymore; but it was a favourite when we did. We put that down [in the studio] mainly to show Dave's guitar off a bit. We've got some good fast guitaring there."
Release
"Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor in the US only. The B-side, "I Don' Mind", was also taken from Slayed?. In addition to the main release, a promotional-only version of the single was also issued, which featured "special edited version" of the song on the A-side. Exclusive to the single, this edited version cut the song down to three minutes.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- American magazine Billboard listed the song as a "recommended pop pick" during July 1973.
- Cash Box listed the single as one of their "picks of the week" during the same month. They wrote: "What makes this Slade track different from all the rest? Well, for one thing, the title is spelled correctly. For another, it's the first single that the group didn't write. But that's as far as it goes. Everything else spells "hit record" as was the case with all of their previous releases. There's just no stopping these rock 'n' rollers."
- In a review of Slayed?, New Musical Express said of the song: "Encore material. This old stonker never fails if played right. Slade play it right. Loud and quick, and okay. That's all."
- Los Angeles Times described the song as having a "party-time flavour".
Retrospective reviews
- In a retrospective review of Slayed?, Dave Thompson of AllMusic said: "The closing medley of "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Feel So Fine" was the closest you could come to the mania of a Slade live show without actually going out and buying a ticket. Of course, listeners don't have that option today. But stick on Slayed?, crank the volume well up - and the whole world will be going crazee all over again."
Chart performance
U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Chart: #14
Formats
7" single
- "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" - 3:05
- "I Don' Mind" - 3:08
- "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine (Edited Version)" - 3:05
- "Let the Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine" - 3:05
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals
- Don Powell - drums
Additional personnel
- Chas Chandler - producer