We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
We'll Bring the House Down is Slade's first single from their ninth studio album We'll Bring the House Down. Released by Cheapskate Records on 23 January 1981, it reached No. 10 in the UK and remained in the charts for nine weeks. It was the band's first single to reach the UK Top 40 since 1977. The song was written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Slade.
Background
Despite suffering from low popularity and a lack of chart action in the UK since 1976, Slade continued to record and tour, performing in smaller venues such as clubs and universities. However, their fortunes changed when they were offered a headlining slot at the Reading festival in August 1980, following a late cancellation by Ozzy Osbourne. The band's performance in front of the 65,000-strong crowd saw Slade back in the public eye. The music press began to take an interest in the band again, while heavy metal followers also began deeming the band 'cool'. The band quickly released the extended play Alive at Reading, giving the band their first chart action since 1977, while the compilation Slade Smashes! was a big success. To capitalise on the new interest in the band, the band recorded and released "We'll Bring the House Down" as their new single in January 1981. A successful comeback single, it reached No. 10 in the UK, with the album of the same name following in March. The song also peaked at No. 4 in the Melody Maker Chart.
The idea for "We'll Bring the House Down" originally developed with the song's chant. At one of the band's post-Reading shows in Belgium, the audience began repeating the chant. Backstage, Lea realised the potential of the chant and soon wrote the tune to the song. The song was recorded over two days in January 1981 at Portland Studios in London. To give the song a bigger, distinctive sound, some parts of the song was recorded in the men's toilets, most notably the drums. As a result, Holder dubbed the song "bog rock".
In a 1984 interview with Record Mirror, Lea spoke of the song: "We were getting this big ovation the week after the Reading festival. The crowd stayed at the end for 15 minutes and it wasn't just a few idiots down the front. The crowd were chanting this "woh oh oh oh oh" and there was a big argument going on in the dressing room. Our manager Chas Chandler was going "You've got to go on otherwise there's going to be a riot!!". We looked through the curtain and all the gear had been packed away and they're going "woh oh oh oh oh" and I thought there's got to be a song in that – it's great. Then years later I was watching Rock Goes to College and the crowd were doing our chant at a B. A. Robertson gig. I felt a bit sorry for the bloke and he came on and said "Will you stop that, it's a lousy tune with three notes and a crappy lyric"."
In a 1981 fan club interview, Don Powell spoke of the song's success: "The thing is we don't think of it as a comeback just because "We'll Bring the House Down" made the charts. We didn't really think how long it had been since we had a hit until "We'll Bring the House Down" charted, and then everyone told us that it was amazingly our first hit for four or five years, and we realised." During a 1981 televised gig that The Who were performing in Paris, the audience began singing the chant of "We'll Bring the House Down" in-between songs, much to The Who's annoyance. One crowd member eventually jumped on the stage and shouted "We'll Bring the House Down".
Speaking of the song in a 1982 interview with Kerrang!, Dave Hill said: "We aren't a compromise band, and if we made records that we weren't comfortable about then I think they'd sound uncomfortable. "We'll Bring the House Down" was really an unplayable record for daytime radio but it became a huge hit for us. And I think that was because it showed what we're about - having a good time and letting the crowd sing with us."
Later in March 1992, the band entered Rich Bitch Studios to record a new version of "We'll Bring the House Down". It was the band's final recording session and by the end of the month, Holder had decided to leave the band. The recording, later described by Lea as a "house/dance-style version" of the song, was never released.
Release
"We'll Bring the House Down" was released on 7" vinyl by the independent label Cheapskate Records in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain. In Australia and New Zealand, it was released by RCA Victor. For the UK and Irish release, the B-side was "Hold on to Your Hats". For the remainder of releases, the single featured "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" as the B-side. Both tracks were taken from the band's 1979 album Return to Base and would also appear on We'll Bring the House Down.
Promotion
In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of the Pops and ITV's Moondogs. In Germany, they performed it on the TV show Musikladen. BBC radio DJ/presenter Mike Read noted the band's "electrifying" performance with the song on Top of the Pops. The following day, Read noted on his breakfast show that the programme seemed rather flat after the band's performance.
Music video
A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was directed by Eric Boliski. It was filmed before and during the band's concert at the Gaumont Concert in Ipswich on 17 January. The same film company had also recorded a documentary film on the band about their life on the road, although it was never given an official release.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
Irish Singles Chart: #11
UK Singles Chart: #10
Formats
7" single (UK and Irish release)
Personnel
Slade
Cover versions
Background
Despite suffering from low popularity and a lack of chart action in the UK since 1976, Slade continued to record and tour, performing in smaller venues such as clubs and universities. However, their fortunes changed when they were offered a headlining slot at the Reading festival in August 1980, following a late cancellation by Ozzy Osbourne. The band's performance in front of the 65,000-strong crowd saw Slade back in the public eye. The music press began to take an interest in the band again, while heavy metal followers also began deeming the band 'cool'. The band quickly released the extended play Alive at Reading, giving the band their first chart action since 1977, while the compilation Slade Smashes! was a big success. To capitalise on the new interest in the band, the band recorded and released "We'll Bring the House Down" as their new single in January 1981. A successful comeback single, it reached No. 10 in the UK, with the album of the same name following in March. The song also peaked at No. 4 in the Melody Maker Chart.
The idea for "We'll Bring the House Down" originally developed with the song's chant. At one of the band's post-Reading shows in Belgium, the audience began repeating the chant. Backstage, Lea realised the potential of the chant and soon wrote the tune to the song. The song was recorded over two days in January 1981 at Portland Studios in London. To give the song a bigger, distinctive sound, some parts of the song was recorded in the men's toilets, most notably the drums. As a result, Holder dubbed the song "bog rock".
In a 1984 interview with Record Mirror, Lea spoke of the song: "We were getting this big ovation the week after the Reading festival. The crowd stayed at the end for 15 minutes and it wasn't just a few idiots down the front. The crowd were chanting this "woh oh oh oh oh" and there was a big argument going on in the dressing room. Our manager Chas Chandler was going "You've got to go on otherwise there's going to be a riot!!". We looked through the curtain and all the gear had been packed away and they're going "woh oh oh oh oh" and I thought there's got to be a song in that – it's great. Then years later I was watching Rock Goes to College and the crowd were doing our chant at a B. A. Robertson gig. I felt a bit sorry for the bloke and he came on and said "Will you stop that, it's a lousy tune with three notes and a crappy lyric"."
In a 1981 fan club interview, Don Powell spoke of the song's success: "The thing is we don't think of it as a comeback just because "We'll Bring the House Down" made the charts. We didn't really think how long it had been since we had a hit until "We'll Bring the House Down" charted, and then everyone told us that it was amazingly our first hit for four or five years, and we realised." During a 1981 televised gig that The Who were performing in Paris, the audience began singing the chant of "We'll Bring the House Down" in-between songs, much to The Who's annoyance. One crowd member eventually jumped on the stage and shouted "We'll Bring the House Down".
Speaking of the song in a 1982 interview with Kerrang!, Dave Hill said: "We aren't a compromise band, and if we made records that we weren't comfortable about then I think they'd sound uncomfortable. "We'll Bring the House Down" was really an unplayable record for daytime radio but it became a huge hit for us. And I think that was because it showed what we're about - having a good time and letting the crowd sing with us."
Later in March 1992, the band entered Rich Bitch Studios to record a new version of "We'll Bring the House Down". It was the band's final recording session and by the end of the month, Holder had decided to leave the band. The recording, later described by Lea as a "house/dance-style version" of the song, was never released.
Release
"We'll Bring the House Down" was released on 7" vinyl by the independent label Cheapskate Records in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Spain. In Australia and New Zealand, it was released by RCA Victor. For the UK and Irish release, the B-side was "Hold on to Your Hats". For the remainder of releases, the single featured "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" as the B-side. Both tracks were taken from the band's 1979 album Return to Base and would also appear on We'll Bring the House Down.
Promotion
In the UK, the band performed the song on the music show Top of the Pops and ITV's Moondogs. In Germany, they performed it on the TV show Musikladen. BBC radio DJ/presenter Mike Read noted the band's "electrifying" performance with the song on Top of the Pops. The following day, Read noted on his breakfast show that the programme seemed rather flat after the band's performance.
Music video
A music video was filmed to promote the single, which was directed by Eric Boliski. It was filmed before and during the band's concert at the Gaumont Concert in Ipswich on 17 January. The same film company had also recorded a documentary film on the band about their life on the road, although it was never given an official release.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- Sounds wrote: "Stick down some rock hard Glamboy drums, swinging schlocko guitar, which out crasses fatty Jones, and a little spicy chant along a football terrace toon and who can fail? Slade's current resurgence amongst the anti-literati seems to have provided a much needed livener which has lifted years off their shoulders. Platforms? It's nearly here..."
- Mike Gardner of Record Mirror stated: "Despite the impetus they've gained over the past eight weeks, they blow it with a messy 'Live' orientated song and a muddy production that does little to explain to others what all the fuss is about with this 'revival'. How about re-releasing "When I'm Dancin' I Ain't Fightin'", lads?"
- Melody Maker commented: "And then Slade – nice to see the up-turn in their fortunes which followed Reading, but a shame that it's taken such rotten, clumsy HM to do the trick. Bring the house down should pander to the band's new headbanger following alright, but frankly it hasn't got much going for it. A crass echo of former glories."
Retrospective reviews
- In a retrospective review of the We'll Bring the House Down album, Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic commented: "The title track is automatic. One listen and you'll be chanting along, just as Slade audiences did ever since the band started playing the song. An absolute must-hear."
- Joe Geesin of Get Ready to Rock! described the song as a "real rocker", adding "it's almost as metal as Slade could get".
- In 2010, Classic Rock listed the song as one of 14 Slade songs that belong on an "Essential Playlist".
Chart performance
Irish Singles Chart: #11
UK Singles Chart: #10
Formats
7" single (UK and Irish release)
- "We'll Bring the House Down" – 3:32
- "Hold on to Your Hats" – 2:33
- "We'll Bring the House Down" – 3:32
- "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" – 3:36
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer, arranger
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer, arranger
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals, producer, arranger
- Don Powell - drums, producer, arranger
Cover versions
- In 1990, Lea released his own new version of the song, which was released as a single under the pseudonym The Clout. The version sampled the chant from Slade's original version and also featured female vocals by ex-Shakatak singer Jackie Rawe.