Little Sheila
"Little Sheila" | ||||
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Single by Slade | ||||
from the album Rogues Gallery | ||||
B-side |
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Released | April 1985 | |||
Genre | Electronic rock | |||
Length | 3:56 | |||
Label |
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Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | John Punter | |||
Slade singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
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"Little Sheila" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1985 as the fourth and final single from the band's twelfth studio album, Rogues Gallery. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter.
In North America, "Little Sheila" was released by CBS as the album's only single. The song received strong airplay in the US, and reached number 13 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart and number 16 on the Radio & Records AOR Tracks chart.[1][2] "Little Sheila" was also the band's last entry on the Billboard Hot 100, where it reached number 86.[3] In Germany, the song was issued by RCA as the fourth and final single from Rogues Gallery.
Music video
The song's music video was directed by Nick Morris and produced by Scott Millaney and Fiona O'Mahoney.[4] It achieved breakout rotation on MTV.[5]
The video features the band performing the song as part of a stage play, The Tragedy of Little Sheila, which follows the story of the titular character. The video is broken down into five acts:[6]
- Act one – The Dark and Stormy Night
- Act two – Alone in Dollar City
- Act three – The Decline of Sheila
- Act four – A Strange Encounter
- Act five – Saved by the Law
Guitarist Dave Hill borrowed his old trademark "Superyob" guitar from Adam and the Ants' guitarist Marco Pirroni for the video.[7]
Critical reception
Upon its release in the US, Nancy Erlich of Billboard commented, "Proto-metallists are still bashing away, raucous and good-natured as ever."[8] The radio programming guide The Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report remarked, "Predictability and consistency typically present themselves in the form of a double-edged sword – thus any new Slade offering required far more intellectualizing than one might initially realize. After much thought and debate, our experts have concluded that when it comes to power pop dynamics Mr. Holder's unique vocal presentation does in fact make the critical difference. We, therefore, unequivocally advocate prompt and thorough rotation for 'Little Sheila'."[9] Creem noted that Slade "can still knock off the catchy rock ditty, playing hooky as usual with 'Little Sheila'".[10]
Formats
7-inch single (North America)[11]
- "Little Sheila" – 3:56
- "Lock Up Your Daughters" – 3:28
7-inch Single (Germany)[12]
- "Little Sheila" – 3:54
- "Time to Rock" – 4:08
12-inch Single (Germany)[13]
- "Little Sheila" (Extended Version) – 4:31
- "Time to Rock" – 4:08
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder – lead vocals
- Jim Lea – bass, synthesiser, backing vocals
- Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Don Powell – drums
Production
- John Punter – production ("Little Sheila")
- Jim Lea – production ("Lock Up Your Daughters", "Time to Rock")
Other
- Image Bank – photography on RCA sleeve
- Mainartery – sleeve design of RCA sleeve
Charts
Chart (1985) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] | 50 |
US Billboard Hot 100[15] | 86 |
US Top Rock Tracks (Billboard)[1] | 13 |
US AOR Tracks (Radio & Records)[2] | 16 |
References
- ^ a b "Top Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 19. Billboard Publications, Inc. 11 May 1985. p. 18. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ a b "National Airplay: AOR Tracks". Radio & Records. No. 582. Radio & Records, Inc. 3 May 1985. p. 67. ISSN 0277-4860.
- ^ "Slade - Chart history: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Video Music: New Video Clips". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 15. Billboard Publications, Inc. 13 April 1985. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ "Video Music: MTV Programming". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 21. Billboard Publications, Inc. 25 May 1985. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Slaughter, Trevor (September–December 1986). "Slade on Video - Part Two". Slade International Fan Club. Retrieved 25 August 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
- ^ Paul Lythe, ed. (July–September 1988). "Your Questions to the Band". Perseverance: Quarterly Newsletter for the Slade International Fan Club. Retrieved 25 August 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
- ^ Erlich, Nancy (20 April 1985). "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 25. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 73. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ^ Bill Hard, ed. (29 March 1985). "Hard Choices". The Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report. p. 1.
- ^ "45s". Creem. Vol. 17, no. 4. September 1985. p. 53. ISSN 0011-1147.
- ^ Little Sheila (North American 7-inch single label). Slade. CBS Associated Records. 1985. ZS4 04865.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Little Sheila (German 7-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1985. PB 40329.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Little Sheila (German 12-inch single sleeve notes). Slade. RCA. 1985. PT 40330.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0524." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- ^ "Slade Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- 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)