Slade: Gudbuy T' Jane

Every Saturday I feature songs that missed the Top 40 charts and were bubbling under. While the band Slade had six #1 singles and six additional top five records in their native UK, their chart activity in the US was lackluster at best. The band that influenced 80s stars The Clash and Quiet Riot only had two Top 40 hits in the US. Both of these hits, “My Oh My” at #37 and “Run Runaway” at #20, were released in 1983.

While I remember numerous articles on Slade in Circus Magazine in 1973 and 1974, but rarely heard their music on American radio. Prior to 1983, their highest charting US single was “Gudbuy T’ Jane” that was released in late 1972. Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, “Gudbuy T’ Jane” only peaked at #68. “Gudbuy T’ Jane” appeared on their third album: “Slayed.”

In Britain, the song went to #2 and was certified silver for sales of 200,000 copies. Gold in the UK is 400,000 singles sales – as opposed to 1 million copies in the US for singles. There is no corresponding silver certification in the US. The song was a top ten hit in Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Austria, Norway, and Ireland. In the southern hemisphere, the song was a top 15 hit in Australia and New Zealand.