The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome

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Untitled
Singles from The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome
  1. "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"
    Released: 12 November 1982
  2. "My Oh My"
    Released: 11 November 1983
  3. "Run Runaway"
    Released: 27 January 1984
  4. "Slam the Hammer Down"
    Released: 1984

The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome is the eleventh studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released 3 December 1983 and reached No. 49 in the UK charts. The album was produced largely produced by bassist Jim Lea. The two UK Top 10 singles released from the album, "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway", were produced by John Punter.

In 1984, the album was re-packaged and released as Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply in the United States and Canada. Both "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My" were US Top 40 hits that year, giving the band their long-awaited breakthrough there.

Background

Following Slade's performance at the Reading festival in 1980, interest in the band was revived and a major record deal with RCA signed. The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome was the band's second studio album for the label. In the effort to gain a chart hit, RCA suggested the band work with producer John Punter. Lead vocalist Noddy Holder and Lea then demoed two songs; "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway". Both were received with enthusiasm by RCA and Hunter was hired to work on the two tracks. Released in November 1983, "My Oh My" became a UK No. 2 hit over the Christmas period, kept from the top spot by The Flying Pickets' cover of "Only You". The success of the single led to RCA rush-releasing The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in December, rather than February 1984. The album reached No. 49 in the UK and was a success across Europe. In January 1984, the second single "Run Runaway" reached No. 7. Also included on the album was the band's 1982 single "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie", which had reached No. 50.[1]

The success of Quiet Riot's version of "Cum on Feel the Noize" in late 1983 led to Slade signing with CBS, who would repackage The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome into Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply in 1984.[2]

The album's title was suggested by Holder. In a 1983 interview, he revealed:

"I was reading the sports pages one day and there was an article on motor sport. It talked about the 'kamikaze complex' those guys who compete seem to have in putting their life on the line every time they go on the track. I think Barry Sheene was mentioned as a specific example. Anyway, it struck me that some of our songs fitted in with this idea, so the title seemed a logical choice. And let's face it, everyone has something of that complex in 'em, we all take gambles at some point in our lives."[3]

Release

In a 1986 fan club interview, Holder spoke of the band's wish that a follow-up single from the album had been released following "Run Runaway". He said: "We all felt that there should have been a single out on the back of "Run Runaway". The album was our first big success in America, it was Top 5 all over Europe and Number 1 in Scandinavia for months. Britain was the only place it wasn't a big album. We could have, theoretically, had another single off it. It would have been a hit. There was plenty of good stuff on that album."[4]

Promotion

During the album's release in December, the band had already embarked on a UK college tour. With the success of "My Oh My", the band were also appearing on UK and European TV regularly, followed by the success of "Run Runaway". As the album was originally to be released in February 1984, plans for a major concert tour had been discussed.[5] However, the tour never took place and after a few concerts in America during 1984, the band would never perform live again, except for a one song performance at the band's 25th Anniversary party, organised by the fan club.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Slam the Hammer Down"Noddy Holder, Jim Lea3:25
2."In the Doghouse"Holder, Lea2:44
3."Run Runaway"Holder, Lea5:00
4."High and Dry"Holder, Lea3:10
5."My Oh My"Holder, Lea4:12
6."Cocky Rock Boys (Rule O.K.)"Holder, Lea3:27
7."Ready to Explode"Holder, Lea8:38
8."(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie"Holder, Lea3:43
9."Cheap 'n' Nasty Luv"Holder, Lea3:27
10."Razzle Dazzle Man"Holder, Lea4:39
2007 Remastered edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply" (B-Side of "My Oh My")Holder, Lea3:34
12."My Oh My (12" Extended Version)"Holder, Lea5:34
13."Don't Tame a Hurricane" (B-Side of "My Oh My" 12")Holder, Lea2:33
14."Run Runaway (12" Extended Version)"Holder, Lea5:26
15."Two Track Stereo One Track Mind" (B-Side of "Run Runaway")Holder, Lea2:55
16."Slam the Hammer Down (Hotter Mix)" (B-Side of "Slam the Hammer Down" promo single)Holder, Lea3:44

Song information

"Slam the Hammer Down" opens with a shouted soliloquy by Holder from a helicopter. It would be released in America as a promotional single in 1984. For the single, it was remixed by Shep Pettibone. "In the Doghouse" features saxophone by Andy Dummit. "Run Runaway" is a Celtic-flavoured rock-jig. Lea wrote the song on his fiddle, which he played on the track. "High and Dry" was first released by the female rock band Girlschool. Holder and Lea produced their 1983 album Play Dirty, which featured "High and Dry", along with another Slade song, "Burning in the Heat of Love". Lea had always wanted to write a "big, folksy ballad" and after presenting the melody idea of "My Oh My", Holder then wrote the lyrics. "Cocky Rock Boys (Rule O.K.)" is the first Slade track to feature a backward vocal effect. The line "you Frank and Johnny, you're hurting my arm" is heard at the end of the song, which were taken from the 1941 film The Maltese Falcon, starring Humphrey Bogart.[6][7]

"Ready to Explode" is an eight-and-half-minute, multi-themed song about the excitement of motor racing. The construction of the song was inspired by Jim Steinman's work with Meat Loaf. The track featured BBC DJ Pete Drummond providing the announcements on the track. The song was split into four different parts: The Warm Up, The Grid, The Race amd The Dream. "(And Now the Waltz) C'est La Vie" was originally released as a single in November 1982. In November 2005, on the Mark Radcliffe BBC Radio 2 show, Holder chose for the song to be played, stating that it showed off his voice really well. "Cheap 'n' Nasty Luv" speaks of prostitution. A closing instrumental section was omitted from the end of the track for the Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply album. "Razzle Dazzle Man" has two distinctive sections; the first being an up-tempo track with a new wave influence. The second half of the song changes into a ballad featuring acoustic guitar and large group vocals.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Get Ready To Rock![9]
Record Mirror[10]
Sounds[11]

In a 1983 review of the album, Record Mirror stated: "Romping back into the forefront of Eighties pop with an apparently effortless confidence and an untainted infectiousness. Slade are riding hard on the heels of a smash hit single with an album that decently consolidates the success of "My Oh My". Noddy Holder only has to turn on that formidable voice on the opening "Slam the Hammer Down" and you know straight away Slade will never abandon the battle while there's spirit enough left to fight it. A raucous, rollicking and simply addictive little riot that kicks the album off with a resounding start — no wonder people are rediscovering rock 'n' roll these days. Slade have lost none of their old wicked touch." Sounds commented: "Slade seem to be eternal, eternally young, eternally fun. This album shows conclusively that Slade are still capable of rocking harder and catchier than most bands half their age. They sound so lively and confident you can forgive them the rock 'n' roll clichés they occasionally slip into. As always it's the hell-raisin' metal-boogie stomps that really shake the timbers, and there's enough big stampers here to keep Quiet Riot in hits till 1987!"[12][13]

In the September–December 1986 Slade fan club magazine, results of a 1986 opinion poll were published. Fans votes for Slade's best album of the 1980s had placed The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome at No. 1.

Joe Geesin of the webzine Get Ready to Rock! retrospectively wrote: "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome kicks off proving that while it wasn't the classic Slade of old, they still had it. Noddy still sounded like Noddy, despite the hugely updated production. The riffs were still big, and the solos were if anything better, more metal if commercial metal."[9]

Chart performance

Chart (1983) Peak
position
Australia ARIA Albums Chart[citation needed] 50
Austrian Albums Chart[14] 17
German Albums Chart[15] 9
New Zealand Albums Chart[16] 39
Norwegian Albums Chart[17] 2
Swedish Albums Chart[18] 1
Swiss Albums Chart[19] 5
UK Albums Chart[20] 49

Personnel

Slade

  • Noddy Holder - lead Vocals, backing vocals, guitar
  • Dave Hill - guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Lea - bass, keyboards, guitar, violin, backing vocals, vocals on "Ready to Explode", producer
  • Don Powell - drums, percussion, gong

Additional credits

  • Andy Dummit - saxophone (track 2)
  • Pete Drummond - announcements (track 7)
  • John Punter - producer (tracks 3, 5)
  • Andy Miller, Dave Garland - engineers
  • Andrew Christian - art direction
  • Shoot That Tiger! - design
  • John Shaw - photography
  • Phil Davis - set designer

References

  1. ^ The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  2. ^ The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  3. ^ Mickey P. (26 February 2004). "From Roots To Boots!: The Amazing Kami-Khazi Syndrome". Sladestory.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  4. ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ http://www.sladefanclub.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/1611418_orig.jpg[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/9356003_orig.jpg[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Slade International Fan Club newsletter April - May - June 1988
  8. ^ "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  9. ^ a b "Get Ready to ROCK! Review of CD album resissues by rock band Slade called The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome,You Boyz Make Big Noize,The Collection 70-87,Rogues Gallery". Getreadytorock.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^ "SLADE amazing kamikaze syndrome". Sladeinengland.co.uk. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  13. ^ "Slade Scrapbook Website - Cuttings 1983". Sladescrapbook.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  14. ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  15. ^ "charts.de". charts.de. 27 July 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  16. ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome". charts.org.nz. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  17. ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome". norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  18. ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome". swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  19. ^ Steffen Hung. "Slade - The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  20. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/30945/slade/
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