Ginny, Ginny - Misplaced Pages

"Ginny, Ginny" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1979 as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Return to Base. It was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Slade. "Ginny, Ginny" failed to make an appearance in the UK Singles Chart.

Background

"Ginny, Ginny" was released at a time when Slade, having returned to the UK from the United States in 1976, found themselves out of favour in the UK music scene, particularly with the explosion of punk rock. The single was another commercial disappointment and was Slade's fifth since 1976 not to enter the UK Singles Chart. However, despite its failure to reach the main top 75, the single did reach an unknown position within the full industry-only top 200, which was confirmed in the July–August 1979 issue of Slade News by the managing director of Barn Records, Mike Hales.

Prior to its release as a single, the band introduced the song into the setlist of their January–February 1979 UK tour, where it was introduced as "Ginny Come and Get It While You Can". In a 1979 fan club interview, Lea spoke of the upcoming single and the band's hopes it would return them to the charts, "It's very catchy, and we're going to make it, yeah! Our writing is returning to a more concise format. I mean, songs like 'Be' are hardly concise – they're clever, but hardly the sing-along down at the pub type song." In a 1979 fan club interview after the single's release, drummer Don Powell stated, "It didn't sell enough to get into the charts, but we were pleased with it."

Release

"Ginny, Ginny" was released in the UK by Barn, with distribution by Pinnacle, on yellow vinyl on 25 May 1979.

Critical reception

Upon its release, Jon Savage of Melody Maker described "Ginny, Ginny" as a "heavyish pop song which is surprisingly emotional and individual". He added, "They've dropped the yobbish approach and gone back to that vaguely Lennonesque sound that used to stand them in good stead: if played, successful. A small pleasure." Rosalind Russell of Record Mirror wrote, "The climb back isn't going to be easy for Slade, but this might be a foothold on the bottom of the charts for them. Not the big one though, even if Nod has got a great voice." Paul Walker of the Sandwell Evening Mail remarked, "Still the same distinctive Noddy Holder voice, but not quite so fervent as before". Pat Stevens of the Nottingham Evening Post commented, "Some vague memories of the old Slade style can be noticed in this release, but it's not the same sort of searing quality that made them one of the top groups in the country a few years ago."

Formats

7-inch single (UK and New Zealand)

"Ginny Ginny" – 3:50
"Dizzy Mama" – 3:57

Personnel

Slade

Noddy Holder – lead vocals, guitar
Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
Jim Lea – bass, backing vocals
Don Powell – drums

Production

Slade – production

Cover versions

In circa 1980, Lea recorded a version of the song as part of his side project, The Dummies, with his brother Frank. It remained unreleased until its appearance on the album A Day in the Life of the Dummies in 1992, on which it had the title "Jeanie, Jeanie".

References

^ "News: Barn Records signs up to Pinnacle". Record Business. Vol. 2, no. 8. 7 May 1979. p. 2.
We'll Bring the House Down (UK 2007 CD reissue liner notes). Slade, Chris Ingham. Salvo. 2007. SALVOCD007.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Dave Kemp, ed. (July–August 1979). "Mike Hales' Message". Slade News. No. 4. Retrieved 25 August 2024 – via sladefanclub.com.
Kemp, Dave (March–April 1979). "The New Slade Single". Slade News. No. 2. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
Kemp, Dave (March–April 1979). "The Slade Interview: Jimmy Lea". Slade News. No. 2. p. 5. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
Kemp, Dave (July–August 1979). "Don Powell Interview". Slade News. No. 4. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via sladefanclub.com.
"News - Marketing: In Brief...". Music Week. 12 May 1979. p. 4. ISSN 0265-1548.
Savage, Jon (16 June 1979). "Singles". Melody Maker.
Russell, Rosalind (9 June 1979). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 12. ISSN 0144-5804.
Walker, Paul (7 July 1979). "Roundabout (The Pop Scene) - New Singles: Slade are back with cooler style". Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 11. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Stevens, Pat (15 June 1979). "Turntable: Single Spins". Nottingham Evening Post. p. 10. Retrieved 31 August 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
Ginny, Ginny (UK and New Zealand 7-inch single label notes). Slade. Barn. 1979. BARN 002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
A Day in the Life of the Dummies (UK CD liner notes). The Dummies. Receiver Records Limited. 1992. RRCD 155.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

v t e Slade
Dave Hill Don Powell Noddy Holder Jim Lea John Berry Russell Keefe Steve Whalley Steve Makin Craig Fenney Trevor Holliday Dave Glover Mal McNulty
Studio albums	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)
Live albums	Slade Alive! (1972) Slade Alive, Vol. 2 (1978) Slade on Stage (1982)
Compilations	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)
Box sets	The Slade Box (2006) When Slade Rocked the World (2015)
Extended plays	Six of the Best Alive at Reading Xmas Ear Bender
Singles	"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"
Video	Slade in Flame Wall of Hits
Related articles	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)

Categories: