- Do You Believe in Miracles
-
"Do You Believe in Miracles" 
UK/German cover of "Do You Believe in Miracles".Single by Slade from the album Crackers – The Christmas Party Album B-side My Oh My (Swing Version) Released 18 November, 1985 Format 7" Single, 12" single Genre Rock Length 4:11 Label RCA Records Writer(s) Noddy Holder; Jim Lea Producer John Punter; Jim Lea; Monty Babson Slade singles chronology "Little Sheila"
(1985)"Do You Believe in Miracles"
(1985)"Still the Same"
(1987)Audio sample file info · help"Do You Believe in Miracles" is a UK and German only single from rock band Slade.[1] It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea. The single was released in 1985 and peaked at #54 in the UK, spending 6 weeks on the chart.[2] The single's earning went to charity.[3]
The track was added to Slade's Christmas Party album Crackers which was released on the same date as the single, 18 November.
Contents
Background
In the summer of 1985 Holder sat and watched Live Aid, amazed at what Bob Geldof was achieving with some rock ‘n’ roll, some organisation and a vision. He also remembered Slade’s earlier encounter with “the man they called the mouth” and recording his feelings in the lyrics that became Slade’s Christmas charity single. A bigger hit would have generated more funds, but the record had its heart in the right place.[3]
Jim Lea was asked in a 1988 interview on the sales of the single. "Certainly a few thousand pounds have been paid over and I keep getting these very nice letters all the time saying 'Thank you very much, Mr Lea'."[4]
Whilst performing the song on UK TV, one man confronted Lea, stating "That's a great song but it won't be a hit." Upon being asked why by Lea, the man replied "It's too good."[5]
Promotion
Powell spoke of the single in an early 1986 fan club interview, "It didn't do too well chartwise, but it had every radio play in the book really. I could never turn the radio on without hearing it played. We did quite a few T.V. shows to promote it - but when we recorded them, when the record first came out - all the T.V. shows centred around Christmas, so we missed out on the inital thing. If we'd have had those T.V.'s when the record was actually released, that would have helped a lot more. The radio play was incredible though, even Alan James, our plugger couldn't understand it. I'm not quite sure if the commercial stations picked up on the single too, but I would assume so. They normally follow the BBC. I think the Sheffield station, Radio Hallam and Liverpool commercial stations played it a lot."[6]
In the same interview, Powell replied to the fact that the single was included on the "Crackers – The Christmas Party Album" before being released as a single. "That could be a reason. Funnily enough, that was one of the bones of contention - Telstar said that they wanted it on the album, whereas we didn't because that would mean that it would split the sales between the single and the album. I know that if I personally like someone's single, and it's going to be on their latest album, then I'll wait and buy the album."[7]
Powell also stated that he was surprised that the re-release of "Merry Xmas Everybody" that year was more successful than this single. Powell asked "how far can that song go?"[6]
Powell confirmed the single was released all over Europe and was asked if it did well within Europe at all. "I think it did quite well in the Scandinavian countries, but I haven't heard anything from Germany or Holland."
Powell was also asked if Slade were offered to perform the song on European TV. "At the time they wanted us to do the T.V. shows in Europe, we were doing the T.V. shows over here in the UK - to get them ready in time for Christmas - so we didn't have time to go over there. At least we did do the video for the single so they could show that."[7]
Powell was questioned about the music video which shows a new drum kit used by Powell himself. Powell stated "I think that kit was hired by the video company, as there was problems getting my kit as it was packed away in the warehouse in Birmingham."[8]
The track was promoted by its own music video as well as UK TV performances of the track being mimed. These performances were on TV shows Krankies, Razamatazz and Saturday Superstore.[9]
Formats
- 7" Single
- "Do You Believe in Miracles" - 4:11
- "My Oh My (Swing Version)" - 3:02
- 12" Single
- "Do You Believe in Miracles (Extended version)" - 6:12
- "My Oh My (Swing Version)" - 3:02
- "Time to Rock" - 4:08
- 12" Christmas Pack Single
- "Do You Believe in Miracles" - 4:11
- "My Oh My (Swing Version)" - 3:02
- "Time to Rock" - 4:08
- "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" - 2:39
- "Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone" - 3:28
Chart performance
Chart (1985) Peak
positionTotal
weeksUK Singles Chart[10] 54 6 Personnel
- Noddy Holder: Lead vocals and guitar
- Jim Lea: Bass guitar, synthesizer and backing vocals
- Dave Hill: Lead guitar and backing vocals
- Don Powell: Drums
References
- ^ "Slade - Do You Believe In Miracles (Vinyl) at Discogs". Discogs.com. http://www.discogs.com/Slade-Do-You-Believe-In-Miracles/release/1353270. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ http://www.chartstats.com/
- ^ a b Slade's remastered and reissued album Rogues Gallery booklet
- ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. http://www.crazeeworld.plus.com/slade/2011/pages/interviews.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ Jim Lea interview by Ken Sharpe
- ^ a b http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/4252188_orig.jpg
- ^ a b Slade International Fan Club newsletter January - February 1986
- ^ http://sladefanclub.weebly.com/uploads/7/6/6/0/7660950/6358753_orig.jpg
- ^ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. http://www.crazeeworld.plus.com/slade/2011/pages/tv_video.htm. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
- ^ "Slade - Do You Believe In Miracles". Chart Stats. 1985-11-30. http://www.chartstats.com/release.php?release=12771. Retrieved 2011-08-10.
Noddy Holder • Jim Lea • Dave Hill • Don Powell
Mal McNulty • John Berry • Steve Whalley • Steve Makin • Trevor Holliday • Dave Glover • Craig FenneyStudio 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: The Party Album (1985) • You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)Live albums Compilations Sladest (1973) • Slade Smashes! (1980) • Slade's Greats (1984) • Wall of Hits (1991) • Feel The Noize- Greatest Hits (1997) • The Genesis of Slade (2000) • The Very Best of Slade (2005) • Slade Alive! - The Live Anthology (2006) • The Slade Box (Anthology 1969-91) (2006) • B-Sides (2007) • Live at the BBC (2009) • Merry Xmas Everybody: Party Hits (2009)Singles "You Better Run" (The N' Betweens) • "Genesis" (Ambrose Slade) • "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" • "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" • "I'm a Rocker" • "Sign of the Times" • "Okey Cokey" • "Six of the Best (EP)" • "Live at Reading (EP)" • "Xmas Ear Bender (EP)" • "We'll Bring the House Down" • "Wheels Ain't Coming Down" • "Knuckle Sandwich Nancy" • "Lock Up Your Daughters" • "Rock and Roll Preacher" • "Ruby Red" • "(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" • "Inside Slade - The Singles 1971-1991" • "The Very Best of Slade" • "Slade Alive! - The Ultimate Critical Review" •Related articles DiscographyCategories:- 1985 singles
- Slade songs
- Songs written by Noddy Holder
- Songs written by Jim Lea
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