"We Won't Give In" is a song by English rock band

Slade Slade are a rock band formed in Wolverhampton, England in 1966. They rose to prominence during the glam rock era in the early 1970s, achieving 17 consecutive top 20 hits and six number ones on the UK Singles Chart. The '' British Hit Singl ...

which originally appeared on the soundtrack of the 1986 British drama film '' Knights & Emeralds''. The song was written by lead vocalist

Noddy Holder Neville John "Noddy" Holder (born 15 June 1946) is an English musician, songwriter and actor. He was the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the English rock band Slade, one of the UK's most successful acts of the 1970s. Known for his disti ...

and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by Lea. In 1987, it was released as the fourth and final single from the band's fourteenth studio album, ''

You Boyz Make Big Noize ''You Boyz Make Big Noize'' is the fourteenth and final studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released on 27 April 1987 and reached number 98 in the UK Albums Chart. The album was largely produced by bassist Jim Lea, with two tr ...

'', and reached number 121 in the UK Singles Chart.

Background

"We Won't Give In" was written and recorded in 1986 for the soundtrack of the British drama film '' Knights & Emeralds'', alongside another song, "Wild Wild Party", after Slade were approached by the film's producers. Holder has described "We Won't Give In" as a "heavy ballad" and "Wild Wild Party" as a "real party record" and a "big stomping rocker". In addition to appearing in the film, both tracks were included on the accompanying soundtrack, released by 10 Records on vinyl and cassette in September 1986. The label was originally interested in releasing "We Won't Give In" as a single from the soundtrack but the band's label, RCA, refused to give permission. Guitarist Dave Hill told the Slade Fan Club in 1987, "This was thought by many people to be a good one for a single when it came out last year on the film soundtrack. The film company wanted it out as a single but RCA, who owned the rights, said no." "We Won't Give In" was also included on the band's fourteenth studio album, ''You Boyz Make Big Noize'', released by RCA in April 1987. The disappointing commercial success of the album and its singles led RCA to drop Slade. Later in the year, the band decided to release "We Won't Give In" as a single over the Christmas period through their own independent label, Cheapskate, with the permission of RCA/ BMG. The single was Jim Lea's idea and, although the rest of the band initially expressed reservations, the band ultimately decided to release it. In a September 1987 interview for the Slade Fan Club, Lea revealed, Released on 23 November 1987, the single failed to reach the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart, stalling at number 121. It was the first Slade UK single (of new material) not to reach the top 100 since 1981's " Knuckle Sandwich Nancy". In a 1988 fan club interview, drummer

Don Powell Donald George Powell (born 10 September 1946) is an English musician who was the drummer for glam rock and later hard rock group Slade for over fifty years, from 1966 until he was dismissed by Dave Hill in 2020. Early life Powell was born in Bil ...

said of the failure of the "

" and "We Won't Give In" singles, "I really don't know why we have problems like that. We seem to get the token plays, but the records tend not to bite and get dropped. Obviously we are disappointed and will have to decide what we are going to do next. At the moment, no one in the UK seems to want to know." Holder added in a 1988 interview, "Everyone we spoke to loved both of those records but they just didn't catch on at all."

Promotion

On 21 December 1987, the band appeared on BBC One's lunchtime show ''Daytime Live'' and performed "We Won't Give In". They also performed "Merry Xmas Everybody" but without guitarist Dave Hill; comedian

Eddie Large Edward Hugh McGinnis (25 June 1941 – 2 April 2020), better known by the stage name Eddie Large, was a British comedian. He was best known as one half of the double act Little and Large, with Syd Little (the stage name of Cyril Mead). Early l ...

, who was a fellow guest on the show, told Slade his lifelong ambition was to play on stage with them and so Hill let him take his place when performing the song.

Critical reception

Upon its release as a single,

Chris Welch Chris Welch (born ) is an English music journalist, critic, and author who is best known for his work from the late 1960s as a reporter for ''Melody Maker'', ''Musicians Only'', and ''Kerrang!''. He is the author of over 40 music books. Earl ...

of ''

Kerrang! ''Kerrang!'' is a British music webzine and quarterly magazine that primarily covers rock, punk and heavy metal music. Since 2017, the magazine has been published by Wasted Talent Ltd (the same company that owns electronic music publication ...

'' wrote, "Slade have a habit of getting a big hit every five years just when they seem to be on the way out again, and this might well do it for them. It's rather slow and measured and a shade gloomy for Christmas fare, but it's good to hear Noddy Holder roaring away." Nicky Brown of the ''Gateshead Post'' remarked, "Not while the royalties from 'Merry Xmas Everybody' keep rolling in, eh lads! Toytown rock from people who don't know any better." In 2007, rock music journalist Chris Ingham described the song as "the closest thing to a bona fide Slade classic on the album" and added, "A rousing, attractive anthem of resolution in the face of harshness, it rings out like a theme song for Slade and their inspiring tenacity."

Formats

7-inch single (UK) #"We Won't Give In" – 3:38 #"Ooh La La In L.A." – 3:52

Personnel

Slade *

– lead vocals * Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals * Jim Lea – keyboards, bass, backing vocals *

– drums Production * Jim Lea – production ("We Won't Give In") *

John Punter John Punter (born 27 January 1949) is an English and Canadian former record producer and recording engineer. He has worked with many bands and musicians, such as Spoons, Japan, Procol Harum, Roxy Music, Bryan Ferry, Re-Flex, Doctors of Madness, ...

– production ("Ooh La La in L.A.")

Charts

References

{{Authority control 1986 songs 1987 singles Slade songs Songs written by Noddy Holder Songs written by Jim Lea Song recordings produced by Jim Lea