February 2, 1987 - Slade Released Still The Same

Released as the lead single from their fourteenth and final studio album, You Boyz Make Big Noize. The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter. "Still the Same" peaked at number 73 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for four weeks.

In 1986, Slade started writing and recording for their album You Boyz Make Big Noize, aiming to create a hit that would bring them back into the spotlight. RCA selected "Still the Same" as the lead single for the album. Although initially planned for a Christmas 1986 release, the single was postponed to 1987 to avoid Slade being perceived solely as a Christmas band. Released in February 1987, "Still the Same" reached No. 73 in the UK. The single struggled in the UK due to limited radio play, being only B-Listed on BBC Radio 1 instead of the A-List.

In a 1987 fan club interview, guitarist Dave Hill discussed the song's lack of chart success: "Still the Same" is essentially considered a flop compared to expectations. I believe the record company was mostly disappointed, as they, more than the group, chose it. It was always intended to be a single, even from the demo stage. "Still the Same" performed almost identically to "My Oh My" in the charts during its initial weeks, but while "My Oh My" gained radio play, "Still the Same" was completely dropped, especially by Radio One." Hill felt that the song "deserved to chart much higher than it did."

"Still the Same" was released on 7" and 12" vinyl by RCA Records in the UK, Germany, and Portugal, with the 12" version also available in other European countries. The B-side, "Gotta Go Home," was unique to the single and was later included in the band's 2007 compilation B-Sides. In the UK, a special limited edition version of the single was released to celebrate Slade's 21st anniversary. This double pack included an additional 7" vinyl featuring "The Roaring Silence" as the A-side and "Don't Talk to Me About Love" as the B-side. "The Roaring Silence" would be included on You Boyz Make Big Noize, while "Don't Talk to Me About Love" was later used as a B-side for the band's 1987 single "Ooh La La in L.A.". The 12" single featured an extended version of "Still the Same" as the A-side.

When it was released, Paul Henderson from Kerrang! remarked, "I doubt many of us will enjoy listening to this lackluster offering. The upbeat B-side, however, with its somewhat ZZ Top-like instrumental bridge, is much more enjoyable and would have had a better chance." In a review of You Boyz Make Big Noize, the American newspaper Record-Journal described the song as a "hook-filled, powerful tune," "shining with its anthemic arrangement and heavenly harmonizing chorus." In a retrospective review, Doug Stone of AllMusic noted: "With Slade's glory days long past, the band surprisingly manages to produce sparks like 'Still the Same': always tunefully tight, yet loose enough to sing along to at the pub."

7-inch single (UK and Europe)

"Still the Same" – 3:53

"Gotta Go Home" – 3:18

7-inch commemorative double pack single

"Still the Same" – 3:53

"Gotta Go Home" – 3:18

"The Roaring Silence" – 2:48

"Don't Talk to Me About Love" – 2:28

12-inch single

"Still the Same" (Extended Version) – 5:33

"Gotta Go Home" – 3:18