🎼 Burning In The Heat Of Love – Single: Apr. 1977

Released at a turbulent moment in Slade’s career, “Burning In The Heat Of Love” arrived as a hard‑rock statement from a band fighting to regain chart traction in a UK scene rapidly shifting toward punk.

Issued in the UK on 15 April 1977, the single was written and recorded quickly as a standalone release following the commercial disappointment of Whatever Happened to Slade. Despite strong reviews from parts of the music press, the single failed to chart in the UK.

🔘 The Story

Recorded on 17 March 1977 and mixed the following day, “Burning In The Heat Of Love” was Slade’s attempt to deliver a more commercial, punchy single after the lukewarm reception to their early‑1977 material. Noddy Holder described the track as “similar in style to the album but more commercial,” aiming to appeal to both rock and pop audiences.

The B‑side, “Ready Steady Kids,” had been completed earlier at Advision Studios in January 1977. Despite the band’s confidence, the single struggled to gain traction in a UK market dominated by punk’s rise, becoming Slade’s second consecutive release to miss the Top 50.

Critical reaction was mixed but often enthusiastic: Record Mirror praised its riff, Sounds called it “the dirtiest ballsiest single of the lot,” and the Coventry Evening Telegraph predicted a comeback that ultimately didn’t materialise.

🔘 Personnel

• Noddy Holder – lead vocals, guitar

• Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals

• Jim Lea – bass, backing vocals

• Don Powell – drums

• Chas Chandler – producer

🔘 Key Highlights

• Non‑album single released April 1977

• Written by Holder/Lea and produced by Chas Chandler

• B‑side “Ready Steady Kids” recorded earlier in January 1977

• Did not enter the UK Singles Chart

Label: Barn Records Ltd

Format: Vinyl, 7", Single, Stereo

Released: April 1977

🔘 Track List – UK (Barn 2014 106)

A. Burning In The Heat Of Love

Written by: Lea, Holder

Published by: Barn Publishing (Slade) Ltd.

Producer: Chas Chandler

B. Ready Steady Kids

Written by: Lea, Holder

Published by: Barn Publishing (Slade) Ltd.

Producer: Chas Chandler

🔘 Variants

• UK – Barn 2014 106 – 7", Single, Stereo (1977)

• Germany – Barn 2014 106 – 7", 45 RPM, Single (1977)

• Belgium – Barn 2014 106 – 7", Single (1977)

• France – Barn 2014 106 – 7", 45 RPM, Single (1977)

• Italy – Polydor 2014 106 – 7", 45 RPM (1977)

🔘 Related Releases

Additional material connected to this entry is listed in the tag index at the foot of the page.

🔘 Chart Performance

• Did not enter the UK Singles Chart

🔘 Context & Notes

• Written and recorded rapidly in March 1977

• Released during Slade’s post‑US‑tour commercial downturn

• Strong press support but no chart success

• Later covered by Girlschool in 1984, produced by Holder/Lea

🔘 Discography

Gypsy Roadhog — 1977

Burning In The Heat Of Love — 1977

My Baby Left Me But That’s Alright Mama — 1977

🔘 Glam Flashback

A fierce, riff‑driven single fired into a UK chart climate that had already moved on — but Slade’s raw power still burned bright.

#ReleaseChronicle #Slade #BurningInTheHeatOfLove #1977

🔘 Sources

Discogs, 45cat, Wikipedia, Billboard, BBC Charts.