Look Wot You Dun Single: 1972
- Slade
- Jan 28, 1972
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 5
Released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK on January 28, 1972, on Polydor (catalogue: 2058 195), Slade’s “Look Wot You Dun” — backed with “Candidate” was written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and Don Powell, Don wrote most of the lyrics. produced by Chas Chandler, the track entered the UK Singles Chart on February 5, 1972, peaked at No. 4, and charted for 10 weeks. The song’s phonetic title and pistol-shot beat sparked protests from teachers who felt it confused pupils, yet it became another massive glam-rock hit.
Following their breakthrough hit "Get Down and Get With It," Slade experienced continued success with their subsequent single "Coz I Luv You," which reached the top of the UK charts in October 1971. Released as a follow-up in January 1972, "Look Wot You Dun" sustained the band's success, reaching No. 4 in the UK. This track was the second to feature Slade's characteristic misspelling in the title, after "Coz I Luv You." Upon its release, "Look Wot You Dun" drew criticism from teachers across the UK, who believed the phonetic spellings were confusing students.
"Look Wot You Dun" was primarily composed by Lea and Powell. Once the initial concept was developed, Lea collaborated with Holder, who added his contributions. The song is notable for Powell's backing vocal contribution, providing the heavy breathing heard in the chorus. During the recording, Hill used Peter Frampton's guitar because adverse weather conditions over the Christmas period delayed the arrival of his own instrument at the studio.
Release
"Look Wot You Dun" was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records in the UK, Ireland, Europe, Scandinavia, Yugoslavia, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Lebanon, and Japan. In the United States, it was released by Cotillion. The B-side, "Candidate," was included in the band's 1972 European compilation "Coz I Luv You" and later on the 2007 compilation "B-Sides."
Promotion
To promote the single, two music videos were produced by Caravelle. The first was filmed at Chessington Zoo in London, while the second was recorded in a studio, featuring the band performing the song with Holder dressed as a magician. In the UK, Slade performed the track on the music show Top of the Pops, and in Germany, they appeared on Hits a GoGo.
Critical Reception
Upon release, Derek Johnson of the NME speculated that the band might achieve their second number one hit with "Look Wot You Dun." He described the track as an "immensely catchy number" that is "good honest pop – unpretentious, enormously entertaining, and thoroughly irresistible." He noted the song's "ungrammatical but colloquial title" and its "startling pistol-shot beat" as successful elements. Kevin Henry of the Manchester Evening News praised it as a "captivating piece of rock," highlighting the band's ability to "slow down the tempo" while maintaining excitement and rhythm. Deborah Thomas of the Daily Mirror labeled it a "misspelt smash of beat up blues." Mark Nelson of the Chester Chronicle predicted a "monster No. 1 hit," citing the "really great thumping beat" that compels listeners to dance. He added that it is "gimmicky, but irresistible." In the US, Cash Box noted the song's "closet-Lennon sound" and "many gimmicks," but recognized it as a "solid programming item on musical merits alone," suggesting it could establish the British chart-toppers in America.
Track Listing
A: Look Wot You Dun
B: Candidate
Production
Producer – Chas. Chandler
UK Variants
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058-195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058-195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058-195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Injection Solid Centre – Polydor 2058 195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Knock-out Center, Paper Labels – Polydor 2058 195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre – Polydor 2058 195
UK Chart Performance
Peak position: 4
10 weeks – February 5, 1972 to April 8, 1972
25 → 9 → 4 → 4 → 4 → 8 → 13 → 18 → 28 → 38
Worldwide Variants
Argentina – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo – Polydor 1527, Polydor 2058195
Australia – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195
Austria – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono – Polydor 2058 195
Belgium – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Dark Green Logo Variant – Polydor 2058 195
Belgium – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Light Green Version – Polydor 2058 195
Belgium – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Yellow Logo Variant – Polydor 2058 195
Brazil – 1972: 7", 33 ⅓ RPM, Single, Stereo – Polydor 2058 195
Europe – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195
France – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195
Germany – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195
Italy – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Stereo – Polydor 2058 195
Japan – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor DP 1860
Japan – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo – Polydor DP 1860
Lebanon – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Turquoise, Marbled – Polydor 2058 195
Netherlands – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195
Netherlands – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, "Sitting Sleeve" – Polydor 2058 195
Netherlands – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, "Sitting Sleeve", Paper Labels – Polydor 2058 195
New Zealand – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mono – Polydor 2058 195
Norway – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo – Polydor 2058.195
Norway – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195, Polydor 2058.195
Philippines – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor PRO-3303
Portugal – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058 195, Polydor 2 058 195
South Africa – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor PS.196
Spain – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 20 58 195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058-195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Polydor 2058-195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Injection Solid Centre – Polydor 2058 195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Knock-out Center, Paper Labels – Polydor 2058 195
UK – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Solid Centre – Polydor 2058 195
US – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single – Cotillion 45-44150
US – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, SRC Pressing – Cotillion 45-44150
US – 1972: 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo, Mono, SRC – Cotillion 45-44150
“Look Wot You Dun” is Slade’s second UK No. 1 — a stomping, misspelt glam-rock classic with that unmistakable pistol-shot beat. Verify catalogue 2058 195.
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Sources
Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts Company
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