⭐ Ruby Red – Single: Mar. 1982
- Slade
- Mar 4, 1982
- 3 min read
b/w “Funk Punk and Junk”
7" Single & Double Pack — RCA RCA 191 / PB 5462 • RCAD 191 / PBD 5462
Released: March 4, 1982 (UK)
🔘 Sub‑Heading
A revived 1978 composition reborn as a 1982 single, issued in both standard and double‑pack formats.
🔘 Overview
Released on March 4, 1982, “Ruby Red” marked Slade’s return to the UK singles market during the Till Deaf Do Us Part era. Although the song was originally written and recorded in 1978, the band were never satisfied with the early version. When assembling material for their 1981 album, Holder and Lea revisited the track, added new riffs, and finally captured the performance they had envisioned years earlier.
In a 1981 fan‑club interview, Noddy Holder explained that “Ruby Red” had been “around for a long time,” originally attempted at Portland Studios under Chas Chandler but never “got down how we wanted it.” Rediscovered during album preparations, the band recognised its commercial strength and re‑cut it for the LP—ultimately selecting it as a single.
The release appeared in two formats: a standard 7" and a 7" double pack featuring two additional live tracks. “Ruby Red” entered the UK Singles Chart on March 27, 1982, remaining for three weeks and peaking at No. 51.
🔘 Track List
Version 1 — UK 7" Single (RCA 191 / PB 5462)
Ruby Red
Funk Punk and Junk
Version 2 — UK 7" Double Pack (RCAD 191 / PBD 5462)
Ruby Red
Funk Punk and Junk
Rock and Roll Preacher (Live Version)
Tak Me Bak ’Ome (Live Version)
All songs written by Holder, Lea.
All tracks produced by Slade.
🔘 Variants
UK 7" Single — RCA 191 / PB 5462
UK 7" Double Pack — RCAD 191 / PBD 5462
Double pack includes two additional live tracks
All variants physically verified
Chart peak: No. 51 (UK)
🔘 Chart Performance
Entered UK Singles Chart: March 27, 1982
Peak Position: No. 51
Weeks on Chart: 3
🔘 Context & Notes
Artist: Slade
Label: RCA (UK)
Release Date: March 4, 1982
Formats: 7" Single, 7" Double Pack
Catalogue Numbers: RCA 191 / PB 5462 • RCAD 191 / PBD 5462
“Ruby Red” reflects Slade’s early‑’80s resurgence, combining their classic stomp with a sharper, heavier production style. The double‑pack format, popular at the time, offered added value with two live favourites—“Rock and Roll Preacher” and “Tak Me Bak ’Ome”—capturing the band’s enduring live power.
🔘 Visual Archive
Slade — Ruby Red — UK 7" Single / Double Pack Sleeve (1982).
🔘 Related Material
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
“Rock and Roll Preacher” (Live)
“Tak Me Bak ’Ome” (1972)
Slade 1981–1983 RCA Singles
See tabs at the foot of the post for navigation
🔘 Discography
“Ruby Red” (1982 single)
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
“Tak Me Bak ’Ome” (1972 single)
🔘 Mini‑Timeline
1978: First attempt at recording “Ruby Red”
1981: Song revisited and re‑recorded for Till Deaf Do Us Part
March 4, 1982: Single released
March 27, 1982: Enters UK Singles Chart at No. 51
🔘 Glam Flashback
“Ruby Red” bridges Slade’s late‑’70s songwriting with their early‑’80s hard‑rock revival. The track’s long gestation and eventual release reflect the band’s instinct for rediscovering strong material and reshaping it for a new era.
🔘 Closing Notes
A strong, riff‑driven single with a unique backstory, “Ruby Red” stands as a testament to Slade’s persistence, craft, and ability to rework earlier ideas into chart‑ready anthems.
🔘 Sources & Copyright
RCA Records (1982).
Slade Fan Club Interviews (1981).
UK Singles Chart Archive.
Physical release verification.
🔘 Tags
Comments