A nostalgic look back at a song that signaled a shift for Slade, from their high-energy glam-rock anthems to a more contemplative, nuanced sound.
In the mid-1970s, the musical landscape was shifting. The glitter and stomp of glam rock, which had dominated the airwaves just a few years earlier, was beginning to fade. Bands that had defined the era were faced with a choice: double down on their signature sound or evolve with the times. For the Wolverhampton lads in Slade, who had become synonymous with chart-topping, working-class anthems, this transition was particularly poignant. Their 1975 single, “In for a Penny,” from the album “Nobody’s Fools,” stands as a fascinating and, for some, surprising artifact of this moment.
Gone were the sing-along choruses and shouted declarations of youthful rebellion. Instead, “In for a Penny” offered something more reflective, almost soulful. The song’s most memorable feature, without a doubt, is the beautiful accordion solo played by Jim Lea‘s brother, Frank. This inclusion was a stark departure from the band’s usual guitar-driven fury and lent the track a melancholic, almost Continental feel. It’s a sound that evokes the quiet moments after the party’s over, when the last notes of a waltz still hang in the air and you’re left to contemplate what was. The song’s contemplative, almost relaxed feel was a definite move away from the “heavy metal base” that had brought them to fame, and it’s a testament to the band’s willingness to experiment, even if it meant alienating some of their most fervent fans.
Lyrically, the song is a reflection on a past romantic encounter, filled with fragments of memory and a lingering sense of nostalgia. Lines like “Do you remember the night in September / The two of us laid in the hay?” transport the listener back in time, painting a picture of a youthful fling filled with innocence and passion. The central theme, “If you’re in for a penny, you gotta be in for a pound,” is a British idiom meaning that once you’ve committed to something, you should see it through to the end, regardless of the difficulty. In the context of the song, it suggests a complete emotional and physical commitment to the relationship being recalled, and perhaps a wistful acknowledgment of the “tumble or two” they had together.
Released on November 14, 1975, the single achieved a peak position of number 11 on the UK Singles Chart, a respectable but somewhat disappointing result compared to the string of number one hits they had enjoyed in the earlier half of the decade. It stayed in the Top 50 for eight weeks, showing that while it may not have been the smash hit some expected, it still resonated with a significant audience. Despite mixed reviews from critics, some of whom felt it was too much of a departure from the “Slade that fans came to know,” the song remains a fan favorite and a crucial part of the band’s catalog. It represents a mature and introspective side of Slade that perhaps wasn’t fully appreciated at the time but has since become a cherished part of their legacy. For those who grew up with the band, listening to “In for a Penny” now is like opening a dusty old photo album, with each note and lyric a faded photograph of a different time. It’s a quiet, beautiful reminder that even the loudest rock and rollers have a gentle story to tell.