The Original vs. The Cover – “Cum On Feel The Noize”

Published on by 2loud2oldmusic

For the third installment, I wanted to cover the Slade song “Cum on Feel the Noize”.  Yes, I said Slade.  If you didn’t know Quiet Riot did a COVER version of this song (any many others), they did not write it. As a kid, I thought they wrote it and it was their song.  They definitely made it their own, but it was years later I learned it was actually a cover of Slade’s song.

Of course, I am a huge fan of the Quiet Riot version as that is what introduced me to the band.  However, once I discovered the band Slade, years later, I became a bigger fan of them than Quiet Riot. I really enjoy the Glam rock era of the 70’s and the fact they are the ones that wrote these great songs, I now lean more towards their version.  Let’s talk a little about each version and then you can tell me which one you like best.

SLADE:

“Cum on Feel the Noize” was originally titled “Cum on Hear the Noize” until Noddy Holder changed it because he believed that at a Slade concert you felt the music and the crowd.*  The single went #1 in the UK in February 1973 and was their fourth #1 song.  It was also the first song to go #1 in its first week of release since the Beatles back in 1969.

According to the CD liner notes for their greatest hits album, the “Baby, Baby, Baby” opening of the song by Nodder was actually just a microphone test.  It sounded so good they left it in the song and is one big difference between the two songs.  The song definitely has the feel of a concert recording and is a great example of a rock anthem.  They captured that energy and feeling of a Slade concert.

QUIET RIOT:

10 Years later, Quiet Riot covered the Slade song and reached all the way to #5 on the Billboard charts. It helped catapult their album, Metal Health, to #1.  Quiet Riot took the song and cranked it up a notch and turned into more of a metal song.  The heavier drums and guitars gave it that extra boost.

Vocally, I don’t hear much difference between the Slade song and the Quiet Riot version.  Kevin DuBrow sounds just like Noddy in his singing style.  That is a big compliment in my book.  Quiet Riot definitely captured the feel and energy of the original.  They were also add enough to it that you feel it is a Quiet Riot song.  It is a great cover.

From what I have read, Kevin did not want to do this as a cover as he wanted the band to write all the songs on the album.**  Apparently, those feelings changed with the success of the song as they covered another Slade song for their next album, “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”.

Let me know which one you prefer.  It really is a close call as they are both great, but I will lean towards the original and Slade.  It is a shame Slade never broke huge here in the States because I think we missed out on a great band.  Thanks to Quiet Riot for letting us know that they had songs worth covering.

“Cum On Feel The Noize”

Baby baby baby!
Ee-ow…So you think I got an evil mind, well I’ll tell you honey
And I don’t know why
And I don’t know why
So you think my singing’s out of time, well it makes me money
And I don’t know why
And I don’t know why
Anymore
Oh no[Chorus]
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild,
We get wild, wild, wild,
So cum on feel the noize
Girls grab the boys
We get wild, wild, wild,
At your door

So you say I got a funny face, I ain’t got no worries
And I don’t know why
And I don’t know why
Say I’m a scruff bag well it’s no disgrace, I ain’t in no hurry
And I don’t know why
I just don’t know why
Anymore
Oh no

[Chorus]

So you think we have a lazy time, well you should know better
And I don’t know why
I just don’t know why
And you say I got a dirty mind, well I’m a mean go getter
And I don’t know why
And I don’t know why
Anymore
Oh no

[Chorus]

Written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea
Additional covers (per wikipedia)
  • Oasis in 1996 as a B-side to their single “Don’t Look Back in Anger”.
  • Bran Van 3000 (BV3) released a cover of “Cum On Feel the Noize” on their first album Glee
  • In 2006, Bobby Bare, Jr.’s Young Criminals Starvation League on their live album Nick Nacks And Paddy Whacks.
  • In 2011, Gay For Johnny Depp at their last album What Doesn’t Kill You, Eventually Kills You.
  • In 2017, The Featherz covered the song on their debut album Five Year Itch.

* “Look Wot I Dun: Don Powell of Slade – Don Powell, Lise Lyng Falkenberg – Google Books”

**  “Frankie Banali of Quiet Riot : Songwriter Interviews”

34 thoughts on “The Original vs. The Cover – “Cum On Feel The Noize””

  10. Slade did a great song and that’s something we have to thank for, but I really think QR took it to the highest level! I think QR version is amazing, love it!

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      1. As a matter of fact, that’s what happened to me, once I knew Slade thanks to Quiet Riot, I started to enjoy Slade’s songs, and what a lot of wonderful songs they have!

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  14. Pingback: Track 36: Cum on Feel the Noize – Under the covers

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