Slade: "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" Single (1972)

Slade’s "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" backed with "Man Who Speeks Evil", was released as a 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by Polydor Records (catalog number 2058 254) on August 25, 1972, as lead single from their third studio album, Slayed?. Written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler, it became one of Slade’s signature anthems and a glam rock classic. The song hit No. 1 in the UK, their third chart-topping single, and stayed in the charts for ten weeks. It also reached No. 76 in the US Billboard Hot 100.

The track’s raucous energy and singalong chorus were inspired by a wild concert at Wembley’s Empire Pool, where Holder, seeing the smashed seats afterward, thought, “Christ, everyone must have been crazy tonight.” Jim Lea, influenced by a Chuck Berry gig where the crowd sang along en masse, crafted the melody to capture that live audience vibe. Originally titled "My My We're All Crazy Now," it was changed to "Mama" after Chandler misheard it and preferred the tweak.

The B-side, "Man Who Speeks Evil," written by Lea and drummer Don Powell, was exclusive to the single and later included on the 2007 compilation B-Sides. The song was released on 7" vinyl by Polydor Records across multiple countries, with no music video but live performances on shows like Top of the Pops and TopPop. Its raw, anthemic sound, described as a “full-on adrenalin monster,” cemented Slade’s live essence and became a staple in their performances.