music
'People get confused, think it’s called Where Did You Go?' How the Bluetones made Slight Return
'We didn’t have a washing machine, so I was in the launderette when our manager rang and said: “You’ve gone in at No 2”’
TL;DR
- The song 'Slight Return' was written by the Bluetones in the early 90s, aiming for a Crosby, Stills & Nash sound.
- It was initially a demo sold on blue 7-inch vinyl to a small fanbase before the band was signed.
- The record label insisted on releasing 'Slight Return' as a single, even suggesting a name change because the exact phrase wasn't in the lyrics.
- The title is a reference to the song's last line and a tribute to Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)'.
- Upon its release, 'Slight Return' went 'ballistic,' entering the midweek charts at No 2.
- The band members had diverse musical backgrounds before forming The Bluetones, including Madchester and trip-hop scenes.
- The band learned that omitting the song from live sets was a mistake, as it's what the audience most wants to hear.
- Confusion exists as people often believe the song is called 'Where Did You Go?', referencing the last line of a different Bluetones song.