Dave Edmunds – Slipping Away

This is a good song that got lost in the 1980s shuffle. I had known about Edmunds in 1983 because of three things…seeing Stardust and the single I Hear You Knocking that was given to me. I also remembered him with Rockpile in The Concert for Kampuchea film with Robert Plant.

Dave Edmunds released this song in 1983. I remember hearing it and something about it reminded me of ELO…there is a reason for that. Jeff Lynne produced and wrote the song. It peaked at #39 in the Billboard 100. MTV also played it in a heavy rotation.

Edmunds wanted to do something different and he tried working with Phil Collins but Collins was busy so he connected with Jeff Lynne. Lynne left his mark on the recording but it still has some of the rockabilly elements that Edmunds will bring.

It got a lot of airplay in my region at the time so I was surprised it only went to #39. Very different from his 1970 hit I Hear You Knocking I think this song showed he was able to adapt to the 80s and still retain his rock roots sound.

Dave Edmunds: “Then I thought of Jeff Lynne, because he was Mr. Techno back then and he used to make great-sounding records, although now I listen to them and they sound a bit dated. I’m a bit puzzled why I was so enamored with Jeff, but he is very creative in the studio. He can go in with nothing and right on the spot make a record. I was taken with that. This being 1983, synthesizers were coming into vogue, especially in Edmunds’ native UK. For Jeff Lynne, this was a natural progression, but for Edmunds, it was out of step with his sound – he specialized in rock guitar and simplified productions (he had recently produced the Stray Cats first album). So when “Slipping Away” emerged, featuring a prominent synth played by Lynne, many of Edmunds’ fans were nonplussed.

Edmunds did more work with Lynne on his next album, Riff Raff, but soon returned to his rock roots.

Slipping Away

I can feel you slipping away from me.A little bit further now every day.I’m holding on, but I can’t believeThis is how you want it to be.

Oh, you’re slipping away.Oh, you’re slipping away.

It feels like walking down a long, dark road.You never talk to me the way you did before.You ride through the city with your head held high.And all I can do is watch you go by.

Oh, you’re slipping away.Oh, you’re slipping away.

I’m gonna give it all I’ve got to give.I’ve got to hold on, see what tomorrow brings.You’re slipping away, but give me one more try.One more chance to wipe these tears from my eyes.You’re slipping away.Oh, you’re slipping away

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Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

31 thoughts on “Dave Edmunds – Slipping Away”

  4. Great tune Max! Well you know how I feel about Dave Edmunds. I know Letterman was a big fan and I think he did this song on his show. I also love Jeff Lynn but I will admit this is not my favourite period for Edmunds.

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    1. It was an odd choice for producer…I think if it would have been a few years later it would have worked better. Lynne still sounds like ELO here…when he produced Harrison and Petty…there were elements there but not as strong as the ELO vibe is on this.

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  5. Nope, never heard this one! Must have been a regional hit. It’s not bad but doesn’t really stand out much to me. Like you said, I can hear a tinge of ELO in there, which isn’t a problem . did you hear the rest of the album Lynne produced?

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    1. Wow…MTV played the hell out of it…it was a top 40 hit but I’m not sure how it did in Canada.. Lynne produced two albums altogether for him….since this album was a success he did one more for Edumnds.
      This was way before the Harrison and Pettty albums…so it still sounded like ELO..

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  6. Though it’s still instantly recognisable as Dave Edmunds, I think there’s something missing from this track. I can’t put my finger on it. Maybe it’s the influence of others, but it’s just lacking the dynamism he was reknowned for with his earlier (and later) work.

    There – I’ve said it. 😀

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  7. I like the cut. At the time I was a huge Dave fan (Still am). A case of trying something different and maybe trying to cash in a little with the collaboration with someone who was commercially popular and give a little change up. There are some songs on the album that are really good and dont have the sound and production of this one. Hats off to Dave for mixing it up and coming up with a new twist for him. You know the chartb thing Max, probably out did is earlier output.
    (I found a Phil Collins Greatest Hits in my pile (No idea how it got there). I’ll lend it to you in fact you can have it. I’ll keep an eye out for another copy)

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    1. He picked a good producer to experiment with… Lynne knew how to write a hit. I just listened to Trax on Wax 4….I’ve never heard this album all the way through though.
      Oh…Phil! Nice enough guy and a great drummer but I had my fill of him in the 80s.

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  8. I like this song, dated or not. Since you mentioned Stardust, my best friend was a massive David Essex fan and the first time the movie was on TV it was on HBO. Neither one of us had HBO, so she talked another friend who did have it into letting us come over and watch it. Shameless! So I am familiar with the film. I have that and That’ll Be the Day on DVD.

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  14. I bought this single at the time, think it was a picture disc, and as a Dave and Jeff fan it sounded fine in the 1983 musical climate, and got UK radio play. It’s not up to Girl’s Talk standards, of his then-recent stuff, but it was pretty good. Not heard it in yonks!

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