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For the song by the Jimi Hendrix Experience, see Voodoo Child (Slight Return).

“Slight Return” is a song by the English indie rock band the Bluetones, released as their first single in February 1995, on 7-inch blue vinyl, available for early dedicated fans through mail order and at their tour with Supergrass.[3] Its B-side was “The Fountainhead”, which was later listed on their 1996 debut album Expecting to Fly. Limited to 2000 copies,[citation needed] the single was named after the subtitle for Jimi Hendrix‘s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” as a working title until Bluetones frontman, Mark Morriss struggled to find another name for it.[4] It was then reissued on 22 January 1996, as the second single from Expecting to Fly. “Slight Return” peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and is the band’s highest-placing single. There is a hidden lyric at the 1:47 mark of the song where Morriss says, “Make it funky now!”, telling BBC Radio 1‘s Evening Session that he did not think anyone would notice it.[5] Occasionally, he sings the lyric live.[citation needed]

Background and recording

After the band left a previous local Hounslow group they were in called the Bottlegarden, they reformed as the Bluetones in 1993, working as a three-piece temporarily without a drummer before meeting Eds Chesters. “Slight Return” was the fourth or fifth song they wrote in this time, while they were around 21.[6] Their bassist, Scott Morriss wrote its chord progressions and structure without words or a melody. Their guitarist, Adam Devllin worked around the guitar parts, adding a solo and Mark Morriss came up with the vocals. Together, they worked on the instrumental at the end which originally sampled Tom Courtenay in the 1963 comedy drama film Billy Liar.[7]

At first, it worked well at early shows, leading them to release the 7-inch, which was a demo recording.[7] This version of the track was featured on the band’s 2007 compilation album, The Early Garage Years.[8] After the band’s reformation in April 2015 after their initial 2011 split,[9][10][11] they reissued the single for a second time on Acid Jazz Records as part of their Jukebox Tour.[12][13][14] Its reissue featured the demo track along with the demo for their 1995 single “Bluetonic“, which originally appeared on Fierce Panda Records‘ 1994 EP compilation, Return To Splendour.[15]

After getting signed to A&M Records and finishing the recording of the album after five or six weeks at Ridge Farm Studio,[16][6] the label suggested the song to be released as the second single from Expecting to Fly. The band themself were reluctant to this idea since they felt that it would be “short-changing” their fanbase who bought it while they were starting out. They were planning on making the second single “Carnt Be Trusted” instead, although was rejected for not having a chorus. The label also recommended changing the title since it is never explicitly said in the lyrics, although they rejected this since it is referenced in the closing lines “I’m coming home/But just for a short while”.[7]

Morriss has revealed that the song’s meaning is about somebody who feels cut-off from the world, their friends and their loved-ones.[17]

Release and reception

“Slight Return” was re-released in January 1996 as the band’s third single, less than a month before the release of their debut album, Expecting to Fly. It entered the midweek UK Singles Chart at number two,[18] beneath Babylon Zoo‘s “Spaceman” which gained significant exposure after appearing in a television advertisement for Levi’s jeans.[19] The band were at an airport flying to a press junket when their former manager received a message on his pager saying “Call the label.” Mark Morriss said he did not believe its chart position until he got to their hotel and found out it was selling by the truckload. Adam Devlin however found out when he was at a laundrette since his shared house in Wimbledon he was living in at the time did not have a washing machine. He was called by their manager and informed it had reached number two.[7]

NME praised the song, giving it Single of the Week, writing that the band’s “knack of articulating a mood of hand-wringing melancholia reaches new peaks” with the release of the single which is “all filtered through Mark Morriss’ peculiarly tuneful whine of a vocal.” They also noted their appeal to its first B-side, “Don’t Stand Me Down”, stating that they “dare to merge such darkly contrasting emotions against a gorgeous rolling blues.”[20] Everett True of Melody Maker wrote that the track creates incandescent beauty in his review of Expecting to Fly.[21] Lily Moayeri of MTV Online compared their music to the sound of a Manchester band as opposed to a band from London.[22] She acknowledged that they were frequently linked to the Stone Roses and rather said that,[23][24] “if you liked the Stone Roses, you will probably like the Bluetones.”[22]

Upon the single’s release, it featured on several music programmes such as Top of the Pops,[25] The Chart Show,[26] Later… with Jools Holland,[27] and previously The White Room as their television debut before signing to A&M.[28]

The song is generally remembered and associated as a jangly track at the height of the Bluetones’ career during the Britpop movement.[29][30]

Single cover

The song’s single cover depicts a bombus lucorum bee,[31] as a nod to the logo of the association football team Adam Devlin supports, Brentford F.C.[32][33]

Music video

Morriss has stated that the concept for the song’s promotional video was initially inspired by the 1962 coming-of-age film, The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner, combined with the idea of indulgence, where the band would portray marathon runners, and towards the end there would be long tables of food like cakes and burgers, instead of water. It was filmed at the Royal Arsenal Gatehouse and its surrounding areas in Woolwich in south-east London and was directed by Lindy Heymann.[34] The video was included on both the band’s November 1997 Mondo Concerto VHS and DVD release and their October 2007 Blue Movies DVD.[35][36]

Track listings

All tracks are written by Morriss, Devlin, Morriss, Chesters.

UK limited-edition blue vinyl 7-inch single (1995)[37]

A. “Slight Return”
B. “The Fountainhead”

UK 7-inch and cassette single; European CD single (1996)[38][39][31]

  1. “Slight Return”
  2. “Don’t Stand Me Down”

UK, Australian, and Japanese CD single (1996)[40][41][42]

  1. “Slight Return”
  2. “Don’t Stand Me Down”
  3. “Nae Hair On’t”

US CD single (1996)[43]

  1. “Slight Return”
  2. “Don’t Stand Me Down”
  3. “Nae Hair On’t”
  4. “Are You Blue or Are You Blind?”

UK 7-inch single (2015)[44]

A. “Slight Return” (demo)
B. “No. 11” (demo)

Credits and personnel

Credits are taken from the Expecting to Fly album booklet and CD single notes.[45][31]

Studio

The Bluetones

Additional personnel
  • Hugh Jones – production, mixing
  • Steve Harris – co-production
  • The Bluetones – co-production
  • Helen Woodward – mix engineering
  • Geoff Pesche – mastering
  • Trevor Ray Hart – photography

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[59] Silver 200,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom February 1995 7-inch vinyl Superior Quality [37]
22 January 1996
  • 7-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [60]
Japan 25 February 1996 CD A&M [61]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Stiernberg, Bonnie (11 June 2014). “The 50 Best Britpop Songs”. Paste. Retrieved 2 May 2025. …a jangly acoustic pop song that offered a nice alternative to the Britpop heavyweights…
  2. ^ a b Hawking, Tom (14 May 2013). “A Selection of Criminally Underrated Britpop Anthems”. Flavorwire. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
  3. ^ “with a little charm…: discography: singles: slight return (mail order)”. bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  4. ^ Publisher (20 February 2014). “Interview: The Bluetones’ Mark Morriss”. Songwriting Magazine. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  5. ^ “with a little charm…:faq: questions about songs”. bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  6. ^ a b Burrows, Marc (19 October 2015). “Album by Album with The Bluetones / In Depth /”. Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d Pelley, Rich (1 June 2026). “‘People get confused, think it’s called Where Did You Go?’ How the Bluetones made Slight Return”. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  8. ^ “IndieLondon: The Bluetones – The Early / Garage Years”. indielondon.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  9. ^ Britton, Luke (13 April 2015). “The Bluetones announce 20th anniversary reunion tour”. NME. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  10. ^ Keoghan, Jim (15 September 2011). “Expecting To Land: The Last Bluetones Interview”. The Quietus. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  11. ^ Nissim, Mayer (28 March 2011). “The Bluetones to split after farewell tour”. Digital Spy. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  12. ^ Patterson, Kevin (29 July 2015). “Tour News – The Bluetones 20 Year Anniversary Jukebox Tour”. backseatmafia.com. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  13. ^ “The Bluetones – Slight Return Demo = 7″ VINYL”. Acid Jazz Records. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  14. ^ “The Bluetones: Slight Return / No. 11 (Bluetonic) VInyl. Norman Records UK”. normanrecords.com. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  15. ^ “Fierce Panda Records”. fiercepanda.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  16. ^ Strong, Martin C. (2000). The Great Rock Discography (5th ed.). Edinburgh: Mojo Books. p. 96. ISBN 1-84195-017-3.
  17. ^ Expecting to Fly Live (DVD). CIA Recordings. 18 May 2009.
  18. ^ “Official Singles Chart on 28/1/1996”. Official Charts. 3 February 1996. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  19. ^ Sweney, Mark (15 July 2010). “Bartle Bogle Hegarty parts company with Levi’s after 28 years of ads”. The Guardian. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  20. ^ “Single of the Week”. NME. 13 January 1996. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  21. ^ True, Everett (February 1996). “The Bluetones – Expecting to Fly”. Melody Maker. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  22. ^ a b Moayeri, Lily. “MTV Online: Bluetones, Expecting To Fly (A&M;)”. MTV Online. Archived from the original on 15 October 1997. Retrieved 16 May 2026.
  23. ^ “with a little charm…: influences: the stone roses”. bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  24. ^ Barker, Emily (22 April 2014). “20 Albums That Wouldn’t Have Been Made Without ‘The Stone Roses’“. NME. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
  25. ^ “BBC TWO – Top of the Pops 01/02/1996”. BBC Two. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  26. ^ The Bluetones- Slight Return- The Chart Show ITV- Jan 1996 (Videotape). The Chart Show. January 1996.
  27. ^ “BBC Two – Later… with Jools Holland, Series 7, Episode 6”. BBC Two. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  28. ^ Bluetones – Slight Return – White Room live (Videotape). The White Room. 1995.
  29. ^ “Perfect Songs – The Bluetones: Slight Return”. arcana.fm. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  30. ^ Scott, Ben (13 February 2014). “Great Britpop Songs #10: The Bluetones – ‘Slight Return’“. godisinthetvzine.co.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  31. ^ a b c Slight Return (European CD single liner notes). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. 581 360-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  32. ^ “ADAM DEVLIN – THE BLUETONES – WE DON’T NEED TO GO HOPING FOR A MIRACLE – Britpop, Bands & Brentford”. YouTube. 10 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  33. ^ “An hour left to download “Welcome home, King Jota” charity single”. brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
  34. ^ “The Bluetones Blue Movies DVD Audio Commentary”. Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  35. ^ “with a little charm…: discography: videos”. bluetones.org.uk. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  36. ^ “with a little charm…: news: 2007: 6th October”. bluetones.org.uk. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
  37. ^ a b Slight Return (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1995. TONE 001.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  38. ^ Slight Return (UK 7-inch single sleeve). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. BLUE 003X.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  39. ^ Slight Return (UK cassette single sleeve). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. BLUE 003MC.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ Slight Return (UK CD single liner notes). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. BLUE 003CD.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  41. ^ Slight Return (Australian CD single liner notes). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. 581 361-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  42. ^ Slight Return (Japanese CD single liner notes). The Bluetones. A&M Records. 1996. POCM-1154.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  43. ^ Slight Return (US CD single liner notes). The Bluetones. A&M Records. 1996. 31458 1555 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  44. ^ Slight Return (7-inch single notes). Acid Jazz Records. 2015. AJX383S.
  45. ^ Expecting to Fly (UK CD album booklet). The Bluetones. Superior Quality Recordings. 1996. BLUECD 004, 540 475-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  46. ^ “Australian ARIA Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 30 Jun 1996”. ARIA. Retrieved 12 April 2018 – via Imgur. N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.
  47. ^ “Eurochart Hot 100 Singles” (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 6. 10 February 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  48. ^ “The Bluetones: Slight Return” (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  49. ^ “Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (30.3. – 5.4. ’96)”. Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 30 March 1996. p. 52. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  50. ^ “The Irish Charts – Search Results – Slight Return“. Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  51. ^ “Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 3/2/1996 – Top 100“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  52. ^ “The Bluetones – Slight Return“. Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  53. ^ “Official Singles Chart on 3/2/1996 – Top 100“. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
  54. ^ “Independent Singles” (PDF). Music Week. 17 February 1996. p. 38. ISSN 0265-1548 – via World Radio History.
  55. ^ “Árslistinn 1996”. Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1997. p. 16. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  56. ^ “Top 100 Singles 1996”. Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  57. ^ “Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1996 wg sprzedaży” (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  58. ^ “Airplay Top 50 of 1996” (PDF). Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 29. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  59. ^ “British single certifications – Bluetones – Slight Return”. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 March 2019. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Slight Return Bluetones in the “Search:” field.
  60. ^ “New Releases: Singles” (PDF). Music Week. 20 January 1996. p. 31. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  61. ^ “Bluetones Discography” (in Japanese). PolyGram. Archived from the original on 20 February 1999. Retrieved 27 August 2023.