Do You Believe in Miracles
"Do You Believe in Miracles" is a song by English rock band Slade, released in 1985 as a single. It was also included on the band's studio/compilation album Crackers (1985). The song was written by lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, and was produced by John Punter. It reached number 54 in the UK Singles Chart and remained in the top 100 for six weeks.

Background
"Do You Believe in Miracles" was recorded and released as a charity single, with all publishing royalties being donated equally to the Band Aid Trust and NSPCC. In a 1988 fan club interview, Lea revealed: "Certainly a few thousand pounds have been paid over and I keep getting these very nice letters all the time saying "Thank you very much, Mr Lea"."

"Do You Believe in Miracles" was inspired by Bob Geldof, with Holder's lyrics reflecting his thoughts on Geldof's achievement with Live Aid and also referencing Slade's past encounter with him in the late 1970s, at a time when the band's popularity was low. Appearing on the TV show Juice in 1985, Lea said of the song, "It's about Bob Geldof actually. When the group was down the nick he came to see us and he said, 'How can a group that's so big be playing a little club like you're playing now?' And we said, 'Well, we just decided to carry on, we didn't want to pack up.' And he said, 'Oh, I couldn't do that' but he did, and then he did the Live Aid thing, and I thought it was worth writing a song about." Holder also recounted the story to the Daily Mirror in 1985, "When we were going through a lean period he told me he'd give up if he was reduced to playing clubs. Now the same thing has happened to him. But I don't dislike him. He's really nice, and needed to be bloody-minded to achieve what he did at Live Aid."

Later in 1986, Lea recalled of the song's airplay: ""Do You Believe in Miracles" was played to death on the beeb. I really believed in that record." Drummer Don Powell said: "It didn't do too well chartwise, but it had every radio play in the book really. I could never turn the radio on without hearing it played. We did quite a few T.V. shows to promote it - but when we recorded them, when the record first came out - all the T.V. shows centred around Christmas, so we missed out on the initial thing. If we'd have had those T.V.'s when the record was actually released, that would have helped a lot more."

Release
In 1985, Slade were approached by Telstar to create a Christmas-related party album. The band had not intended for "Do You Believe in Miracles" to be included on the album but Telstar insisted.

Music video
The song's music video was directed by Phillip Davey and was put together from scenes shot in three different settings. One of these is based in an attic, where Holder, wearing a smoking jacket and accompanied by a black cat, is initially seen peering through a telescope before sitting at a large desk to plot the course of Halley's Comet. In a later reappearance of the attic, both Holder and Lea are seen performing the song at the desk, and for the closing scene in the video, all four band members are seen in there, taking it in turns to look through the telescope except for Dave Hill who has the black cat in his arms. The second setting features the band performing the song in front of a white curtain backdrop, and the third and final one shows them performing the song on stage in front of a small audience. All four band members, except for Powell, play on acoustic guitars and there is a mass of lit candles behind them.

Critical reception
In a review of the single, Australian newspaper The Age (published in Melbourne) commented: "Even if Bob Geldof misses out on this year's Nobel Peace Prize for his Live Aid triumph, at least he would have been immortalised in song by Slade. This ditty is a tribute to Geldof's efforts."

Formats
7-inch single (UK, Europe and Ecuador)
"Do You Believe in Miracles" – 4:11
"My Oh My" (Swing Version) – 3:02

7-inch single with free bonus single (UK)
"Do You Believe in Miracles" – 4:11
"My Oh My" (Swing Version)" – 3:02
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – 2:39
"Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone" – 3:28

7-inch single (Australasia)
"Do You Believe in Miracles" – 4:11
"Time to Rock" – 4:08

12-inch single (UK, Europe and Australasia)
"Do You Believe in Miracles" (Extended Version) – 6:12
"My Oh My" (Swing Version) – 3:02
"Time to Rock" – 4:08

12-inch "The Slade Christmas Pack" (UK)
"Do You Believe in Miracles" – 4:11
"My Oh My" (Swing Version) – 3:02
"Time to Rock" – 4:08
"Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" – 2:39
"Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone" – 3:28

Personnel
Slade
 Noddy Holder – lead vocals
 Jim Lea – bass, synthesiser, backing vocals
 Dave Hill – lead guitar, backing vocals
 Don Powell – drums

Production
 John Punter – production ("Do You Believe in Miracles")
 Monty Babson – production ("My Oh My" 'swing version')
 Stan Butcher – arrangement ("My Oh My" 'swing version')
 Jim Lea – production ("Time to Rock", "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and "Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone"), arrangement ("Do You Believe in Miracles")

Other
 The Clinic – sleeve design and illustration

Charts

References

1985 songs
1985 singles
Slade songs
Songs written by Noddy Holder
Songs written by Jim Lea
Song recordings produced by John Punter
RCA Records singles
Charity singles