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- Released: August 2006
- Rating: 8/10
Beginnings…: 
Slade Alive:
Old New…:
Slayed?:
Cum on feel the noize all over again as Slavo release the entire Slade back catalogue on four CDs.
In all, the Wolverhampton pseudo Glam Rockers had 6,520,171 singles sales,spending 279 weeks on chart. They were also the first act to have threesingles enter the chart at Number 1.
Formed in 1968, they were led by charismatic holler Noddy Holder. Slade werethe lads band of the time, initially as a Skinhead quartet called AmbroseSlade. Their radical image makeover suggested by Chas Chandler didnt resteasy with flamboyant lead guitarist Dave Hill and bassist Jim Lea, with thelatter being a huge fan of Pink Floyd and Cream.
After first charting with the monstrous Get Down And Get With It(no.16 71) they turned out to be Glams alternative to T.Rex who theyregularly did chart battles with.
On Beginnings and Play It Loud (on one disc) we get to heara band evolving, long before the charts beckoned. The two albums show whata solid outfit they were: youd never think they were the same band.Incredibly, theres some classy rhythm n blues on offer like Roach Daddyand Mad Dog Cole, a Yardbirds-sounding Aint Got No Heart,and Beatlesesque Pity The Mother, including gentle acoustic strumsand violin, proving there was much more ammunition in their cannon, otherthan anthemic pop songs, generally misspelled.
They even tackle a Marvin Gaye ballad If This World Were Mine andits pretty good. Daple Rose is an undiscovered stirring classic. WithAngelina, they almost turned into Free, as Dave Hill does his best PaulKossoff impression.
Slayed? was their first chart topper in December 1973. This is thepoint we hear the more familiar Slade sound, with Holders voice turninginto a ragged rasp. It includes hit singles Gudbuy To Jane andMama Weer All Crazee Now. A fantastic cover of Janis Joplins MoveOver has more of Led Zeppelin feel.There are also four bonus tracks and a message to Melanie readers..
Spread over two discs are 33 stomping live cuts on Slade Live!, anamalgam of live gigs including their pulsating Reading show from 1980. Theseevents are the sort that enhanced their reputation as a thrilling live band,particularly the mesmerising guitar solos by Hill, who must be one of the mostunderrated axemen of all time. CD highlight is a blistering medley ofSomething Else/Pistol Packin Mama/Keep A Rollin featuring somescintillating violin by Lea. A nice touch is the crowd singing 39 secondsworth of Merry Xmas Everybody.
Old New Borrowed And Blue, their third and last number one from 1974that saw the end of their purple patch. It contained two singles My FriendStan and Everyday. With the exception of How Can It Be, andEveryday, it didnt deliver the promise of much future progression,though Good Time Gals is an outstanding track with Hill having a ballon solos.
1976s single Lets Call It Quits effectively prophesised the demise ofchart success at the top end, though they did re-enter the Top Ten in 1983with My Oh My (No.2) and 1984 with Run Run Away (No.7), onceagain failing to stay at the top between 84 and 98.
Noddy said of the release, “The re-issue of the entire Slade catalogue willsatisfy the lust of any true rock fan and tickle the fancy of anyone who hasyet to be initiated. Keep On Rockin.”
Tracks include: Gudbuy To Jane, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Get Down AndGet With It, My Friend Stan, and check out the Amazon links above forthe full track listings.
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.