Customer Reviews

Sladest

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Recently, while standing amidst a group of intellectual stiffs at a formal gathering, someone asked, "If you could re-live your life and be anything you wanted, what would your highlight moment be?" I was asked to speak first. I think I was supposed to say something profound, like, I would be Dr. Jonas Salk on the day he discovered the cure for polio. Instead, without batting an eye, I said, "I would like to have been Noddy Holder, the red-headed, demon-angel-voiced, banshee-screaming icon of an incredible 70s British glitter band called Slade, singing 'Cum Feel the Noize,' on a small stage in a mid-sized auditorium packed with wild-eyed, hormone-raging, teenage escapees from an insane asylum." Of course, nobody within ear-shot cared, got it, or was interested, except for this one chap who managed a sly, knowing smile and nearly choked on his drink... Yeah, mennee yearz ago, I bought my first Slade album, "Sladest," and, at the oddest times, during the rest of my life, I have been humming or singing or playing "Sladest" tunes in my head, like "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (in the shower), "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" (in the car), "Look Wot You Dun" (while mowing the lawn), and the correctly spelled "Get Down And Get With It" (under my breath at weddings or while pretending to be listening to long, dull speeches). If you fondly remember this band, you will know what I mean, and if you are thinking of giving "Sladest" a try, you will not be disappointed and will play it loud, with pride, and a sly smile on your face, as you drive through quiet neighborhoods with your windows rolled down. By the way, for ewe guyz lookin' for "My Town" and "My Friend Stan," they are on the follow-up CD called "Old New Borrowed Blue" which, I think originally came out titled, "Stomp Yer Hands, Clap Yer Feet!" Ohboyoh, what must it have felt like to have been Noddy Holder performing before those packed houses filled with rabid Slade fans goin' crazee on the floor and singing with him when the band played these heart-wrenching, gut-pounding, toe-slammin' anthems! Yeah, I can dream, and I can still feel the noize...

Vastly overlooked and underappreciated apart from the UK and Europe, Slade were true rock originals and very influential, most of all on the success of Quiet Riot in the early 80's. The original 1973 "Sladest" album contains the cream of the crop of the band's seminal early 70's work, but this CD differs somewhat as several songs are missing and replaced by more obscure single B-sides.

Slade prided themselves on being more or less the "buffoons" of rock, with the crazy misspellings of their song titles to their outrageously over the top stage wear. They began their career in 1970 by shaving their heads and wearing work clothes on stage, which gave them a more serious and threatening appearance; but by 1973, these were replaced with long hair, high-heeled boots and all of the glam-rock trappings of the day.

In addition to their ever-changing visual image, Slade were truly in a class all their own musically; playing loud, raucous rock songs containing catchy hooks and stomping, singalong choruses. These were further punctuated by one of the greatest, loudest and most unique voices in rock & roll, Neville "Noddy" Holder. The band was rounded out by guitarist Dave Hill, bassist and chief songwriter Jim Lea, and drummer Don Powell, who was involved in a devastating auto accident around the time of the original "Sladest" LP; as a result of the crash, Powell's girlfriend was killed and he was left with short term memory loss, having to relearn all of Slade's songs from scratch.

Every song on "Sladest" was a Top 10 hit for the band in their native UK and in Europe, and nearly half of them topped the charts at #1; but unfortunately, they made little or no impact in the U.S. at the time. Ironically, "Cum On Feel The Noize" became a #1 hit for Quiet Riot in 1983, and you can tell without a doubt that Kevin DuBrow modelled himself after Noddy Holder vocally, because they sound nearly identical. Quiet Riot also covered "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" a year later, but it flopped.

My personal favorites are the excellent "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me" (which arguably contains the best rock vocals I've ever heard), "Look Wot You Dun", "Gudbuy T'Jane" and "Coz I Love You", but the absence of the equally great songs "My Friend Stan" and "My Town" from the original LP are sorely missed here; these can only be found on the "Wall Of Hits" import CD and the out of print "The Slade Story" Vols. 1 & 2 on the presumably defunct Bear Tracks label.

A great but overlooked band of the 70's, and a great collection of unforgettable rock songs! Get Down And Get With It!

I would like to tell you a few words about the release itself but not about the music. As I understand from other reviews the US release of Sladest LP contained My Friend Stan and My Town which originally appeared on their Old, New, Borrowed and Blue LP in UK. This particular release dates way back to 1993 european release which perfectly coincides with original 1973 UK LP release of the same name. Hence no quibbles regarding why this is not filled to the grills - such was the duration of LP. For most of Slade die-hards this is an individual record and hardly a compilation. Yes it does contain some tracks from their 1970 Play It Loud album, few from 1972 Slayed ? LP but all the rest were either previously unreleased (at that time) or appeared only on singles. 8 tracks out of 14 can also be found on Wall Of Hits 1991 compilation. Sound quality is good but please bear in mind that up to present this album does not exist in digitally remastered version.
The first major flaw concerning this certain re-release on CD - it does not contain (as very often happens) the full original LP artwork. It should be a beautiful full colour fold out sleeve (which is in black & white in CD booklet), band b&w snaps are also ommited but what a pity - Polydor in their CD release omitted also an album-sized full colour 4 great photos of their faces ! All aforementioned options, i.e. really faithfully restored artwork in paper sleeve (mini LP replica series) appeared in the summer of 2005 in ... NO, not in Japan, but only in Russia, which I am from ! As well as Slayed ?, Old, Blue, Borrowed and Blue, Slade In Flame, Nobody's Fools and Whatever Happened To Slade - all in paper sleeved mini LP's with full colour photos unlike lame german CD booklets in black & white. All in all for all Slade fans (as well as 70's glam rock fans in general) this album is essential and highly recommended.
And the second flaw - unlike their UK peers Sweet, T.Rex, Bowie and others who released double CD singles A's & B's compilations with killer sound quality Slade's Polydor still (as of autumn 2005) did not release such double CD. Therefore many Slade's b-sides are still not widely known and heard because it does not exist in CD format at all. The reason is behind me - maybe the original master tapes were lost or not located. Nonetheless all their b-sides were found and issued on CD (including beautiful Why Did It To Me, Wonderin' Why and many more) in a slipcase in Russia only. I hate bootlegs but concerning Slade releases I dare to say - Kudos russian bootleggers !

This is a great trip down memory lane for me. I have three Slade LPs, this one, "Slayed" and "Slade Alive!". All of them are outstanding examples of 1970's era pub rock by the band that defined the genre. These guys are loud, obnoxious, and right in stride with their material. This CD is a perfect example of their songs. It deserves 5 stars, but I'm more than a little ticked off because the import version does not include "My Friend Stan" and more importantly, "My Town", one of my favorite Slade songs. I haven't been able to find "My Town" (which was included on the US release of "Sladest") on any of the "best of" CDs. However, this import version contains six songs that were NOT included on the US LP, so I suppose that kinda makes up for it. I recommend this CD to anyone. Put it on and and exceed your receiver's volume ratings. You'll love it.

I have the vinyl not the cd, but whatever. You really have to own this for Cum On Feel the Noize and Skweeze Me Pleeze Me, only because those are probably Slade's most amazing songs ever, and still send chills down my spine. So you know, I consider the melodic, catchy, hyper rock n' roll Slade to be best, which was decidedly innovative and timeless, while other material sounds like cliched 70's nausea. If you are searching further for the magic that fills the two aforementioned songs, I would recommend "Old New Borrowed and Blue" (under a different name in some English releases - "Clap your Hands Stomp Your Feet," I think?). "Slayed?" is fine for a few songs, but again, it depends what you're after: glammy, anthemic rock n roll, or slow stoner numbers that show their age. "In Flame" is pretty good too.

A GREAT album that has some well known AND some lesser known tracks on it - ALL excellent.
Also, another awesome Slade cover of a track, `Move Over` by Janis Joplin... this REALLY is an exceptional/explosive cover.
The whole album is classic Slade, not their best album literally... after all it is a `Best Of` as such, but, still WELL worthy of a FULL 5 stars.

The band Quiet Riot tried to be.

These guys were great and I love Noddy's voice. As for a best of album this is pretty darn good.

fantastic reissue of this classic slade album from 1973, first off i may be biased becouse i love almost everything slade did between 1970 and the last great thing they did there classic live album ON STAGE from 1982, after 1982 when slade started with that mtv runaway, my oh my nonsence in 1983 they went down fast, by 1986 i couldnt even listen to them anymore, 1970 to 1982 are the pinniacle years for any slade fan give or take an album or two, anyway i have not understood for 5 years now WHY union square/salvo did not reissue this classic when they did the rest of the slade catlog back in 2006, anyway regardless this classic opus is finally here, this one also has input straight from the band and comes with a very informative booklet wear your reading glasses the remastering is great and the bonus tracks are awsome, this album is so on spot slade in 1973 where on the top of the glam scene in the uk up there with bowie, t rex, the sweet the jook and the sensational alex harvey band, slade where the heaviest of the bunch though, slade looked very pretty but played loud as hell hard rock n roll, noddys voice was enough to make the walls crack, it was sad slade did not get the success they should have in the us, anyway when they came to the us to tour ki$$ where the opening band at some gigs in 1974 as well as 75 i have been told, a lot of what ki$$ recorded for there classic ki$$ alive double album in 1975 was recorded while on tour OPENING FOR SLADE i know people who saw some of these gigs slade was right on the verge of breaking it here in the us but bad managment decisions as well as record comapy decisions made that impossible for these guys, anyway this was the most successful album slade put out in the 70s and with the bonus tracks slavo gives you here this is a must for any hard rock or glam fan of this era generally this is a must in any rock fans collection.................................

`Sladest' was the first true compilation from Britain's glam rock phenomenon. As Slade released many non-LP singles during their 1971-1974 golden age, `Sladest' was as essential as any studio LP. Though the band has since had at least a dozen `best of' packages issued since the mid-`70's, `Sladest' still packs the biggest punch due to its compactness. "Cum on Feel the Noize" which kicks off the LP was later a huge US hit for Quiet Riot but the Slade version gives off its own innate charm. "Get Down and Get with It" was an early stage favorite (captured brilliantly on `Slade Alive!') and began Slade's chart run. Other classics of the era include "Take Me Back `Ome", "Coz I Luv You", "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me", "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and my own personal favorite "Gudbuy to Jane". Several LP tracks are included as well including another winner (an early Slade ballad) "Pouk Hill" from `Play It Loud'. I was lucky enough to find the original LP on vinyl and grew to love it. The CD release is of the British version minus "My Friend Stan" and "My Town" which although both great songs were released after the original version of `Sladest'. Slade may not have gotten their critical due (especially from the US where they were practically ignored) but their influence was felt by many hard rock bands through the `70's and `80s including KISS who frequently cites them. Girls rock your boys and enjoy this stunning collection from one of the great unsung bands of the Seventies.