Recorded in 1971 and released
in 1972, this album caught the Rock ‘n’
Roll fun machine that was Slade on the
crest of a very big wave, in metaphorical
terms a veritable tidal wave. Upon release
this album went straight to number one
in the U.K. (very unusual for a live album;
the only time this feat has been duplicated
was by Motor Head’s “No Sleep Till Hammersmith”).
At the same time Slade were also enjoying
their first number one single “Coz I Luv
You”, the first of eight self composed
number ones for the band. They in total
released 21 hit singles.
Many people dismiss Slade today as just
another Glam Rock band. It must be said
that they did relish their role in the
dressing up brigade. Who can forget Dave
Hill’s Cleopatra? They get up for their
appearance on top of the pops for “Take
Me Back One” (all Slade singles had deliberate
spelling mistakes in them). Underneath
the make up they were one of the most
talented hard rockin’ live acts on the
circuit.
Almost over night in the U.K. they went
from playing back street pubs to scenes
of crowd frenzy not seen since the days
of The Beatles, and sell out shows at
all of the top arena’s. They never meant
a light in America, where they just didn’t
get it.
Slade Alive catches the band in transition
as the set is still full of cover songs,
but played the way only Slade could. Opening
up with Alvin Lee’s “I Hear You Calling”
the guys are immediately into a groove
and have the whole audience clapping their
hands, stomping their feet, and cheering
the band’s every move. Immediately the
band’s distinctive style is thrust down
your ears. Dave Hills on stage theatrics
often, distracted people from the fact
that he is one of the finest rock guitarists
to have ever trod the boards. Then of
course there is Slade’s own ring master
Mr. Noddy Holder, he of the calf length
tartan trousers, mirrored top hat, gunslinger
wit, and a voice that had to be sand papered
down and then gargled with Solphuric acid
to keep its razor sharp pitch and volume.
The man didn’t need a microphone, you
could hear him in the next country without
one. Jimmy Lea and Don Powell were fine
musicians in their own right. They knew
what was needed in Slade and they produced
it by the bucket load, a rock solid very
heavy beat to which everybody could rock
along too.
After another rocker “In Like A Shot From
My Gun” you get John Sebastian’s dramatic
ballad “My Darling Me Home Soon”. However,
just when you think the boys may actually
be taking themselves seriously, Noddy
lets rip with the loudest belch ever put
down on tape, reducing the audience to
tears of laughter. (Although this does
become a little tiresome on repeated listening
as it does ruin a fine version of this
classic song.) After the skinhead anthem
“Know Who You Are” the final three songs
are the biggest rave up possible to have
in Rock ‘n’ Roll. “Keep On Rockin” is
a pastiche of Chuck Berry; “Get Down and
Get With It” you can almost hear the dance
floor bounce up and down; nobody has ever
torn through Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be
Wild” like Slade did, with feed back screaming
out from both lead and bass guitar.
A truly great live rock album, which should
be ranked up there with AC/DC’s “If You
Want Blood You Got It” and U.F.O.’s “Strangers
In The Night”.
America eventually caught onto Slade a
decade later when “Quiet Riot” took two
of their songs to the top of the U.S.
charts in “Cum On Feel The Noise” and
“Mama We’re All Crazee Now”, both of which
were faithful covers of the originals.
If you like your Rock ‘n’ Roll hot and
sweaty get yourself a copy of Slade Alive,
it’s as exciting today as it was 30 years
ago.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
