Album Of The Week

Slade Live At The BBC

Feel The Noise remastered

This is a 2CD set covering the years 1969 to 1972 when Slade were at their height. The guys are so much more than Merry Christmas Everybody, not that there is anything wrong with a Christmas song that makes everyone think of Christmas’ gone by.

This double album proves yet again that Slade began as a rock band rather than the glam rock gods they became. The songs on this powerful album are all rooted in solid foundations from the classics such as Mamma We’re All Crazee Now, their first really big hit Get Down And Get With It, written by Little Richard, and Let The Good Times Roll through to some of their unrecorded material.

There are some unusual covers such as Coloured Rain by Traffic which is given the Slade treatment, but retains its hint of psychedelia topped by power pop. The orchestral version of Nights In White Satin, written by The Moody Blues, is an epic track and Raven showcases the rock ‘n’ roll guitar at its best, a lilting, rollicking dose of Sladishness that has an undertone of country rock but with real bite.

The guys take on Getting Better by The Beatles is a kicker and Noddy Holder’s Gudbuy Gudbuy is pure Top Of The Pops when it was compulsive viewing.

The Radio 1 DJs contribution recalls the days of yore when the hard hitting rocksters created a whole new world of glam rock that has inspired generations. - Corking album for good ole British knees-up. 7/10 - Flicky Harrison