From Roots To Boots: The Slade Story

Salvo, September 19th, 2011

SALVOCD053

Originally released in the UK in September 1973, Sladest emulated recent Slade singles by going straight to the top of the charts. After relinquishing the summit and hovering around the Top Ten towards the end of the year, it climbed back up to the Number One spot in early 1974 in the wake of the huge success of their next single Merry Xmas Everybody.

That seasonal smash wasn’t included on the album, but Sladest did contain all of Slade’s hits up to that point, as well as several singles released prior to their chart breakthrough and a handful of tracks from their underrated second album (released late in 1970), Play It Loud.

37 years, 11 months and 19 days later, Salvo are releasing an expanded version which includes three further highlights from the period concerned - the No. 2 hit My Friend Stan, its no-nonsense, rocking B-side My Town and the ingenious Django Reinhardt / Stephane Grappelli pastiche Kill ‘Em At The Hot Club Tonite (the B-side of Skweeze Me Pleeze Me) - plus a previously unreleased version of Hear Me Calling, the track with which they opened their live show for many years. The latter recording, more tightly structured than the classic, build-to-a-roar Slade Alive version (though featuring an almost identical guitar solo from Dave Hill), lay entirely forgotten until recently discovered on a vinyl acetate – which was once the property of drummer Don Powell - and serves to further strengthen the appeal of what is, to many, Slade’s strongest album. Capturing the band at the height of the glam rock fame, it contains some of the very best pop songs of the seventies.

The original smash hit album, expanded with four extra tracks including a previously unreleased studio version of Hear Me Calling – with the original gatefold LP packaging carefully reproduced

Includes no less than five UK Number One hits

Remastered by Tim Turan at Turan Audio for the finest sound quality

16-page booklet includes new sleeve notes by respected scribe and Slade aficionado Chris Ingham incorporating new interviews with Dave Hill and Don Powell

Perhaps the group’s finest long player, a fantastic addition to Salvo’s celebrated Slade catalogue

The first appearance of Sladest on CD since 1997

01. Cum On Feel The Noize

02. Look Wot You Dun

03. Gudbuy T’Jane

04. One Way Hotel

05. Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me

06. Pouk Hill

07. The Shape Of Things To Come

08. Take Me Bak ‘Ome

09. Coz I Luv You

10. Wild Winds Are Blowin’

11. Know Who You Are

12. Get Down With It

13. Look At Last Nite

14. Mama Weer All Crazee Now

15. Hear Me Calling (studio version)

16. My Friend Stan

17. My Town

18. Kill ‘em At The Hot Club Tonite

COLLECTORS’ LABEL SALVO GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH AS IT CELEBRATES IT'S FIFTH BIRTHDAY

UK, - 4th of November, 2022 - 49th Anniversary Splatter Vinyl LP Reissue and Expanded and Extended Double CD / Mediabook Reissue, with extra x Bonus Tracks!

Label - BMG Rights : -

BMG - Splatter Vinyl Catalogue Number - : -

BMG - CD Catalogue Number - : -

Noddy Holder has also done a sizeable interview with UNCUT magazine, which will be part of a six-page Slade feature out in October 2011 and there will be more press and media coverage around the release.

Like me, you have probably noticed that the October Uncut came out in September and features Marc Bolan. I therefore assume that the Slade Special will be in the November issue that comes out in October.... I hope?
+++Update+++
I'm told it will be in the next issue which will hit the stands at the end of October (with December on the cover I guess).

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Salvo SALVOLPV001

Originally released on the 24th March 1972, the group's critically acclaimed and most loved live album, instantly recognisable in it's bright red 'negative image', gatefold sleeve. This album became a Rock Icon almost overnight and 37 years later it still regularly turns up in 'All Time Greats' lists. Since there are still many audiophiles out there that still appreciate great rock music and the warmth of analogue sound, some wise man decided to push for a special vinyl release of Slade Alive! This 180 gram audiophile pressing in a replica gatefold sleeve has been skilfully remastered by Tim Turan at Turan Audio and released on Salvo Records. Salvo is Union Square Music's collector's label and they have had the job of remastering the Slade catalogue. In the collection Slade Alive! was bundled into the Live Anthology along with Slade Alive Volume 2 , Slade On Stage and the Reading EP's. Although it makes a good collection, Slade Alive! clocks in at just over thirty eight minutes and that may have tipped the scales for bundling the Live Anthology but this is iconic and the seven track album is a stand alone piece.

Hear Me Calling
In Like A Shot From My Gun
Darling Be Home Soon
Know Who You Are
Keep On Rocking
Get Down And Get With It
Born To Be Wild

The artwork is well presented, a good quality card, a high sheen finish replaces the matt, same bright red colour but this time the black is BLACK.

On the front, in the bottom right corner, a neat little Salvo logo replaces larger Polydor original. I have adjusted the contrast on my original cos its a bit blanched nowadays.

On the rear, the top right corner cat no is no longer required

and once again the original bottom left Polydor logo is replaced

but this time its accompanied by the ugly regulation bar-code.

Inside, all the original artwork remains, again it's all sharp as a pin. I won't reproduce the gatefold art because it is exactly the same as the original except for the credits below.

On the left hand side along the bottom we have extra credits. A small unobtrusive and neatly designed USM credit...

...and a larger, bolder, Newman & Co. address

The main visible difference on the cover is the spine info

It's strange seeing the Salvo Info instead of the familiar Polydor Super 2383 101

Removing the disc, the weight difference is considerable. The label has been designed to look familiar whilst being clearly different.

After the SALVO logo, the first thing you notice is the addition of 2009 Whild John Music above 1972 Whild John Music. The 1972 is no longer beneath the A for A side. The surrounding writing has some additional Re-Mastered info but otherwise, all looks very much the same.

If you click on the spine you'll notice that SLADE ALIVE! is all that is stated. On the original, SLADE was to the left, SLADE ALIVE! in the middle and POLYDOR SUPER 2383 101 to the right.

I guess the most important thing is, when placed on the turntable, to these 50 year old damaged ears, it sounds fresh and vibrant just the way it should. The high end heard on Tim Turan's CD re-mastering is not apparent here. On my average 'budget spec' turntable with a reasonable quality stylus, both copies of vinyl are the same except for a less muffled sound on this re-master. The tambourine is more apparent in the intro to Hear Me Calling and there is no sound sway when the track kicks in. It's a good, healthy, balanced sound and a very authentic package. It makes me want to buy a new turntable.

Officially released on April 13th but, due to delays, look for it as from 28th September.

UK, - 2011 - CD, Album, Reissue, Jewel Case inside a Cardboard Slipcase

Salvo - SALVOVCD03