Live at the BBC (2CD) [Original recording remastered, Live]

Right let's start by saying Slade are still my favourite band both as recording artists and live. The last couple of years have been a good time for Slade fans as all (or most) of their output has been released remastered, with new packaging and added tracks and gems. Most of these releases from Union Square Music have been superb. So one would think I might be in praise of all Slade's music history but no. Slade in my humble opinion released some awful records. Okey Cokey, Knuckle Sandwich Nancy and most of the Crackers album to name but three that were pretty dire to say the least. However I am first to defend them when people in general run them down I still get annoyed that they are not recognised for their achievements and there are many. Why are they not in the hall of fame? Why have they not been given a lifetime achievement award? I hate the glam tag as Slade were much more that that. So, this review will be an honest opinion from a true Slade fan. This 2 CD set comes in an attractive packaged set but the cover I hate, the Slade logo is way too big but then how many of us buy CD's for the sleeve? The awful cover is more than compensated for by a superb 24 page booklet written by Mark Paytress and includes some fine photographs. Notes are included from the band members too. Before I get to the music. It has to be said that many of us diehard Slade fans have had 'Slade At The BBC' in some form or other for years and this includes many tracks not included here. Recordings from radio burnt to CD though is not going to be great quality so this release gives us quality far better than anything we already have. The Slade here is very different to what the average guy in the street is use to. Slade were superb live, let's make no mistake. Slade here is much heavier, much more progressive as this is before the glam years to come. A lot of surprises on the way.

Disc One: The 1st track is a cover of the Delaney and Bonnie track 'Coming Home'. Quality wise is so much better than anything I already have. A voice over introduction from DJ Brian Matthew does not distract. Superb stuff! Next comes 'The shape of things to come' and is something known to most Slade fans and this version recorded for the BBC is as good as any. See Us Here is stronger in my opinion than the recorded version on their Play It Live album (check out Jim's superb bass on here) as is the Shape of Things to Come and both tracks are all the better for it. Most of this CD contains cover versions of their live set at the time. The non covers are not written by the winning formula of Lea/Holder of later years but by combinations of Holder/Lea/Powell or Lea/Powell or even Nod on his own with the superb My Life is Natural. Move Over by Janis Joplin is a little different to the version to the one we know on the Slayed album, the drum and bass is turned up to 11 and I love this track. Slade covering bands like Traffic (Coloured Rain) and The Moody Blues (a superb Nights In White Satin) are included and non Slade fans would be shocked. According to the Sleeve notes the BBC insisted Jim overdub his violin on White Satin a staggering ten times. Its Alright Ma, It Only Witchcraft is a Fairport Convention track covered here and I have never heard the original and on a Slade bootleg I own it is was listed as `This Is The Season`. For me it is not a stand out track but I love Nod's vocals on it and also on the track Raven. Gudbuy Gudbuy was a track on the Slayed album, this version is not better just a little different. Slade do The Beatles twice SHOCK! Most of us fans have heard Martha My Dear but on this CD we get 'Getting Better' and I adore their version. Let The Good Times Roll is a little slower than the Slayed album version but for me a stand out track. Also on the 1st disc we have Get Down And Get With It, Wild Winds are Blowing and a beautiful version of Darling Be Home Soon. By the time I caught Slade live for the 1st time, 'Darling' had been dropped from the set list so to get another version here is a gift (the definitive version can be found on Slade Alive). Also included on here are four radio jingles that Slade did. Three for Radio 1 and one for the Noel Edmonds radio show. A nice added bonus. So the 1st disc is an absolute gem and worth the price of this double set alone.

Disc Two: Again most off diehard Slade fans will have a version of this gig recorded at the Paris Theatre, London 1972 in some shape or form. The quality here though is excellent. The gig is as good as any Slade gig as Slade were superb, even at their worst. Nod is on great form, trying to warm up the audience. Slade sound superb but does the audience agree? Can I hear one member of the audience shout 'crap' at the end of Get Down And Get With It? Well in my opinion he should have been shouting that to the MC Mike Harding who after introducing the band, constantly interrupts Nod betweens songs. What an annoying little git. This set does include the usual standards like Mama Were All Crazee Now, Take Me Back Home and Coz I Luv You but also covers of Good Golly Miss Molly and even Jim giving us a rendition of Gershwin's 'Lady Be Good'.

Overall this a great package (apart from Mike Harding). Well worth the price here and another great release from Union Square Music. Tim Turan has been twiddling again on the production making this the best release of this material so far. Now can we please have Live In London 1975 and Reading 1980????

The most noticable thing about this wonderful 2 cd package is just how poised for the big time Slade were, even in their formative years.Coming out of the late Sixties, but thankfully clear of the prevailing hippy nonsense, Slade's four to the floor approach tapped into a genuine reaction to the peace and love vibes, focusing instead on their audiences desire to drink, dance, [ and probably fight!]. All it would take would be a change in the musical climate for Slade's good time rock and roll to reach mass appeal. By 1971 the tide was turning and Slade were soon to become household names as the Seventies began to suffer an almost inevitable economic and social reaction to the previous decade.

In Noddy Holder, Slade possessed a pair of lungs that have rarely been bettered in British rock. Noddy did not merely sing but bellowed the lyrics supported by a tight, unpretentious unit who always played to their strengths, and this set just proves everything we always knew about Slade, namely that they were able to deliver live and delight any audience lucky enough to witness the band. The early performances are notable for a raunchier delivery compared to album versions, and songs like The Shape of Things to Come, and, Know Who You Are leave their album counterparts wanting. These versions are terrific, and in my view, make the first disc alone worth the price af admission. But even better is the thoughtful inclusion of B.B.C. jingles at the end of the disc which are simply wonderful.

The second disc is a fantastic show recorded in August 1972, when Slade were in the ascendancy, and a year of touring and rapidly increasing popularity has done nothing to dampen their live flame as the band deliver a set comprising their 5 hit singles to date and earlier live staples. Perhaps not quite Slade Alive [ after all who can forget the greatest belch in British rock history???], but as a record of a truly great band at their live peak, you will not get a much better album than this.

The 2 cd set is completed with authoritive sleevenotes, recording information, great pictures, and some imput from band members, making this a lovingly peiced together artifact [ at a great price to boot]

Slade went on to bigger things a year later, but their place in British music fans hearts was effectively sealed in that balmy first half of 1972, and this set documents that rise so effectively.

If you want to know what all the fuss was about way back then, when we needed some great rock coming from our radio, then this is the CD to buy. The hard rocking Slade live sound was a joy to the ears all those years ago and still stands up to this day.

Brilliant, go out and buy it and keep on rockin'