If ever there was a sure shot for smash singles success in the States, Slade seemed to be it. During the past two years they issued eight hit 45s, the last seven of which went Top Three in England, each characterized by powerful rhythm chording, a raw, throat-scrapping vocal by Noddy Holder, and relentlessly building choruses which hook the listener into an awestruck, hypnotic trance. There's no chance to ponder the lyrics, but they, too, are sharp -- the rallying cry of a new generation of rock & roll ravers (with an occasional bit of wry self-depreciation as well).

But Slade hasn't scored a bona fide hit here yet. Dissatisfied, the group left Polydor (not known for burning up the charts with rock material) for Warner/Reprise (whose image, interestingly, is much more than of an LP company, rather than 45 wizards).

The back cover lists the singles in chronological order, starting with their first breakthrough, "Get Down and Get With It" from summer '71, a frantic jerk tune credited to former Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns vocalist Bobby Marchan, and the song most accurately capsuling their live stage act, with frequent hand-clapping and boot-stomping interludes. Both sides of the latest British single, "My Friend Stan" and B side "My Town," also are included, with "My Town" sounding stronger than the more whimsical, unusually blithe "Stan."

In between are the classic Slade stompers. "Look Wot You Dun" features a relatively subdued and melodic opening, but builds to a frenetic climax. "Coz I Luv You" is the oddest number, spotlighting bassist Jimmy Lea's violin. "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy T' Jane," "Cum on Feel the Noize" and "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me," an immensely successful string of singles extending from May '72 to August '73, mark the introduction and refinement of a brilliant 45 formula -- surging power chords and unremitting build-ups to the most frenzied finishes imagineable, echo-boosted chants, handclaps and stomping, with more sheer impact than any records so far in the Seventies.

"Cum on Feel the Noize" has the best tune of the batch, "Mama Weer All Crazee" is the quintessential rocking anthem, and the series as a whole generated raw excitement paralleled only by the colossal crush of Stones, Who and Small Faces singles of 1965-6.

It remains to be seen whether Slade, having thus far avoided American stardom, can belatedly break through with their new label. "Skweeze Me Pleeze Me," rather than the weaker "My Friend Stan," is the first single choice here. Meanwhile, the essence of the first two successful years has been distilled on Sladest, and by my lights it turns out to be the best rocking album of the year.

- Ken Barnes, Rolling Stone, 12/6/73.

Bonus Reviews!

Further reading on Super Seventies RockSite!: Album Review: Slayed? Slade Lyrics Slade Videos

- Billboard, 1973.

This includes "Gudbuy t' Jane" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," the best cuts on Slayed? because it compiles the English hits of these Anglopop phenoms. I take it the reason "Gudbuy" and "Crazee" are the best cuts on Sladest as well is that these Anglopop phenoms turned into raving maniacs only recently. Clearly, it's what they were meant to be, and although Slayed? is less tuneful, I prefer it. You don't ask an air raid siren to play "Stardust," or even "Glad All Over." B+

- Robert Christgau, Christgau's Record Guide, 1981.

Sladest contains all of the British band's finest moments, including "Look Wot You Dun," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," and "Cum on Feel the Noize." * * * *

- Stephen Thomas Erlewine, The All-Music Guide to Rock, 1995.

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