Slade “In Flame”

sfilzen — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 17:11:17 +0000

Slade “In Flame” 1974. Today, June 15th, is Slade guitarist/vocalist Noddy Holder’s birthday (b. Neville Holder, 1946, likely winner of the most British and Harry Potter-esque nickname and real name of all-time). Yesterday was Jim Lea’s birthday (bass, piano, violin, vocals, b. 1949). Both were the primary songwriters on In Flame, a soundtrack album for the satirical movie, also called In Flame, about a fictional 60′s band traversing the rock music business. The album, with the band pictured in amazingly soft-lit glowing white pantsuits, made it to #6 on the UK charts, with two singles: “Far Far Away,” and “How Does It Feel.” I’m not sure where we picked this up, but on the back is the original price sticker from a place in the UK called Watts of Mildenall for £3.25. Because it is a UK copy, it does not contain the US-included tracks “Bangin’ Man” and “Thanks for the Memories” (both were released as singles in the UK).

The album definitely has a soundtrack feel to it, with the theme of the pitfalls and advantages of fame, lots of soaring melodies and some 60′s style keyboards that nod to the movie’s plot. Though considered a departure to their usual sound (more keyboards, horns, etc), some earlier hard rocking glam Slade definitely shines through, especially on “OK Yesterday Was Yesterday” which has shades of “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” and “Summer Song (Wishing You Were Here)” which is dripping 70′s classic hard rock.

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Slade “Slayed?”

sfilzen — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 21:33:50 +0000

Slade “Slayed?” 1972. Today, June 14th, is singer/songwriter/bassist Jim Lea’s birthday (b. 1949). Slade’s second studio album, Slayed? is “a non-stop party” full of anthemic glam rock-n-roll and terrible spelling.

The classic “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” appears on Slayed? It entered the UK charts at #2 and reached #1 the following week. It was Lea’s first song that he wrote completely on his own, though Noddy Holder was responsible for the lyrics, penning them after “standing on the stage after a typically boisterous London show and surveying the mounds of smashed seating left in the auditorium. “I thought, ‘Christ, everyone must have been crazy tonight.’”(Allmusic) Quiet Riot covered the song in ‘84 where it hit big again, this time also in the US.

Another standout is a cover of Janis Joplin’s “Move Over.” Slade adds the party to a great bluesy rocker, the bassline brought heavily to the forefront and just as much growl/howl as the original.

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Slade “In Flame”

Slade “Slayed?”