Flame

Considered by the majority of Slade fans to be their most accomplished release, Flame was the soundtrack to their film of the same name.

The film was later considered by Dave Hill to be a bit of a mistake, as it went a long way to confusing their fans as to the actual relationships within the band - some of the fans thought that Slade were the same band as the utterly fractured and constantly arguing Flame.

Perhaps it was because the band were actually far more convincing actors than they have ever really been given due credit for that this unfortunate state of play came about. Whatever....

The re-release of this album by the Salvo label sees the album presented with its original tracklisting intact.
As the album is regarded by many, including the band to be the band's supreme recorded achievement, it hasn't been tinkered with. Why alter something that's perfect? The releases immediately after this are contained on the Nobody's fools re-issue.

The much hoped for alternative version of 'This girl' - which would have been a competely valid addition to the disc - appears not to exist any longer,as it was only ever used for the short 'Undertakers' live segment in the film and was not retained after the film sound edits were completed and there are no alternative versions of other songs and no b-sides that didn't come from the soundtrack anyway to add to the track listing. It is doubtful that the performances by the sadly departed Alan Lake would need to be added to the soundtrack, as whatever else he was, he was not that fabulous a singer!

The repackaging:

As with the earlier releases in this series, the Flame album comes in an attractive card slipcase and has a rather good booklet which features stills from the film and a couple of shots of Chas and the boys on location and at the film premiere. The liner notes are by Chris Ingham - a jazz pianist who has previously written about The Beatles and Frank Sinatra. Fans may not agree with everything he writes in his batch of Slade album liner notes, but differences of opinion make things interesting and keep the world going round!

A collectors edition DVD including the film soundtrack release is also available.

To the music...

The much loved 'How does it feel?' starts the album in grand style. Jim Lea wrote this melody years before Slade ever took off. It's a good job he didn't forget it, as once coupled with Nod's thoughtful and emotive lyrics it as become many fans favourite Slade song. Much is made of the single's 'failure' to go higher than number 15 in the charts. 'How does it feel' remains an evergreen Slade anthem and lest we forget, the singles sales were undoubtedly hampered by the release of the soundtrack album - containing the very same recording - at the same time.

The re-mastering here highlights what an excellent recording this was in the first place. Bottom end is emphasised throughout the whole CD; vocals, drums and guitars also sound clearer and punchier.

'Them kinda monkeys can't swing', which comes up next, has Slade being typically Slade - momentarily forgetting their remit of being a group by the name of Flame. As a Slade song, it's quite enjoyable an a good solid rocker - and the group are seen cheerfully ripping it up in the film, with Nod frantically miming H's slide guitar part.

'So far so good' was a single for Flame (but not for Slade). It would have been interesting had Slade had the idea of releasing the Flame material as 'Flame'!!

'Summer song (wishing you were here)' sees Slade at their most 'Beatle-y' - with 'Help' type backing vocals and an instantly memorable melody. One of Slade's best ever performances on record. The lyrics capture exactly what Nod is trying to get across. The song would have fit perfectly on an earlier Beatles album, something to be quite proud of. The booklet's contention that the song is similarly thematic to 'Merry Christmas Everybody' is 'stark bilge' (to quote Jim Lea). This reviewer is sure that Slade were 'not writing songs by numbers' at this point. An interesting idea, though.

'OK yesterday was yesterday' was seen as an opening song at the main Flame concert in the film. A powerful and quite typical Slade rocker, with lyrics seemingly pointing to Flame's earlier struggles as a pub and club band being behind them.

Noddy Holder's own favourite Slade song 'Far far away' follows. It's difficult to think of anything new to say about this song - everything has already been said, except to say that it probably sums up Slade's entire working life on the road for Nod. He's seen the world, been there and done it all - seen Elvis' gaff, the sights, the lot - got the t-shirt, taken it home and lost another on the road somewhere else! All the time being homesick for Wolvehampton. I doubt there is anyone to be found with more than half a brain and working ears who could possibly dislike this song. It's got one of Slade's most enduring melodies and a restrained vocal and a largely acoustic performance on rhythm guitar alongside a brilliant arrangement of the other guitars and bass sets a lovely mellow mood.

'This girl' is the most adventurous peformance on the album. Jim's clavinet and Dave's astonishing guitar parts work excellently against a rare appearance of brass instruments on a Slade track. Nod's vocal is drenched in echo to great effect, just as it is on the following 'Lay it down' where Jim basically plays a very subtle excellent bass solo throughout most of the song. Nod's vocal refers to Dave's astonishing vibrato technique (which comes from his playing guitar right handed, despite being left handed, giving him extra strength and dexterity in his left hand). The brass is carefully arranged so as to be inobtrusive as possible in this song.

'Heaven knows' is another plain 'Beatles type' song. Dave Hill's guitar parts rescue this from total obscurity, to be honest - not one of Slade's finest moments, apart from a good chorus.

'Standin' on the corner' is the perfect amalgam of the alter-ego group Flame and Slade themselves. The most obviously American sounding track on the album - a clear indication (with the gift of hindsight) of what Nobody's fools would be like. The highpoints of this song are Nod's vocal on the choruses and Dave's excellent guitar solo. Brass stabs dominate and punctuate between the verses and underline the choruses - were they really necessary? A sax solo? Why not ? Slade would try anything once at this time. They were being Flame, not Slade - an excuse to stretch out and develop. A remaster with the brass removed would be this reviewer's dream! But this really IS sublime, I have to admit!

The music still stands up beautifully after all this time - the album was recorded in 1974, lest we forget. Whether it is Slade's crowning achievement is up to all of the individual listeners that hear it.There is no right amswer. Some will prefer the heavier and far more complex 'Whatever happened to Slade' - some will prefer Slayed? Whatever... Comparing the album to much of its contemporary releases, it stands head and shoulders above the competition.

The album is arguably part 'Not Slade' and part 'Very Slade' - all at the same time. This no doubt contributes to it's lasting appeal, but also to what happened to Slade folowing ts release...... A paradox and a dilemma for the band and the fans. Slade had laid back somewhat from being the power-rock band that had pummelled the world's earholes into total submission with 'Slayed?' and 'Slade Alive!' Melody and careful, intellgent, even mature arrangements came to the fore - as this WAS a film soundtrack album, after all.