ROGUES GALLERY
Slade become a studio band and Jim Lea takes over.

The best guitar intro ever of Slade's whole career starts the album off in utterly fine style. 'Hey ho wish you well' is perhaps the most perfect example of what latter-day Slade could and should have been all about. Excellent riff-rock with a big nagging chorus and verses twice as good as everyone else's choruses... and reminiscent in parts of Run runaway. It was performed on Saturday morning kids TV and people actually tried to buy it (even despite Mike Read miming along with the group on an acoustic guitar in the background). It wasn't available as a single and the album wasn't out yet. Duh.

'Little Sheila' (a single in Europe) is a brilliant driving pop song pretty much dominated by Jim's keyboards and Nod turns in an excellent vocal and the lyrics aren't that bad either. The video for this is one of Slade's best and was largely unseen by most Slade fans until YouTube saved the day. Fabulous.

'Harmony' borrows the intro chord sequence from The Who's Baba O'Riley and is a very middle of the road singalong. Annoying tricks with the panning of the sequenced drums are a little dated, but the song is pleasant enough.

When this song has finished, turn the CD player RIGHT UP.
Play the next song four or five times.

'Myszterious Miszter Jones' is utterly fantastic. There is really no other way to describe it. Coupling Nod's dynamite vocals, a great lead guitar break and Don's driving drums with the keyboard riff from Laura Brannigan's 'Gloria' and one of Jim's best ever tunes with lyrics about the roadies was a masterstroke. Not a single beat in this song is wasted. The video for this is fantastic, if you ever get to see it. Slade in a brewery... Mmmmmmmmm....

'Walking on water, running on alcohol' was a personal favourite of Noddy Holder and he was bitterly disappointed when it was not considered for release as a single. It is a slightly revealing song, as was the later 'Still the same' and he wanted to put it out and say something to the world with it. It is one of Slade's finest melodic moments - pure Radio two of the day, but it was simply glorious. Jim's sensitive keyboards underpin the whole song wonderfully. Beautiful.

Instead of Nod's much desired choice of single, the record company put out the equally revealing, but dreadfully middle of the road song, 'Seven Year Bitch'. The title put off radio stations and TV shows and the single could have done a lot better, despite a quite entertaining and well-shot promo video that is unfortunately not available to buy anywhere. The remastering really makes this song sound new and fresh.

'I'll be there' is a jolly, bouncy little song that would have done well as a single, if their record company (RCA at that time) had had a clue what to do with Slade.

'I win you lose' is full of nostalgia for Nod's home town and love - and is a VERY confessional Holdr lyric. A slightly over-wrought and leaden arrangement removes almost all of the sensitivity from the piece. BUT.. at 1:29, Nod turns in an absolutely astonishing vocal to sing the words "Shame on me....." and the spine tingles.

'Time to rock' recalls 'Wild Thing' and is one of Slade's 'rabble rouser by numbers' songs - and there's nothing wrong with that at all! The whistling interlude is a bit confusing - but was something to try once. They do it twice in the song...

The really big hit from the album was 'All join hands', which followed the 'My oh my' formula beautifully. A superbly lush production, epic keyboards, a wonderful plummy bass part,huge guitar solo and the best mix they had had for years ensured that this song did well for the group, slightly cushioning the blow that the relative disappointment of the next few singles' chart placings would bring for Slade and RCA. The excellent promo video for this song remains largely unseen to this day.

Bonus tracks:

'Here's to....'
The chorus from Slade's own 'Thanks for the memory' is surgically attached to the Stranglers' 'Golden Brown' and it works surprisingly well. Nod gets plain trollyed and threatens to show us good people what's under his kilt. Eeeek. All good fun.

'Seven Year Bitch' (extended version).
Your chance to hear how well Slade constructed a tight backing track.

'Leave them girls alone'
One of Slade's superior really rockin' b-sides - features what at the time was a rare Jim Lea vocal (alternating with Nod) and it sounds just great. A brilliant song that will thrill people who haven't heard this album or these songs before.

'Myszterious Miszter Jones' (extended version) :
TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC. TERRIFIC.

'Mama Nature is a rocker'
Slade playing at being ZZ Top (a la 'Legs') and doing a great job. Another great b-side. Just think what some of these songs would have been like played live....

The piano and vocal demo of 'My oh my' features the original lyrics (before the song had the 'My oh my' theme running throughout). Some of the lyrics were dropped from the finished version and it's certainly interesting to hear them. It's also quite interesting to hear how the song was so simple and yet so complete at this early stage.

'Do you believe in miracles'
This song originally featured on the Crackers album. A tribute-paying song, inspired by Nod's genuine admiration of Bob Geldof's rise to prominence as the orgainser of Live Aid, following a short but distinguished career as a singer with the Boomtown Rats. Geldof once asked Nod how he could go back to playing small venues whenthe record sales dropped. Geldof had it to come hinself when he asked that question - and come it did. The excellent promo video for this song remains largely unseen to this day.

The 'My oh my' swing version features a pleasant, fun Nod vocal over a great jazz backing by Monty Babson. It is a complete curiosity and Nod once said they sent it off to Frank Sinatra for his consideration. Nod sounds like he was enjoying himself, which was always a good thing.

The 12" version of 'Do you believe in miracles' closes the album and is a cracker.

As with all of the Union Square Slade reissues, the very attractive CD booklet contains an interesting and informative summary of this period in Slade's career written by Chris Ingham, as well as unseen photographs from the period.

A remarkable job has been done throughout the series.

top