Review from the December2009 issue of Classic Rock.

Slade - Live At The BBC. Proof that the glam kings were one of the UK's best live acts. Cum on feel the power...

Having been one of the million-odd people that helped send their Cum On Feel The Noize single straight to the Number One on its first week of release - almost unheard of back in 1973 - by nicking 10 bob from my mum's purse in order to buy it, I can surely be forgiven for suggesting that back then there were good time Top Of The Pops bands, of which Slade were the undoubted masters, and then there were 'serious' artists like yer Purples and Sabbaths. A pity, because as this marvellous two-CD collection of previously unreleased tracks makes plain, Slade was not only capable of producing top-drawer album material, they were easily one of the best live bands this country - or any other - has been lucky enough to call their own.

The first CD comprises 20 tracks from Slade's pre-fame days when they relied mainly on cover versions. Not just any covers though, but tasteful - not a word usually associated with Slade but fully justified here - versions of songs by estimable artists. The best of the bunch here include impressive readings of Delaney & Bonnie(Coming Home), Moby Grape (Omaha), Janis Joplin (Move Over), Fairport Convention (It's Alright Ma, It's Only Witchcraft) and of course, Little Richard with the band's apocalyptic take on Get Down And Get With It, recorded in session here for Stuart Henry's 1971 show and one of the best balls-out rock tracks Led Zeppelin never recorded.

The second disc is a 12-track recording of their live 1972 show from the BBC's Paris Theatre in London's Lower Regent Street and includes all their hits up until then - from Coz I Luv You to Mama Weer All Crazee Now - as well as, delightfully, their instrumental cover of Gershwin's Lady Be Good, affording Jim Lea the opportunity to whip his fiddle out, if you'll pardon the unfortunate mental image. Even the specially recorded radio jingles are pretty ace - from the days when Radio 1 could still be considered a place where ''we're all having fun.''

An excellent 24-page booklet with notes from some of the band members completes this eye-opening package.
8/10
Mick Wall

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Ah, yes..... Slade... We remember them well....

Hundreds of sweaty nights with huge legions of fans having their eardrums pummelled into submission in a seemingly never-ending series of concert halls all over the world, from Wolverhampton to Wyoming. Nights of cheering at the TV as they took the number one spot on Top Of The Pops from Rod Stewart and his ilk and cheerfully kept it for the next few weeks..

The noize, the clothes, the noizy clothes in particular! The comical fringe, the big grin and the superyob guitar. The other one with daft clothes but with the incredible voice that could curdle milk at 25 yards, coming from this great big hole six inches under a mirrored top hat... The serious one who never smiled, except on stage, when he turned into some sort of demented furious berserker, playing the loudest bass guitar known to man, or inflicting unthought of cruelty on a poor defenceless violin - of all things, played behind his back, through his legs and everywhere.. And it's impossible to forget the one at the back, chewing gum endlessly, hidden behind his huge set of drums; the man who made such a great thunderous noize on a record called 'We'll bring the house down' that it sounded like five drummers all going at it at once.

They influenced groups ranging from Geordie to Oasis and from Cheap Trick through to Nirvana to Kiss.
They all remembered Slade too.