Slade Alive!
Encyclopedia
Slade Alive! was a live album
released by the British
rock
band Slade
. The album was released on 24 March 1972, and reached No. 2 on the UK Charts, besides being Slade's first album to dent the Top 200
in the United States. The album contains original songs, plus cover versions of songs by Ten Years After
, The Lovin' Spoonful
, Bobby Marchan
, and Steppenwolf
. The album was recorded live at Command Theatre Studio and mixed at Olympic Studios.
In its original LP vinyl format, the album was issued in a gatefold sleeve which revealed a huge cartoon drawing on the inside. This drawing was the winning entry in a competition run in the The Sun
UK newspaper to design the album cover.
In 2006 Salvo Records re-issued the tracks as part of the collection Slade Alive - the Live Anthology.
Of the three nights recorded, most of the album consisted of the second night as the band had just come from performing on Top of the Pops with "Coz I Luv You" which had just peaked at #1 in the UK. The band's delight ended up showing on the performance of that night.
The album was rated #2 of the top ten albums of 1972 by NME magazine's chart point survey.
The album was voted #3 of the top three Slade albums in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979. In the same poll, the album was voted #1 of the top three Slade album covers.
In Australia, "Slade Alive!" was the biggest selling album since The Beatles'
1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
".
The two Slade hits Coz I Luv You and Look Wot You Dun were performed but left out from the album as at the time, the band believed in not having singles on albums.
, Coz I Luv You
and Look Wot You Dun
, Slade set out to capture their live sound on record. After the commercial failures of previous albums Beginnings
and Play It Loud
, the only income was through the band's solid live reputation. 'Slade Alive!' was recorded at the Command Threatre Studio in London, for cost of £600, and released without overdubs of any sort in March 1972. A number of lucky fan club members had been present over the course of a three night run. The seven songs on the album captured Slade's transition from enthusiastic novices with a knack for performing the music of others into a powerful group in their own right.
The album consisted of covers of Ten Years After
's "Hear Me Calling", John Sebastian
's "Darling Be Home Soon", Little Richard
's "Get Down and Get With It
" which became a top 20 hit for the band in mid-1971 and Steppenwolf's
"Born to Be Wild
" which had also appeared on the band's debut album 'Beginnings' in 1969. The album peaked at #2 in the UK charts for a total of 58 weeks.
Slade covered the song frequently live, and it soon became the band's show opener for many years. The band decided to record the song in the studio as a potential follow-up to their 1971 breakthrough hit Get Down and Get With It. However, the band couldn't better the song in the studio than live and so the studio recording on vinyl acetate wasn't released, but kept by drummer Don Powell, never to be seen again until it appeared on the 2011 Salvo remaster of the 1973 UK number one compilation Sladest. The recording remaining unreleased was also due to the fact that the band would soon release the live version of the track on Slade Alive! and because manager/producer Chas Chandler wanted the band to write their own material.
In a late 2011 interview on the Radcliffe and Maconie show, Noddy Holder stated that during an American tour with Ten Years After, Alvin Lee had told Slade that their Slade Alive! version of the song had made him more money than the original ever did.
During February/March 1972, a promotional single was released with Hear Me Calling as the a-side and Get Down With It as the b-side. This release had only 500 DJ copies made.
"Hear Me Calling" was voted #1 of the top three Slade album tracks in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979. "Hear Me Calling" was also voted #1 of the top three Slade live tracks.
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to take pub rock to glam proportions (In Like a Shot From My Gun)."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
Rumours of an unreleased studio version have been reported although in 1981, drummer Don Powell was asked by the Slade fan club why the track "In Like a Shot from My Gun" was never recorded in a studio. Powell replied "I don't know really. It was originally meant to be put down in the studio. But after we recorded it live for the "Slade Alive!" album, we didn't think that we could do it any more justice by doing it in the studio - as it's basically a live number. Maybe though it might work now if we recorded it in the studio, as we try and put a more "live" feel on our singles."
In a 1981 interview, guitarist Dave Hill spoke of the Southern rock musical ensemble Blackfoot
. Hill stated "Actually, they're old fans of ours - they used to do "In Like a Shot from My Gun" from the "Slade Alive!" album. They were raving about the track the other day, they said that they used to play "Slade Alive!" really loud before their rehearsals to get them in the mood!"
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The song featured on the 2006 box set compilation The Slade Box and the American 2007 compilation In for a Penny: Raves & Faves.
Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to add a bit of feedback to John Sebastian's folk-pop (Darling Be Home Soon)."
A famous moment in the song is where Holder accidentally burped into the microphone, with Holder later admitting in 2000 on The Frank Skinner Show that the burp was accidental as the band had a lot to drink before performing on the stage. Holder also stated that from then on, he had to continue to do the burp whenever the song was performed otherwise the audience would be disappointed. On this particular Frank Skinner Show episode, the ending features Holder doing an off-screen burp after Skinner performs the 1976 Slade hit Let's Call It Quits, where Holder and Katy Hill performed backing vocals.
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
Allmusic.com wrote "Plus, hits like the MC5-esque Know Who You Are are given proper live workouts."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The live version of this track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
The song is based on a classic rock ‘n’ roll sound, showing Slade's further inspiration from artists like Little Richard, with the band gaining their first hit single Get Down and Get With It, after hearing the song performed by Little Richard.
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The song featured on the German 1974 compilation Far Far Away.
The song was Slade's breakthrough hit and was used as part of the band's live set for the almost all of the band's live career.
Allmusic.com wrote "Plus, hits like the retro-rocker "Get Down Get With It" are given proper live workouts."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session and on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. Both performances were officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The live version of this track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
The song had been part of Slade's live set previously as well as being performed often throughout the band's entire live career. It was originally performed in the studio for the band's 1969 debut Beginnings, under their name of the time Ambrose Slade.
Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to make a fine mess out of a Steppenwolf classic (Born to Be Wild)."
In the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979, "Born To Be Wild" was voted #3 of three on the top three Slade album tracks poll.
composition that the group have used since their days as Ambrose Slade. Getting faster and faster with hand claps from the audience and whoops from the group it sets the scene. "Get Down and Get With It" is excellently performed, and shows the extent of audience participation with the group. Their "Keep on Rocking" incorporates phrases and the feel of many an old rock song, and perhaps best indicates what Slade really are about. In contrast Sebastian's "Darling Be Home Soon" is the only slow tempo track - with a shattering 'burp' breaking the mood, should you be taking it too seriously!"
NME wrote ""Slade Alive!" is just what it implies, having been recorded before a rowdy crowd of fans at Command Studios. If you've ever been to one of their noisy gigs, you'll know exactly what I mean."
Melody Maker wrote "Because it was recorded in a studio proper, before an audience, they've achieved the kind of balance and sound not often heard on a live recording."
Diane Kelly, editor of the Slade Fan Club Newsletter wrote "What an album! It's unbelievable! It's the best I've heard for a very long time, all the favourites are there. The album itself is coarse, rare and gritty, just how we like to find them. This is a certain for the top of the charts, as quoted on the cover: "you won't be able to stop your feet tapping and you'll be at the head of the queue for the tickets to the next Slade concert in your area." This is one record no Slade fan will want to be found dead without."
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
released by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
. The album was released on 24 March 1972, and reached No. 2 on the UK Charts, besides being Slade's first album to dent the Top 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
in the United States. The album contains original songs, plus cover versions of songs by Ten Years After
Ten Years After
Ten Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart...
, The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful
The Lovin' Spoonful is an American pop rock band of the 1960s, named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. When asked about his band, leader John Sebastian said it sounded like a combination of "Mississippi John Hurt and Chuck Berry," prompting his friend, Fritz Richmond, to suggest the name...
, Bobby Marchan
Bobby Marchan
Bobby Marchan was a well-respected American rhythm and blues bandleader, MC, singer-performer, recording artist, and female impersonator, who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclubs, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana in the mid 1950s.Marchan also toured with the band of...
, and Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
. The album was recorded live at Command Theatre Studio and mixed at Olympic Studios.
In its original LP vinyl format, the album was issued in a gatefold sleeve which revealed a huge cartoon drawing on the inside. This drawing was the winning entry in a competition run in the The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
UK newspaper to design the album cover.
In 2006 Salvo Records re-issued the tracks as part of the collection Slade Alive - the Live Anthology.
Of the three nights recorded, most of the album consisted of the second night as the band had just come from performing on Top of the Pops with "Coz I Luv You" which had just peaked at #1 in the UK. The band's delight ended up showing on the performance of that night.
The album was rated #2 of the top ten albums of 1972 by NME magazine's chart point survey.
The album was voted #3 of the top three Slade albums in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979. In the same poll, the album was voted #1 of the top three Slade album covers.
In Australia, "Slade Alive!" was the biggest selling album since The Beatles'
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
1967 album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the eighth studio album by the English rock band The Beatles, released on 1 June 1967 on the Parlophone label and produced by George Martin...
".
The two Slade hits Coz I Luv You and Look Wot You Dun were performed but left out from the album as at the time, the band believed in not having singles on albums.
Background
After the success of Slade singles Get Down and Get With ItGet Down and Get With It
"Get Down and Get With It" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Sladest. It was written by Bobby Marchan. The single was released in 1971 and peaked at #16 in the UK, spending 14 weeks on the chart. This was Slade's first chart entry in their career...
, Coz I Luv You
Coz I Luv You
"Coz I Luv You" is a song by Slade, written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea and produced by Chas Chandler. It was the band's second hit single in the UK and the first of six number one singles. It was released on 30/10/1971 and was last seen on the charts on 05/02/1972 at #44...
and Look Wot You Dun
Look Wot You Dun
"Look Wot You Dun" is a single from glam rock band Slade which appeared on the album Sladest. It was written by lead singer Noddy Holder, bassist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell. The single was released on 05/02/1972, just when Slade's previous single Coz I Luv You had its last week in the top 100...
, Slade set out to capture their live sound on record. After the commercial failures of previous albums Beginnings
Beginnings (Slade album)
Beginnings was the first album by the English rock group Ambrose Slade, who were later known as Slade. It was released on 9 May 1969 but failed to enter the charts. It was also released as Ballzy in the U.S...
and Play It Loud
Play It Loud
Play It Loud is the second album by the British rock group Slade . It was released on 28 November 1970 but did not enter the charts....
, the only income was through the band's solid live reputation. 'Slade Alive!' was recorded at the Command Threatre Studio in London, for cost of £600, and released without overdubs of any sort in March 1972. A number of lucky fan club members had been present over the course of a three night run. The seven songs on the album captured Slade's transition from enthusiastic novices with a knack for performing the music of others into a powerful group in their own right.
The album consisted of covers of Ten Years After
Ten Years After
Ten Years After is an English blues-rock band, most popular in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Between 1968 and 1973, Ten Years After scored eight Top 40 albums on the UK Albums Chart...
's "Hear Me Calling", John Sebastian
John Sebastian
John Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
's "Darling Be Home Soon", Little Richard
Little Richard
Richard Wayne Penniman , known by the stage name Little Richard, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist, and actor, considered key in the transition from rhythm and blues to rock and roll in the 1950s. He was also the first artist to put the funk in the rock and roll beat and...
's "Get Down and Get With It
Get Down and Get With It
"Get Down and Get With It" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Sladest. It was written by Bobby Marchan. The single was released in 1971 and peaked at #16 in the UK, spending 14 weeks on the chart. This was Slade's first chart entry in their career...
" which became a top 20 hit for the band in mid-1971 and Steppenwolf's
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
"Born to Be Wild
Born to Be Wild
"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
" which had also appeared on the band's debut album 'Beginnings' in 1969. The album peaked at #2 in the UK charts for a total of 58 weeks.
Track listing
- "Hear Me Calling" - 5:46 (Alvin LeeAlvin LeeAlvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
) - "In Like a Shot from My Gun" - 3:33 (Holder/Lea/Powell)
- "Darling Be Home Soon" - 5:43 (John SebastianJohn SebastianJohn Benson Sebastian Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist and autoharpist. He is best known as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful, a band inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000...
) - "Know Who You Are" - 3:37 (Holder/Lea/Hill/Powell)
- "Keep on Rocking" - 6:29 (Holder/Lea/Hill/Powell)
- "Get Down and Get With ItGet Down and Get With It"Get Down and Get With It" is a single from rock band Slade which appeared on the album Sladest. It was written by Bobby Marchan. The single was released in 1971 and peaked at #16 in the UK, spending 14 weeks on the chart. This was Slade's first chart entry in their career...
" - 5:33 (Bobby MarchanBobby MarchanBobby Marchan was a well-respected American rhythm and blues bandleader, MC, singer-performer, recording artist, and female impersonator, who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclubs, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana in the mid 1950s.Marchan also toured with the band of...
) - "Born to Be WildBorn to Be Wild"Born to Be Wild" is a rock song written by Mars Bonfire and made famous by the Canadian-American rock band Steppenwolf. It is often used in popular culture to denote a biker appearance or attitude...
" - 8:12 (Mars BonfireMars BonfireDennis Edmonton , also known by the stage name Mars Bonfire, is a Canadian rock musician and songwriter, best known for writing the hit song "Born to Be Wild" for Steppenwolf....
)
Hear Me Calling
"Hear Me Calling" is the album's opener, written by Alvin Lee and originally performed by Ten Years After in 1969 from the album Stonedhenge.Slade covered the song frequently live, and it soon became the band's show opener for many years. The band decided to record the song in the studio as a potential follow-up to their 1971 breakthrough hit Get Down and Get With It. However, the band couldn't better the song in the studio than live and so the studio recording on vinyl acetate wasn't released, but kept by drummer Don Powell, never to be seen again until it appeared on the 2011 Salvo remaster of the 1973 UK number one compilation Sladest. The recording remaining unreleased was also due to the fact that the band would soon release the live version of the track on Slade Alive! and because manager/producer Chas Chandler wanted the band to write their own material.
In a late 2011 interview on the Radcliffe and Maconie show, Noddy Holder stated that during an American tour with Ten Years After, Alvin Lee had told Slade that their Slade Alive! version of the song had made him more money than the original ever did.
During February/March 1972, a promotional single was released with Hear Me Calling as the a-side and Get Down With It as the b-side. This release had only 500 DJ copies made.
"Hear Me Calling" was voted #1 of the top three Slade album tracks in the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979. "Hear Me Calling" was also voted #1 of the top three Slade live tracks.
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
In Like a Shot from My Gun
"In Like a Shot from My Gun" was written by Holder; Lea and Powell.Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to take pub rock to glam proportions (In Like a Shot From My Gun)."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
Rumours of an unreleased studio version have been reported although in 1981, drummer Don Powell was asked by the Slade fan club why the track "In Like a Shot from My Gun" was never recorded in a studio. Powell replied "I don't know really. It was originally meant to be put down in the studio. But after we recorded it live for the "Slade Alive!" album, we didn't think that we could do it any more justice by doing it in the studio - as it's basically a live number. Maybe though it might work now if we recorded it in the studio, as we try and put a more "live" feel on our singles."
In a 1981 interview, guitarist Dave Hill spoke of the Southern rock musical ensemble Blackfoot
Blackfoot (band)
Blackfoot is a Southern rock musical ensemble from Jacksonville, Florida organized during 1970. Though they are primarily a Southern rock band, they were known also as a hard rock act....
. Hill stated "Actually, they're old fans of ours - they used to do "In Like a Shot from My Gun" from the "Slade Alive!" album. They were raving about the track the other day, they said that they used to play "Slade Alive!" really loud before their rehearsals to get them in the mood!"
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The song featured on the 2006 box set compilation The Slade Box and the American 2007 compilation In for a Penny: Raves & Faves.
Darling Be Home Soon
"Darling Be Home Soon" was written by John Sebastian, originally performed by The Lovin' Spoonful in 1967 as an American hit single from the soundtrack album You're a Big Boy Now. It is the only ballad on the live album.Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to add a bit of feedback to John Sebastian's folk-pop (Darling Be Home Soon)."
A famous moment in the song is where Holder accidentally burped into the microphone, with Holder later admitting in 2000 on The Frank Skinner Show that the burp was accidental as the band had a lot to drink before performing on the stage. Holder also stated that from then on, he had to continue to do the burp whenever the song was performed otherwise the audience would be disappointed. On this particular Frank Skinner Show episode, the ending features Holder doing an off-screen burp after Skinner performs the 1976 Slade hit Let's Call It Quits, where Holder and Katy Hill performed backing vocals.
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
Know Who You Are
"Know Who You Are" was written by the entire band, originally released in 1969 as a instrumental titled Genesis, from the 1969 album Beginnings, and later re-worked with added lyrics for the 1970 album Play It Loud. Both original versions were also singles in 1969 and 1970 respectively, both failing to make any impact.Allmusic.com wrote "Plus, hits like the MC5-esque Know Who You Are are given proper live workouts."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The live version of this track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Keep on Rocking
"Keep on Rocking" was written by the entire band, a live only song that was never recorded in the studio. Despite this, the song remained part of the band's set list for a long time.The song is based on a classic rock ‘n’ roll sound, showing Slade's further inspiration from artists like Little Richard, with the band gaining their first hit single Get Down and Get With It, after hearing the song performed by Little Richard.
The band performed the track on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. This performance was officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The song featured on the German 1974 compilation Far Far Away.
Get Down With It
"Get Down With It" was written and first performed by Bobby Marchan, later covered by Little Richard, becoming an increasingly popular song.The song was Slade's breakthrough hit and was used as part of the band's live set for the almost all of the band's live career.
Allmusic.com wrote "Plus, hits like the retro-rocker "Get Down Get With It" are given proper live workouts."
The band performed the track in the early 70s during a live BBC studio session and on 17 August, 1972, live at the Paris Theatre in London. Both performances were officially released in 2009 on the two disc set Live at the BBC, after years of appearing on bootlegs.
The live version of this track is a recommended track by allmusic.com.
Born to be Wild
"Born to be Wild" was written by Canadian musician Mars Bonfire, first performed by Canadian-American rock group Steppenwolf who released it as a single from their self-titled album in 1968.The song had been part of Slade's live set previously as well as being performed often throughout the band's entire live career. It was originally performed in the studio for the band's 1969 debut Beginnings, under their name of the time Ambrose Slade.
Allmusic.com wrote "Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to make a fine mess out of a Steppenwolf classic (Born to Be Wild)."
In the Slade Fan Club Poll of 1979, "Born To Be Wild" was voted #3 of three on the top three Slade album tracks poll.
Critical reception
Upon release, Record Mirror magazine reviewed the album, "Packed in a sleeve with an amusing cartoon, and extracts from many things written about Slade, this is a good quality live recording - made under studio conditions and produced by Chas Chandler. To those who haven't seen Slade this could be surprising, with Noddy's raucous vocal, and bellowed comment - and make their appeal difficult to understand. It's a rocking album and the excitement of the group and crowd has been captured well, but it's not easy listening, somewhat frenzied! On stage the group hold attention with their cavorting antics and general enthusiasm, and to followers this is good album to keep remind of the live performance they'll see. But it's only a fraction of the story. Opens with "Hear Me Calling", an Alvin LeeAlvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
composition that the group have used since their days as Ambrose Slade. Getting faster and faster with hand claps from the audience and whoops from the group it sets the scene. "Get Down and Get With It" is excellently performed, and shows the extent of audience participation with the group. Their "Keep on Rocking" incorporates phrases and the feel of many an old rock song, and perhaps best indicates what Slade really are about. In contrast Sebastian's "Darling Be Home Soon" is the only slow tempo track - with a shattering 'burp' breaking the mood, should you be taking it too seriously!"
NME wrote ""Slade Alive!" is just what it implies, having been recorded before a rowdy crowd of fans at Command Studios. If you've ever been to one of their noisy gigs, you'll know exactly what I mean."
Melody Maker wrote "Because it was recorded in a studio proper, before an audience, they've achieved the kind of balance and sound not often heard on a live recording."
Diane Kelly, editor of the Slade Fan Club Newsletter wrote "What an album! It's unbelievable! It's the best I've heard for a very long time, all the favourites are there. The album itself is coarse, rare and gritty, just how we like to find them. This is a certain for the top of the charts, as quoted on the cover: "you won't be able to stop your feet tapping and you'll be at the head of the queue for the tickets to the next Slade concert in your area." This is one record no Slade fan will want to be found dead without."
Chart performance
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
Total weeks |
|---|---|---|
| Australian (ARIA) Albums Chart | 1 | 39 |
| Austrian Albums Chart | 8 | 8 |
| Canadian Albums Chart | 77 | 4 |
| German Albums Chart | 25 | ? |
| Norwegian Albums Chart | 18 | 4 |
| UK Albums Chart | 2 | 58 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 158 | 11 |
Slade
- Noddy HolderNoddy HolderNeville John "Noddy" Holder MBE is an English musician and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist with the rock band Slade....
- lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Dave HillDave HillDave Hill is an English musician, who is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist in the English glam rock group, Slade. The music journalist, Stuart Maconie, commented "he usually wore a jumpsuit made of the foil that you baste your turkeys in and platforms of oil-rig-derrick height...
- lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Jim LeaJim LeaJim Lea , is an English musician, most notable for playing bass guitar, keyboards, violin, guitar, and singing backing vocals in Slade.-Career:...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, backing vocals - Don PowellDon PowellDon Powell is a drummer who founded the English glam rock group, Slade.- Biography :As a child Powell joined the Boy Scouts where he became interested in the drums after being asked to join the band on a Sunday morning parade. After Etheridge Secondary Modern School he studied Metallurgy at...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Additional credits
- Barry Ainsworth - engineer (recording)
- Alan O'Duffy - engineer (mixing)
- Chas ChandlerChas ChandlerBryan James "Chas" Chandler was an English musician, record producer and manager of several successful music acts....
- producer - Derek Robinson - artwork
- Chris Walter - photography (front)
- M. Webb - artwork (sleeve inner)