Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson

Sonicbond Publishing [Publication date 26.05.23]

Slade were one of the biggest British bands of the 1970s, three UK number one albums (and one in Australia), six number one singles in the UK and Irish charts, numerous top 10 hit singles and sold out tours.

After a failed attempt at an American breakthrough in the mid-1970s, Slade returned to Britain and faced dwindling record sales, smaller concert halls and a music press that had lost interest in them. But then came a last-minute invitation to play the 1980 Reading Festival in place of Ozzy Osbourne, setting in motion a remarkable comeback that included US chart success the band have been working so hard to achieve.

Darren Johnson’s book is a perfect introduction to the band, and includes a brief mention of the band’s early years in the 1960s plus what happened to them after 1980 onwards. To be fair, the 1980s for Slade could easily warrant a book of its own.

Darren Johnson gives a little bit extra in his books as they invariably include interviews he has conducted and in this case he adds quotes from his own interviews with Don Powell and Jim Lea. His personal appraisal of each single, song and album is fair too, not overly long and wordy or ‘fanboy’ like some of the titles in this series.

Slade still have plenty of fans as their most recent compilation, 2020′s ‘Cum On Feel the Hitz: The Best of Slade’ proved by reaching number 8 in the UK album charts. Plus, their Christmas hit keeps on making the UK singles each year, a feat more amazing when these are nearly all based on streams and not physical sales that their traditional fan base grew up on.

Another ‘must have’ for the casual Slade fan and anyone who loves a bit of glam rock. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Slade at GRTR!
Album review (All The World Is A Stage, 2022)
Album review (Alive – Slade In Flame, 2022)
Album review (Slayed?, 2021)
Album review (Come On Feel The Hitz, 2021)
Album review (Feel The Noyz, singles box, 2019)
Album review (Jim Lea, Lost In Space, 2018)
Interview (Jim Lea, 2018)

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

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12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)