Share the post "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)
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.
Latest session: Sunday 14 April
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 7 April 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 2 April 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 15 April 2024
ENMY The Ledge (FiXT)
KAROBELA Get Hard (indie)
KATH & THE KICKS Neptune (indie)
THE BEE TELLERS River Poem (Black Sand Records)
LAUREN FREEBIRD Like A Bomb (indie)
Featured Albums w/c 15 April 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023
14:00-16:00 KATARINA PEJAK – Pearls On A String (Ruf Records)
To see our Tweets you need to be logged in to a Twitter account
Popular (last 10 days)
Share the post "Book review: SLADE in the 1970s (Decades) by Darren Johnson"
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
