Crackers (1985)
Crackers, also referred to as Crackers: The Christmas Party Album is a studio/compilation album, released by Telstar on 18 November 1985. It reached No. 34 in the UK charts and remained in the charts for seven weeks. It was certified Gold by the BPI the same month of release. Crackers contains a mixture of the band's previous hits, some re-recorded songs and a selection of covers. The new material on the album was largely produced by Jim Lea, with John Punter producing "Do You Believe in Miracles".
On Crackers, Slade tried to create an LP that had a party atmosphere to it. Since its original release, the album has had numerous re-issues over the years under various titles, including Slade's Crazee Christmas! (1999), The Party Album (2001) and Crackers: The Rockin' Party Album! (2006). Slade's Crazee Christmas would chart several times on the UK Budget Albums Chart between 2001-05.
Background
Following the release of the band's 1985 studio album Rogues Gallery, the band were approached by Telstar to create a Christmas-related party album. The album included cover versions of "Let's Dance", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Let's Have a Party!", "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and "Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone". The band re-recorded their own past hits "Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Get Down and Get with It". The remaining eight tracks were previously recorded songs from the band's catalogue, including the new single "Do You Believe in Miracles".
Speaking of the album in a 1985 fan club interview, Lea said: "When Telstar first approached RCA, asking if we would like to be involved in such a venture, my immediate reaction was NO. But later I was talked into it by the other members. They convinced me that we could make this type of album really well as we could really make it a huge hit, especially with all the T.V. promotion. Frank [Lea], for example, was really pessimistic about us getting involved with this idea, but when he came into the studio and heard some of the numbers, he was grinning from ear to ear. We are sure that we have made the right decision."
The album, released in November, was a success in the UK, where it reached No. 34 and was certified Gold. Although Slade's label RCA released "Do You Believe in Miracles" as a single, a deal was struck with Telstar to include the song on Crackers. After the single peaked at No. 54 in the UK, it was suggested that its inclusion on the album had caused it to fail to reach a higher charting. In a 1986 interview, Don Powell said: "That could be a reason. Funnily enough, that was one of the bones of contention - Telstar said that they wanted it on the album, whereas we didn't because that would mean that it would split the sales between the single and the album. I know that if I personally like someone's single, and it's going to be on their latest album, then I'll wait and buy the album."
Recording
Speaking of the material on the album, Lea said: "We have re-recorded some of our old hits and covered some old classics. The latest version of "Cum On Feel the Noize" knocks the original dead." Speaking of "Do They Know It's Christmas", he said: "It's better than the original, and it's got me playing the parts of Boy George, Bono and Sting!" It was also reported that Lea enjoyed the quick recording process of the album, which he felt suited the band's "rough and ready" approach.
Commenting on the recording the album in a 1986 interview, Dave Hill said: "I enjoyed making the tracks for Crackers a lot more than those for Rogues Gallery." In his own interview that year, Powell revealed his thoughts on the Crackers project: "Well, we were a bit dubious at first, we thought that it might have been another Black Lace type of thing. When we actually recorded the cover versions though, we had a great time doing them. We just went into the studio and put them down one after the other - it was like playing live on stage."
While recording Crackers, Hill discovered Victor Herman, a busker, who was playing bagpipes in Oxford Street, London. As the band were due to record their own version of "Auld Lang Syne", Hill he invited Herman to add an authentic touch to the recording. Herman agreed, and when he'd finished recording his part, Slade gave him an envelope with a sizeable sum of money in it, along with their thanks and best wishes. Two days later, the envelope was returned by post, along with a letter from Herman, saying that he'd enjoyed himself so much in the studio that he didn't want the money. Slade later invited him to their Christmas party on 18 November 1985 - the release day of the album. At the party, Slade presented Herman with one of the band's Gold Discs as a keepsake.
Speaking to BBC Radio West Midland's Paul Franks in 2018, Lea said of the album: "They had to drag me into the studio kicking and screaming to record that. I didn't want to do any Christmas album, but I have to say in retrospect it was a lot of fun making it, because there was no onus, you know, it wasn't a single. We just had to have a good time."
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
European Hot 100 Albums: #90
UK Albums Chart: #34
Slade's Crazee Christmas re-issue
UK Budget Albums Chart: #31 (2001)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #23 (2002)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #21 (2003)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #37 (2005)
Track listing
1. Let's Dance (Jim Lee) - 2:36
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 2:39
3. Hi Ho Silver Lining (Scott English, Larry Weiss) - 3:24
4. We'll Bring the House Down (Noddy Holder, Jim Lea) - 3:34
5. Cum on Feel the Noize (Holder, Lea) - 2:57
6. All Join Hands (Holder, Lea) - 4:16
7. Okey Cokey (Jimmy Kennedy) - 3:26
8. Merry Xmas Everybody (Holder, Lea) - 3:58
9. Do You Believe in Miracles (Holder, Lea) - 4:12
10. Let's Have a Party (Phil Baxter, Cliff Friend, Joe Haynes) - 1:47
11. Get Down and Get With It (Bobby Marchan) - 3:28
12. My Oh My (Holder, Lea) - 4:11
13. Run Runaway (Holder, Lea) - 3:43
14. Here's To... (The New Year) (Holder, Lea) - 3:11
15. Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World) (Bob Geldof, Midge Ure) - 3:39
16. Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone (Traditional, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II - Arr. Holder, Lea) - 3:28
Crackers: The Rockin' Party Album! - 2006
1. Let's Dance - 2:36
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - 2:39
3. Hi Ho Silver Lining - 3:24
4. Cum on Feel the Noize - 2:58
5. Okey Cokey - 3:26
6. Merry Xmas Everybody - 3:58
7. Let's Have a Party - 1:47
8. Get Down and Get With It - 3:28
9. Here's To... (The New Year) - 3:11
10. Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World) - 3:39
11. Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone - 3:28
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
On Crackers, Slade tried to create an LP that had a party atmosphere to it. Since its original release, the album has had numerous re-issues over the years under various titles, including Slade's Crazee Christmas! (1999), The Party Album (2001) and Crackers: The Rockin' Party Album! (2006). Slade's Crazee Christmas would chart several times on the UK Budget Albums Chart between 2001-05.
Background
Following the release of the band's 1985 studio album Rogues Gallery, the band were approached by Telstar to create a Christmas-related party album. The album included cover versions of "Let's Dance", "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", "Hi Ho Silver Lining", "Let's Have a Party!", "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and "Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone". The band re-recorded their own past hits "Cum On Feel the Noize" and "Get Down and Get with It". The remaining eight tracks were previously recorded songs from the band's catalogue, including the new single "Do You Believe in Miracles".
Speaking of the album in a 1985 fan club interview, Lea said: "When Telstar first approached RCA, asking if we would like to be involved in such a venture, my immediate reaction was NO. But later I was talked into it by the other members. They convinced me that we could make this type of album really well as we could really make it a huge hit, especially with all the T.V. promotion. Frank [Lea], for example, was really pessimistic about us getting involved with this idea, but when he came into the studio and heard some of the numbers, he was grinning from ear to ear. We are sure that we have made the right decision."
The album, released in November, was a success in the UK, where it reached No. 34 and was certified Gold. Although Slade's label RCA released "Do You Believe in Miracles" as a single, a deal was struck with Telstar to include the song on Crackers. After the single peaked at No. 54 in the UK, it was suggested that its inclusion on the album had caused it to fail to reach a higher charting. In a 1986 interview, Don Powell said: "That could be a reason. Funnily enough, that was one of the bones of contention - Telstar said that they wanted it on the album, whereas we didn't because that would mean that it would split the sales between the single and the album. I know that if I personally like someone's single, and it's going to be on their latest album, then I'll wait and buy the album."
Recording
Speaking of the material on the album, Lea said: "We have re-recorded some of our old hits and covered some old classics. The latest version of "Cum On Feel the Noize" knocks the original dead." Speaking of "Do They Know It's Christmas", he said: "It's better than the original, and it's got me playing the parts of Boy George, Bono and Sting!" It was also reported that Lea enjoyed the quick recording process of the album, which he felt suited the band's "rough and ready" approach.
Commenting on the recording the album in a 1986 interview, Dave Hill said: "I enjoyed making the tracks for Crackers a lot more than those for Rogues Gallery." In his own interview that year, Powell revealed his thoughts on the Crackers project: "Well, we were a bit dubious at first, we thought that it might have been another Black Lace type of thing. When we actually recorded the cover versions though, we had a great time doing them. We just went into the studio and put them down one after the other - it was like playing live on stage."
While recording Crackers, Hill discovered Victor Herman, a busker, who was playing bagpipes in Oxford Street, London. As the band were due to record their own version of "Auld Lang Syne", Hill he invited Herman to add an authentic touch to the recording. Herman agreed, and when he'd finished recording his part, Slade gave him an envelope with a sizeable sum of money in it, along with their thanks and best wishes. Two days later, the envelope was returned by post, along with a letter from Herman, saying that he'd enjoyed himself so much in the studio that he didn't want the money. Slade later invited him to their Christmas party on 18 November 1985 - the release day of the album. At the party, Slade presented Herman with one of the band's Gold Discs as a keepsake.
Speaking to BBC Radio West Midland's Paul Franks in 2018, Lea said of the album: "They had to drag me into the studio kicking and screaming to record that. I didn't want to do any Christmas album, but I have to say in retrospect it was a lot of fun making it, because there was no onus, you know, it wasn't a single. We just had to have a good time."
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- Newcastle Evening Chronicle commented: "Their joyous rock is infectious as they run through their own hits and covers like "Hi Ho Silver Lining".
Retrospective reviews
- Dave Thompson of AllMusic retrospectively wrote: "Simultaneously the most joyously raucous, loud and singalong album in the entire Slade catalog, and the single most detestable record they ever made, the set was built around the seemingly annual success of "Merry Xmas Everybody," flushed out with a host more eternal party poppers. Crowd and party noises roar alongside the band, and the entire album is so buoyant and boisterous that even hermits could play it, and believe they're having fun. But is it a proper Slade album, to file alongside Slayed? and Rogues Gallery? That's another question entirely."
- In 2010, Classic Rock stated the album should be "avoided", writing: "Cunningly repackaged several times afterwards in no less excusable form, this turkey was very much a nadir for Slade. The combination of re-recorded hits and festive fare achieved its commercial goal, peaking at #34 in the UK, but the album's very existence slammed the credibility of HMS Slade amidships like some unforgiving German torpedo."
Chart performance
European Hot 100 Albums: #90
UK Albums Chart: #34
Slade's Crazee Christmas re-issue
UK Budget Albums Chart: #31 (2001)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #23 (2002)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #21 (2003)
UK Budget Albums Chart: #37 (2005)
Track listing
1. Let's Dance (Jim Lee) - 2:36
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (John Frederick Coots, Haven Gillespie) - 2:39
3. Hi Ho Silver Lining (Scott English, Larry Weiss) - 3:24
4. We'll Bring the House Down (Noddy Holder, Jim Lea) - 3:34
5. Cum on Feel the Noize (Holder, Lea) - 2:57
6. All Join Hands (Holder, Lea) - 4:16
7. Okey Cokey (Jimmy Kennedy) - 3:26
8. Merry Xmas Everybody (Holder, Lea) - 3:58
9. Do You Believe in Miracles (Holder, Lea) - 4:12
10. Let's Have a Party (Phil Baxter, Cliff Friend, Joe Haynes) - 1:47
11. Get Down and Get With It (Bobby Marchan) - 3:28
12. My Oh My (Holder, Lea) - 4:11
13. Run Runaway (Holder, Lea) - 3:43
14. Here's To... (The New Year) (Holder, Lea) - 3:11
15. Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World) (Bob Geldof, Midge Ure) - 3:39
16. Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone (Traditional, Richard Rogers, Oscar Hammerstein II - Arr. Holder, Lea) - 3:28
Crackers: The Rockin' Party Album! - 2006
1. Let's Dance - 2:36
2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - 2:39
3. Hi Ho Silver Lining - 3:24
4. Cum on Feel the Noize - 2:58
5. Okey Cokey - 3:26
6. Merry Xmas Everybody - 3:58
7. Let's Have a Party - 1:47
8. Get Down and Get With It - 3:28
9. Here's To... (The New Year) - 3:11
10. Do They Know It's Christmas (Feed the World) - 3:39
11. Auld Lang Syne/You'll Never Walk Alone - 3:28
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jim Lea - bass, keyboards, backing vocals, producer (tracks 1-5, 7-8, 10, 14-16)
- Don Powell - drums
Additional personnel
- John Punter - producer (tracks 6, 9, 12-13)
- Victor Herman - bagpipes on "Auld Lang Syne" (uncredited)
- Dave Garland, Nigel Walker - engineers