Slade on Stage (1982)
Slade on Stage is Slade's third live album, released by RCA on 11 December 1982 and produced by Slade. The album reached No. 58 in the UK, remaining in the charts for three weeks. It was recorded at Newcastle City Hall on 18 December 1981.
Background
Following Slade's performance at the Reading festival in 1980, interest in the band was revived and a major record deal with RCA signed. During the tour to promote the band's 1981 album Til Deaf Do Us Part, the band decided to record their concert at Newcastle City Hall on the RAK mobile. Produced and mixed at Portland Studios in London, Slade on Stage was released in December 1982 and reached No. 58 in the UK.
Speaking to Kerrang! in 1982, Holder said of the album: "I think we've managed to keep the excitement of the gig virtually intact. It's true we had to do a few studio bits to tart it up, but these have been kept to a minimum. You've always got to remember that somebody is gonna pay hard earned cash for this record. And, whilst every effort should be made to preserve the atmosphere of a thing, if adding a few touches to it can enhance the final sound, then I think you owe it to the punter to do just that. With Slade on Stage, though, all we've done is to make up for bits where, for example, a guitar string broke or something. Oh yeah, and we had to cut out part of the audience as well, 'cos one of the microphones in the auditorium was set up next to a loony. He kept on shouting into it "bastard!" at the top of his voice, so obviously that had to go. But, apart from those things, everything is faithful to the show."
The album sleeve's photographs were shot by Gered Mankowitz on a section of the M25 motorway prior to its opening. The photograph on the front sleeve was taken underneath a bridge and the back photograph taken on the bridge.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
Retrospective reviews
Chart performance
UK Albums Chart: #58
Track listing
1. Rock and Roll Preacher (Noddy Holder, Jim Lea) - 5:18
2. When I'm Dancin' I Ain't Fightin' (Holder, Lea) - 3:47
3. Tak' Me Bak 'Ome (Holder, Lea) - 4:40
4. Everyday (Holder, Lea) - 3:20
5. Lock Up Your Daughters (Holder, Lea) - 4:02
6. We'll Bring the House Down (Holder, Lea) - 4:25
7. A Night to Remember (Holder, Lea) - 8:28
8. Gudbuy T'Jane (Holder, Lea) - 4:46
9. Mama Weer All Crazee Now (Holder, Lea) - 3:00
10. You'll Never Walk Alone (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) - 0:35
Personnel
Slade
Additional personnel
Background
Following Slade's performance at the Reading festival in 1980, interest in the band was revived and a major record deal with RCA signed. During the tour to promote the band's 1981 album Til Deaf Do Us Part, the band decided to record their concert at Newcastle City Hall on the RAK mobile. Produced and mixed at Portland Studios in London, Slade on Stage was released in December 1982 and reached No. 58 in the UK.
Speaking to Kerrang! in 1982, Holder said of the album: "I think we've managed to keep the excitement of the gig virtually intact. It's true we had to do a few studio bits to tart it up, but these have been kept to a minimum. You've always got to remember that somebody is gonna pay hard earned cash for this record. And, whilst every effort should be made to preserve the atmosphere of a thing, if adding a few touches to it can enhance the final sound, then I think you owe it to the punter to do just that. With Slade on Stage, though, all we've done is to make up for bits where, for example, a guitar string broke or something. Oh yeah, and we had to cut out part of the audience as well, 'cos one of the microphones in the auditorium was set up next to a loony. He kept on shouting into it "bastard!" at the top of his voice, so obviously that had to go. But, apart from those things, everything is faithful to the show."
The album sleeve's photographs were shot by Gered Mankowitz on a section of the M25 motorway prior to its opening. The photograph on the front sleeve was taken underneath a bridge and the back photograph taken on the bridge.
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
- "Watching Slade live is one of the most exhilarating experiences known to mankind. It's a completely over the top manic and raucous package, delivered at a pace that almost makes Kiss seem like old men. So pin back your ears, reinforce your walls and listen to Noddy Holder bellowing through 10 gems including "Take Me Bak 'Ome" and "We'll Bring the House Down". Some light relief (if it could possibly be described as that) is supplied by "Everyday". What are you waiting for? Go out and buy it now." - Robin Smith of Record Mirror
- "It's always been on stage where Slade come alive most and this sensational album goes some way towards demonstrating just why they're one of the best live rock bands in the world. Indeed this is one of the livest albums you'll ever hear in your life, so raucously resplendent in rowdy crowd participation that it sounds like you've got the Kop in your bedroom. Among many other things, Slade on Stage proves that hyper-ham showman Noddy Holder was and is one of the finest rock 'n' roll vocalists that England ever produced. What Slade have always been about is undiluted rock 'n' roll, and this album comes nearer to capturing the feel, the excitement and the sheer energy they generate than anything they've ever attempted before." - Sounds
- "Possibly because of previous teenybop allegiances, Slade remain less of a record selling force than many of their HM contemporaries, who can't match Holder's raw vocal power, or the band's ability to come up with discernible hook-laden songs. This is a particularly volcanic performance recorded before a highly receptive audience during which many of their good old ones like "Take Me Bak 'Ome", "We'll Bring the House Down" and "Gudbuy T'Jane" are trotted out with immense gusto." - Record Business
Retrospective reviews
- "Believe it or not, Slade on Stage is the most intense recording Slade has ever made. That's heavy. This live album shows the band playing faster, harder, and better than ever. The first three songs set the stage. Slade comes out of the gate so fast that if they didn't follow those three up with a ballad, you'd almost have to take the record off. It's that intense. Anyone who saw Slade during this era would tell you - it was heart-stopping good, and heartbeat-regulating loud. This is the tightest, hardest, and best you will ever hear Slade (or just about any other hard rock band) play. The material is the cream of the crop, and the recording is a killer. This album's only downside is that it only has nine real songs. But judging the platter by what's on there rather than what's not - it's a monster." - Geoff Ginsberg of AllMusic
Chart performance
UK Albums Chart: #58
Track listing
1. Rock and Roll Preacher (Noddy Holder, Jim Lea) - 5:18
2. When I'm Dancin' I Ain't Fightin' (Holder, Lea) - 3:47
3. Tak' Me Bak 'Ome (Holder, Lea) - 4:40
4. Everyday (Holder, Lea) - 3:20
5. Lock Up Your Daughters (Holder, Lea) - 4:02
6. We'll Bring the House Down (Holder, Lea) - 4:25
7. A Night to Remember (Holder, Lea) - 8:28
8. Gudbuy T'Jane (Holder, Lea) - 4:46
9. Mama Weer All Crazee Now (Holder, Lea) - 3:00
10. You'll Never Walk Alone (Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II) - 0:35
Personnel
Slade
- Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer
- Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Jim Lea - bass, backing vocals, producer
- Don Powell - drums, producer
Additional personnel
- Dave Garland - engineer
- George Peckham - cutting engineer
- Mike Robinson - mixing
- Andrew Christian - sleeve design
- Gered Mankowitz - photography
- Colin Newman - album title
- Partridge Rushton - typography