When Slade Rocked the World (2015)

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When Slade Rocked the World is a compilation box set, released by Salvo on 13 November 2015. The box set, housed in a 12-inch box, covers the band's commercial heyday from 1971 to 1975, with a mix of reproduced vinyl LPs, 7" vinyl singles, a two-disc CD, a scrapbook-style book and a reproduced edition of the book The Slade Story, written by George Tremlett.

Background
When Slade Rocked the World was first announced in July 2015 and was made available for pre-order on PledgeMusic. A limited edition version of the box set was made exclusively available through the platform, which included an exclusive set of reproduced Slade in Flame film lobby cards. Speaking of the project, BMG's Steve Bunyan later commented to Music Managers Forum: "We wanted to put something together that the band, fans and media would all think was a worthy summary of Slade at the peak of their powers. I think we achieved it."

In September 2016, the box set won "Special Catalogue Release of the Year" at that year's AIM Awards. It was also nominated for the Classic Rock Awards "Reissue of the Year".

Contents
Critical reception
Contemporary reviews
  • "Deserves a place in every self-respecting rock 'n' roll and glam rock-loving home as it's the ultimate box set for the band when they were unstoppable." - Vive Le Rock
  • "British Christmas's will be forever bound to Noddy Holder's glorious throaty celebration, but Slade were a band for all seasons as this sumptuous vinyl box set proves. This box majors in roof-raising pop glories such as "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" and is the perfect Yuletide gift for the discerning rock 'n' roller." - Daily Mirror
  • The Sunday Times noted the set stood out for its "spectacular packaging, humour and reproduced curios".
  • "Slade's legacy as four merry clowns getting exuberant in a fancy dress shop is a pejorative one, and does their music a real disservice. As we hear time and again on When Slade Rocked the World, they weren't just churning out chart fodder to fill the nostalgic dancefloors of future school discos. They were better musicians than that for a start; a tight, syncopated four-piece, they could swing viciously and attack with force." - David Cavanagh of Uncut
  • Daryl Easlea of Record Collector described the set as a "superbly packaged collection" and noted: "This collection emphasises how unique they really were, not to mention their instinctive way with a melody. To this young fan, their tunes were accessible in a way that, say, Bowie's was not. When Slade Rocked the World is a very fitting tribute to this unmistakable outfit."
  • "Its deathlessness ["Merry Xmas Everybody"] has fixed Slade forever in the public imagination as beloved purveyors of glittery, raucous pop anthems. They were more complex and expansive than that, as When Slade Rocked the World proves, but never mind. It's immortality of a kind: not the one George Tremlett once envisaged for them, but immortality nonetheless." - Alexis Petridis of The Guardian
  • Kieron Tyler of The Arts Desk described the box set as "lavish" and praised the remastering, but felt it was "unlikely to alter perceptions". He said: "Being confronted with this much Slade in one go is daunting. The familiar hit singles whizz by but the context of their albums brings a new life and a surprising freshness. When Slade Rocked the World is not strictly essential due to the availability of much of its content in its original form. But it is well-conceived and will thrill any fan of the band. The less-committed also need to hear this band at their peak so, again, if the budget stretches to it, this first-rate tribute to a British great is an extravagant entry point."

Personnel
Slade
  • Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Lea - bass, piano, violin, backing vocals
  • Don Powell - drums