THE NOIZE: The Slade discography Paperback – 23 Jan. 2019

I can't really remember a time when SLADE weren't there! Pictures covered the walls of the bedroom I shared with 'our kid', there were singles in red generic Polydor covers, there were albums with titles like 'Slayed?', there was at gig at King Georges Hall in Blackburn (1973, I was 8 years old, it was our first gig, we sat in the balcony with Dad) they always seemed to be on TV in our house, and then in the summer of 1975 they were in the cinema! 'Flame' was brilliant, it still is, and the soundtrack record might just be my favourite SLADE album.A few years ago now I was approached by Carlton Books to do a book on SLADE, it all happened very fast, one minute a meeting that could have been about anything, the next minute a contract and a pretty fast deadline. We wrote a fairly precise history, adding what we could find through research to what we knew as fans, plus the odd one liner from various meetings with Nod, Jim, Dave & Don. Next thing we knew management were trying to get the publisher to cease and desist? It made little sense, there was nothing remotely outrageous or scandalous in the text. Suddenly a compromise was reached, Carlton Books had recently seen some great success from re-printing the Jackie Annuals, the decision came to shrink the text, add more pictures, throw in a quiz (why a quiz? I'll never know!) and publish at Christmas in a format that looked very much like an Annual. Are you hanging up a stocking on your wall? It's the time that every Santa has a ball. Does he ride a red-nosed reindeer? Does a ton-up on his sleigh? Do the fairies keep him sober for a day? Not sure, but for us it felt like a cop out, although some fans tell me they like the book.Right at that point I said, to whoever might be listening, that the only way to get a really good SLADE book away was to publish privately and hopefully swerve management. I've never really understood why the catalogue and subsequent exploitation of such a well liked band is policed so strongly? They should take a look at what Apple Records or the Estate of Elvis Presley are doing, and learn from it. Not everybody will want a lunchbox, fair enough, but a lot of the things that are possible will have them queueing around the block. It might be in smaller numbers, but it will be significant.At this point enter 'The Noize' a private undertaking by two die-hard SLADE fans, which dropped through my letterbox from amazon just yesterday. It looks and feels like a big police or FBI file, I say that because it's about the only thing I can compare it too, and very much in a good way. A last word look at the SLADE discography, loaded with facts, information, record covers and a mountain of memorabilia, to say the boys done good is an understatement! If your a SLADE fan you need to own a copy NOW! As Nod might say; "Give it full po!"Something like this has been missing from the SLADE bookshelf for years, infact for three hours last night I was lost in it! And I'm still going strong today.... A case in point from what I said earlier is that the book also covers the still missing in action 2018 UK Singles box, which fingers and management crossed should appear in 2019. It will stand very nicely next to the 'When SLADE Rocked The World' album box set, which I for one love.More projects like this can only keep the name alive and the fire burning! And you never really know where that might lead.... Not unlike The Beatles, SLADE still have quite a few tricks up their collective sleeves that would look good on DVD/Blu-Ray or indeed CD/Vinyl, and surely something like this can only help the steps towards that....

My love affair with this band began way back some 40 years ago and to those of us in the know Slade are FAR more than that band from the glam rock days in the seventies who wore crazy clothes, had silly haircuts and made that christmas song we all love to hear. Slade (the original four) were one of the best live acts you would ever see, mostly their song writing abilities were up there with any rock band you care to mention. Of course all this has been written and re-written in detail many times in many books. Some like the excellent Chris Chalrsworth publication 'Feel the noize' are well worth a read if you want an accurate account, and others without naming names are better left on the bookshop shelf. But what you have in this book is different, it's a well researched track by track analysis packed with little snippits of information and more. Ive been in contact with the author Chris Selby for years now as he's always been the 'go to' man for for any information I wanted about the band and their history. Its good to see his vast knowledge has finally been put to print. This book is a well put together, interesting, accurate and informative read that is a must for any fan.

This review is for the 2021 hard cover edition.Well, what's the word am looking for? Think it might be 'WOW.' This is now undoubtedly the best book about Slade out there. Although listed as a Discography it is far more than that. If you are a Slade fan (and if you're reading this you must be) then it's most definitely a must.The original softback version was published in January 2019 and ran for 205 pages and was a labour of love. I left a positive reviews for same and encouraged Slade fans to buy it. Another Convention Special signed copy edition was produced with a limited run of 100 copies and could only be purchased at the Slade Fans Convention 19th October 2019 and extended the pages run to 221. This was a slightly revamped and an improvement on the first edition. And now we have the new polished super improved hard back version. Now extended to a mammoth 300 pages. This is the bells and whistle tome. The must have version.The book is researched and written by Ian Edmundson and Chris Selby. Starting in the early 1960's with mini biographies of the band through the formation of The Vendors, The 'N Betweens, Steve Brett and the Mavericks, Ambrose Slade and finally Slade. Far more than just a Discography it reads more like a full biography. Each year is studied, collated and includes early history decisions, record releases, gigs, management, press publicity, clippings and much more. Illustrated by some brilliant early pictures not only of the releases but also the band members.This takes the reader not only through Slade's mighty career but also what came after. Slade 2 with Dave and Don, Don Powell's Occasional Flames, The Don Powell Band, QSP, Jim Lea's Solo works on CD, Vinyl and live performances, Noddy's acting, advertising, books and Hill's continuing versions of Slade with its ever changing line ups.All releases are mentioned, albums, singles, books, Videos and DVD'S and includes overseas releases.The nice thing is the authors pull no punches and tell it like it is/was. Often asking such questions like why certain B Sides were sometimes superior to the A Side equivalents. So rather than try to claim everything Slade did was awesome, sometimes it wasn't. Strange career decisions, unusual single choices and what in hindsight might or could have been better.So what's the difference between earlier editions? It is now it's all updated. New releases from Salvo and BMG are included, cover versions, session work with other bands, charity events etc. The massive page increase and the nice touch of publishing the names of the magic 500 or so fans (of those still with us) who stuck with the band through the thick and thin (including yours truly). And of course it's now in hard back. Making this an even more polished showcase of one of the best British bands ever. At the time of writing even Slade Bassist, Violinist, Keyboard player and all round nice guy Jim Lea was impressed with the bookSo should you buy it. YES YES YES. Now you not only can FEEL the Noize, you can READ the Noize too. Keep on Rocking!

Slade erupted onto the moribund music scene of the 1970s with all the subtlety of a ringtone at a church prayer service. And while the co-authors of this book are residents of Great Britain where the band enjoyed its greatest success, I can testify that as a high school reprobate trapped in Illinois during that vacuous decade, Slade's records were like manna from Heaven.The firepower of those early singles! Noddy Holder's atomic vocals! Jim Lea's propulsive bass playing! Don Powell's stomping percussion! Dave Hill's latest hairstyle! Every piece of plastic--and resulting picture sleeve--in their catalog was a new surprise upon release.Their story got foggy after the brilliant "Slade in Flame" soundtrack--I never even saw the movie until several years ago, such was the isolation of the American Midwest in those pre-Internet days--and it got harder for fans over here to get their albums beyond purchasing expensive imports. When we did land a record or two it seemed as though the group was flailing, caught in the backwash of punk and new wave without a clear sense of direction. At the time I couldn't hear the selective brilliance of those releases as the group seemed to be moving into a harder sound I didn't find particularly appealing. How surprising it was to hear their music regurgitated via Quiet Riot and see the lads themselves on MTV miming to "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My."Now that three of the band members have issued their autobiographies--where have you gone, Jimmy Lea?--it's nice that their story is out there while the group members are still around to tell it. And this book is a welcome addition to that canon, capturing every nuance of the band's career through its earliest days, the iconic years, the obscurity following that fame and finally, the last laugh.My advice is to purchase this wonderful book and follow its timeline with a listening party of every Slade record known to mankind--and authors Ian Edmundson and Chris Selby--and revel in the outrageous rock euphoria that is Slade (no apologies!).

Alles is perfect. Schnelle Lieferung. Danke.

Interesting history of a great group, by looking at their discography.

Great for any Slade fan.

Très chouette livre pour le fan de Slade que je suis depuis 1970 ! Mais hélas reçu abîmé car mal emballé, dans une simple enveloppe ( ouverte à la réception) en carton léger sans rien d'autre pour le protéger, et "déposé" ou plutôt apparemment jeté dans ma boîte aux lettres, (et non pas "remis en mains propres" comme indiqué)...C'est rageant et dommage pour un livre de ce prix et auquel je tiens beaucoup ! Cinq étoiles pour le livre, zéro pointé pour la livraison !