Slade: Crackers (The Christmas Party Album) (1985)

Slade’s Festive Stomp aka Slade – Greatest Hits

album released as an vinyl and cassette with special editions under the title of Slade – Greatest Hits in completely different packing in the UK on November 18, 1985, Slade’s Crackers (The Christmas Party Album) on Telstar (catalogue: STAR 2271 / STAC 2271). This festive glam-rock party mix—featuring re-recorded hits, covers, and holiday classics (produced by Jim Lea & John Punter), was issued post-Rogues Gallery as a Telstar commission. It peaked at No. 34 on the UK Albums Chart and was certified Gold by BPI in the same month. Issued in standard LP and special sleeve cassette with full track repeat, it’s a raucous ‘85 holiday reissue blast.

Vinyl Album

Crackers - The Slade Christmas Party Album

Telstar – STAR 2271, Telstar – Star 2271

Side A

Let’s Dance (J. Lea)

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Coots, Gillespie)

Hi Ho Silver Lining (English, Weiss)

We’ll Bring The House Down (Holder, Lea)

Cum On Feel The Noize (Holder, Lea)

All Join Hands (Holder, Lea)

Okey Cokey (J. Kennedy)

Merry Xmas Everybody (Holder, Lea)

Side B

Do You Believe In Miracles (Holder, Lea)

Let’s Have A Party (Baxter, Friend, Haynes)

Get Down And Get With It (B. Marchand)

My Oh My (Holder, Lea)

Run Runaway (Holder, Lea)

Here’s To … (The New Year) (Holder, Lea) Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed The World) (Geldorf, Ure)

Auld Lang Syne/You’ll Never Walk Alone (Trad., arr. Holder, Lea / Rodgers, Hammerstein)

Copyright © – Telstar Records Ltd.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Telstar Records Ltd.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – RCA Ltd.

Licensed From – RCA/Ariola Ltd.

Distributed By – RCA/Ariola Ltd.

Distributed By – WEA Records (IRL) Ltd.

Recorded At – Portland Studios

Mixed At – Air Studios

Mastered At – The Town House

Pressed By – Lyntone Recordings Ltd. – LYN-16884

Pressed By – Lyntone Recordings Ltd. – LYN-16885

Printed By – Robert Stace

Bass, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals – Jimmy Lea*

Drums – Don Powell

Engineer – Dave Garland (tracks: A1 to A8, B2, B3, B6 to B8), Nigel Walker

Guitar, Backing Vocals – Dave Hill (4)

Lead Vocals, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Noddy Holder

Plated By – Z (2)

Producer – John Punter (tracks: B1, B4, B5)

Producer, Arranged By – Jim Lea (tracks: A1 to A8, B2, B3, B6 to B8)

Issued in a gloss sleeve.

Plain inner, some may be by Robert Stace and production dated November 1985.

Package came shrink-wrapped.

Recorded at Portland Studios.

Mixed at Air Studios.

track B7: Publishing royalty to The Band Aid Trust

Record royalty to UK Children In Need

℗ & © 1985 Telstar Records Ltd.

A1: Chappell Morris Ltd. ℗ 1985

A2: United Partnership Ltd. ℗ 1985

A3: Peter Maurice Music Co. Ltd./EMI Music ℗ 1982

A4: Whild John Music Ltd. ℗ 1985

A5: Barn Publishing (Slade) ℗ 1985

A6: Whild John Music Ltd ℗ 1984 taken From the RCA Album/Cassette "Rogues Gallery" PL/PK 70604

A7: Campbell Connelly & Co. Ltd. ℗ 1985

A8: Barn Publishing (Slade) Ltd. ℗ 1985

B1: Whild John Music Ltd. ℗ 1985

B2: MCA Music Ltd. ℗ 1985

B3: Burlington usic Co. Ltd. ℗ 1985

B4: Whild John Music Ltd. ℗ 1983 RCA Ltd. Taken from the RCA Album/Cassette "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome" PL/PK 70116

B5: Whild John Music Ltd. ℗ 1983 Taken from the RCA Album/Cassette "The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome" PL/PK 70116

B6: Whild John Music Ltd. ℗ 1984

B7: Chappell Music Ltd ℗ 1985

B8: Whild John Music Ltd./Chappell Music Ltd. ℗ 1985

All tracks ℗ 1985

Licensed from RCA/Ariola Ltd. © 1985 Telstar Records Ltd.

Telstar Records Ltd. The Studio, King Edward Mews, Byfeld Gardens, London SW13 9HP.

Distributed by RCA Ariola Ltd.

Telstar Records (IRL) Ltd. 130 Slaney Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11.

Distributed in Eire by WEA (IRL) Ltd.

Vinyl Album Misprint

Crackers - The Slade Christmas Party Album

Same as above bar:

Label on Side 1 has IST in "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Cassette Album (Paper Labels)

Crackers - The Slade Christmas Party Album

Telstar – STAC 2271

Side A

Let’s Dance (Written-By – J. Lea)

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (Written-By – Gillespie, Coots)

Hi Ho Silver Lining (Written-By – Weiss, English)

We’ll Bring The House Down (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Cum On Feel The Noize (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

All Join Hands (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Okey Cokey (Written-By – J. Kennedy)

Merry Xmas Everybody (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Side B

Do You Believe In Miracles (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Let’s Have A Party (Written-By – Baxter, Friend, Haymes; uncredited Jessie Mae Robinson)

Get Down And Get With It (Written-By – G. Marchand)

My Oh My (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Run Runaway (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Here’s To … (The New Year) (Written-By – Lea, Holder)

Do They Know It’s Christmas (Feed The World) (Written-By – Geldorf, Ure)

Auld Lang/You’ll Never Walk Alone (Arranged By – Lea, Holder; Written-By – Rodgers/Hammerstein, Traditional)

Cassette Album

Crackers - The Slade Christmas Party Album

As above with different labels, text printed directly onto white cassette shell.

Vinyl Album

Slade – Greatest Hits

Special Edition with a different sleeve and name (same tracklist)

Telstar – STAR 2271, Telstar – HRT-1

Cassette Album

Slade – Greatest Hits

Special Edition with a different sleeve and name (same tracklist)

Telstar – STARC 2271, Telstar – HRTC-1

Production and Context

Commissioned by Telstar post-*Rogues Gallery*. Re-recorded “Cum On Feel The Noize” and “Get Down And Get With It”; new single “Do You Believe In Miracles” included. Covers of “Let’s Dance,” “Santa Claus…,” “Hi Ho…,” “Okey Cokey,” “Do They Know…,” and “Auld Lang Syne/YNWA” medley. Remaining tracks from back catalogue. Later reissued as *Slade’s Crazee Christmas* (1999), charted on UK Budget Albums 2001–05.

Chart Performance:

UK: No. 34 (Official Albums Chart).

Certified Gold by BPI (November 1985).

Legacy and Collectibility

Crackers is the ultimate Slade party album—glam anthems, Xmas classics, and singalong chaos. Original UK LPs fetch £8–£20 on eBay/Discogs, special sleeve cassettes (£5–£15). Verify catalogue STAR 2271 and special sleeve. Streams on Spotify via Slade compilations keep the party alive. This ‘85 festive blowout is a must-have for Slade fans and holiday rock collectors.

Have you cracked open this Slade Xmas party yet? Does “Okey Cokey” still get you on the floor? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube.