Slade: "Slayed" Album (1972)

Slade's "Slayed" retains its number one place on the NME British albums chart as published in New Musical Express, January 27, 1973.

Slade released Slayed? in November 1972, their third studio album, on Polydor Records. The British glam rock band's follow-up to the live sensation Slade Alive!, it captures their high-octane energy with raw, stomping tracks blending hard rock and pop hooks. Written primarily by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea, and produced by Chas Chandler at Olympic Studios in London, the album features Holder’s gravelly vocals, Dave Hill’s flashy guitar, Jim Lea’s multi-instrumental flair (bass, violin, keyboards), and Don Powell’s thunderous drums. Standout tracks include “Gudbuy t' Jane” (#2 UK), “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” (#1 UK), and “My Friend Stan” (#9 UK), full of cheeky wordplay and foot-stomping anthems.

The album hit #1 on the UK Albums Chart for four weeks, spending 34 weeks in the top 40, and peaked at #69 on the US Billboard 200, remaining for 26 weeks. Certified Silver in the UK (over 100,000 copies), it sold around 500,000 worldwide by 2025, marking Slade’s glam dominance amid their string of ‘70s hits.