Slade: "Sladest" Album (1973)

Slade’s Sladest was released as an LP album in the UK by Polydor Records (catalog number 2442 119) on September 28, 1973.

This LP, produced by Chas Chandler, was Slade’s first greatest hits collection, consolidating their chart-topping singles from 1971–1973 and select album tracks, capturing the band at the peak of their popularity during the glam rock era. Released alongside their single "My Friend Stan" (2058 407, also September 28, 1973), Sladest reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart, cementing Slade’s status as one of Britain’s biggest bands.

Album Details

Label: Polydor Records

Catalogue Number: 2442 119

Release Date: September 28, 1973

Format: Vinyl LP, 33⅓ RPM, stereo, manufactured in the UK. Also released in cassette and 8-track formats.

Production:

Produced by Chas Chandler for Barn Productions Ltd. Tracks were recorded between 1969–1973, primarily at Olympic Studios, London, with some at Trident Studios.

Packaging:

Housed in a single sleeve with a striking cover featuring Slade in their glam rock attire—Noddy Holder in a top hat, Dave Hill in platform boots and glitter—against a bold, colorful background. The title Sladest reflects the band’s playful misspelling style (e.g., “Cum On Feel the Noize”).

Includes a printed inner sleeve or lyric sheet in some pressings, detailing track credits and band photos.

International releases (e.g., US on Reprise, 1973) have similar artwork but different track listings.

Track Listing:

Side A:

"Cum On Feel the Noize" (4:30) – No. 1 UK, 1973

"Look Wot You Dun" (2:55) – No. 4 UK, 1972

"Gudbuy T’Jane" (3:31) – No. 2 UK, 1972

"One Way Hotel" (2:40) – From Play It Loud (1970)

"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" (3:27) – No. 1 UK, 1973

"Pouk Hill" (2:24) – From Play It Loud (1970)

"The Shape of Things to Come" (2:17) – Single, 1970

Side B:

"Take Me Bak ‘Ome" (3:13) – No. 1 UK, 1972

"Coz I Luv You" (3:24) – No. 1 UK, 1971

"Wild Winds Are Blowing" (2:38) – Single, 1969

"Know Who You Are" (2:55) – Single, 1970

"Get Down and Get with It" (3:48) – No. 16 UK, 1971

"Look at Last Nite" (3:06) – From Slayed? (1972)

"Mama Weer All Crazee Now" (3:43) – No. 1 UK, 1972

Track Notes:

The album compiles Slade’s biggest hits from 1971–1973, including five UK No. 1 singles (“Coz I Luv You,” “Take Me Bak ‘Ome,” “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” “Cum On Feel the Noize,” “Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me”) and other Top 5 hits (“Look Wot You Dun,” “Gudbuy T’Jane”).

Earlier singles “Wild Winds Are Blowing” (1969), “The Shape of Things to Come” (1970), and “Know Who You Are” (1970) reflect their pre-glam, skinhead-era sound, all of which failed to chart.

Album tracks like “One Way Hotel” and “Pouk Hill” (from Play It Loud) and “Look at Last Nite” (from Slayed?) showcase their raw, hard rock roots.

The US version (Reprise, 1973) replaces “Pouk Hill” and “One Way Hotel” with “My Friend Stan” (No. 2 UK, 1973) and “Let the Good Times Roll,” and omits “Wild Winds Are Blowing” and “The Shape of Things to Come,” tailoring it to Slade’s later hits.

Chart Performance and Reception

Chart Performance:

UK: Reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in October 1973, staying in the Top 75 for 24 weeks.

US: Peaked at No. 129 on the Billboard 200, reflecting Slade’s limited American success despite their UK dominance.

Other territories:

Charted in Australia (No. 2), Norway (No. 3), and Finland (No. 4).

Critical Reception:

New Musical Express (1973) highlighted the album’s role in capturing “Slade’s rabble-rousing spirit,” while The Guardian (later retrospectives) praised Slade’s influence on punk and metal.

Historical and Cultural Context

Slade in 1973:

Background: Formed in Wolverhampton in 1966 as The N’Betweens, Slade (initially Ambrose Slade) comprised Noddy Holder (vocals), Dave Hill (guitar), Jim Lea (bass, keyboards, songwriting), and Don Powell (drums). Managed by Chas Chandler, they evolved from a covers band to glam rock pioneers. Their 1969 debut Beginnings (Fontana) and 1970’s Play It Loud (Polydor) flopped, but “Get Down and Get with It” (No. 16, 1971) sparked their breakthrough, followed by five No. 1 singles from 1971–1973.

Peak Success:

1973 was Slade’s peak, with three No. 1 singles (“Cum On Feel the Noize,” “Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me,” “Merry Xmas Everybody”) and “My Friend Stan” (No. 2). Sladest capitalized on this, compiling their hits just before their Christmas classic. Their flamboyant stage presence—Holder’s top hats, Hill’s platform boots—and working-class appeal fueled “Slademania,” rivaling T. Rex’s “T. Rextasy.”

Context of Sladest: Released alongside “My Friend Stan” and the Melanie flexi-disc “Slade Talk To Melanie Readers” (LYN 2645, 8 Sep 1973), Sladest was a strategic move to consolidate Slade’s dominance. It bridged their early hard rock (1969–1970) with their glam rock hits (1971–1973), appealing to both new fans and those discovering their back catalog.

Slade’s Broader Legacy:

Influence: Slade’s anthemic sound and misspelled titles influenced punk (Sex Pistols, Ramones), heavy metal (Def Leppard, Mötley Crüe), and alternative rock (Nirvana, who covered “Cum On Feel the Noize”). “Merry Xmas Everybody” remains a UK holiday staple, selling over 1 million copies.

Later Years: After a decline in the late 1970s, Slade revived with a 1980 Reading Festival performance and hits like “My Oh My” (No. 2, 1983). Holder and Lea left in 1992, but Hill and Powell continue touring as Slade. The band was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006.

Cultural Impact: Slade’s working-class roots and boisterous live shows made them a defining act of the 1970s. Sladest encapsulates their peak, showcasing why they were the UK’s top singles band of the decade, with over 6.5 million UK sales by 2006.

Polydor’s Role: Polydor signed Slade in 1970, releasing all their major hits. Sladest was a commercial triumph, reinforcing Polydor’s investment in the band during their glam rock dominance.

Comparison to Other Slade Releases

Contemporary Releases:Singles (1973):“Cum On Feel the Noize” (2058 337, No. 1): A defining glam anthem.

“Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me” (2058 353, No. 1): A live favorite.

“My Friend Stan” (2058 407, No. 2): Released concurrently with Sladest.

“Merry Xmas Everybody” (2058 422, No. 1): Followed in December 1973.

Albums:

Slayed? (1972, No. 1): Their breakthrough studio album.

Slade Alive! (1972, No. 2): Captured their live energy.

Play It Loud (1970): Source of “One Way Hotel,” “Pouk Hill,” and “Know Who You Are.”

Earlier Singles:

“Know Who You Are” (2058 054, 1970): A flop included on Sladest, showing their pre-glam sound.

“Get Down and Get with It” (2058 112, 1971): Their first hit, also on Sladest.

Sources

Discogs: Slade – Sladest (1973, Vinyl)

Rate Your Music: Sladest

Wikipedia: Sladest, Slade

Official Charts: Slade albums and songs

AllMusic: Sladest review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

eBay UK: Slade Sladest vinyl

vinylonthenet: SLADE Sladest

maxvinylrecordscouk: Slade – Sladest

Omega Auctions: Slade vinyl listings

Conclusion

Sladest (Polydor, 2442 119, 28 Sep 1973) is a definitive compilation of Slade’s early hits and select album tracks, reaching No. 1 in the UK and encapsulating their glam rock dominance. Featuring five No. 1 singles and early gems like “Know Who You Are,” it showcases their evolution from hard rock to chart-topping anthems.