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Slayed?
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1972
Recorded1972
Genre
Length34:30
LabelPolydor (UK/US)
ProducerChas Chandler
Slade chronology
Slade Alive!
(1972)
Slayed?
(1972)
Sladest
(1973)
Singles from Slayed?
  1. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now"
    Released: 25 August 1972
  2. "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee"
    Released: October 1972 (promo only)
  3. "Gudbuy T'Jane"
    Released: 17 November 1972
  4. "Let the Good Times Roll"
    Released: August 1973 (US only)
  5. "Move Over"
    Released: November 1973 (Japan only)

Slayed? is the third studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released in November 1972 and reached No. 1 in the UK. It remained on the chart for 34 weeks and was certified Silver in early 1973.[1][2] The album was also the band's most successful of the 1970s in the US, peaking at No. 69 and remaining in the charts for 26 weeks.[3] In Australia, the album reached No. 1 and went Gold, knocking the band's live album Slade Alive! to No. 2.[4][5][6] Slayed? was produced by Chas Chandler.

Background

[edit]

After achieving their breakthrough hit with "Get Down and Get with It" in 1971, Slade would continue to achieve further success with their follow-up singles "Coz I Luv You", "Look Wot You Dun" and "Take Me Bak 'Ome". The 1972 live album Slade Alive! also gave the band their first success on the albums chart, reaching No. 2. Having achieved their second UK number one with "Take Me Bak 'Ome", the band soon finished recording their next studio album Slayed?. In August 1972, the lead single "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" was released and was another UK chart topper. Slayed? followed in November and reached No. 1. A second single, "Gudbuy T'Jane", was also released that month and reached No. 2 in the UK.[7]

In October, "The Whole World's Goin' Crazee" was released as a free 7" Flexi disc with the Music Scene magazine. The B-Side was "Bonnie Charlie" by Mike Hugg.[8] In August 1973, "Let the Good Times Roll" was released as a single in America where it reached No. 114.[9] In November, "Move Over" was released as a single in Japan.[10]

Song information

[edit]

"How D'You Ride" had originally been considered as a potential single, with Chandler particularly keen on seeing it released as one.[11] In a 2006 interview, drummer Don Powell revealed of "I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen": "If you listen to the start of that one you can hear somebody shout, 'Yeah!' That's me shouting, because it felt so good when we started, that I just couldn't help saying it. And it was kept."[12]

The idea for "Gudbuy T'Jane" came to Lea while the band was in San Diego. He completed the song on the flight home to the UK. Holder's lyrics were inspired by a woman called Jane who demonstrated a sex machine on a TV show on which the band appeared.[13] The idea for the lyrics of "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" came from the band's show at the Boston Gliderdrome in Lincolnshire, where a bouncer had told them about another act who'd appeared there drunk – "crazy with whiskey".[13]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[14]
Christgau's Record GuideA−[15]
The GuardianStarStarStarStarStar[16]

Upon release, Record Mirror described the album as "all pretty stomping, insistent and bawled out stuff", adding "they deliver the goods here, alright".[17] In the Record Mirror poll results of 1974, Slayed? was listed at No. 4 on the Top 10 list of best British albums.[18] New Musical Express said the album was "one of the greatest rock 'n' roll releases ever".

Robert Hilburn of the Los Angeles Times felt that aside from some "effective moments" on side one, side two best displayed Slade's "power and direction". He concluded: "If you've been missing the solid, raunchy rock sound in recent months, get slayed and play it loud."[19] Tom Von Malder of The Wheeling Herald (Illinois) felt the album recalled the "kind of raw music that the Rolling Stones used to play when they did "Street Fighting Man"." Malder concluded: "Slade is punk, street rock at its best and loudest."[20] American rock critic Robert Christgau felt the album showcased "boot-boy anthems that are every bit as overpowering as has been reported, and also more fun. Noddy Holder can wake up the crazee in my neighborhood any time he wants." Henry McNulty of the Hartford Courant described the album as a "fierce, unrelenting type of rock", as well as a "total body assault, leaving the mind free to wander in the void where the meaning ought to be."[21]

In 2010, Classic Rock considered the album an "essential classic", adding that it featured "party-hard tracks, and even something approaching a ballad with "Look at Last Nite", ensuring that Slayed? inarguably ticks all the right boxes." The Guardian noted the album's singles and other tracks as being "deservedly party riff monsters", but added: "Slayed?'s majesty lies in the melancholy ballads. "Look at Last Nite's" haunting refrain fingers both empty celebrity and fame's creeping downside."

The album was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[22]

Track listing

[edit]
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."How d' You Ride"Noddy Holder, Jim Lea3:11
2."The Whole World's Goin' Crazee"Holder3:35
3."Look at Last Nite"Holder, Lea3:05
4."I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen"Lea3:16
5."Move Over"Janis Joplin3:45
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Gudbuy T'Jane"Holder, Lea3:32
7."Gudbuy Gudbuy"Holder, Lea3:28
8."Mama Weer All Crazee Now"Holder, Lea3:44
9."I Don' Mind"Holder, Lea3:05
10."Let the Good Times Roll / Feel So Fine"Leonard Lee3:46
Japanese '24 Bit remaster 2006' bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."Take Me Bak 'Ome" (non-album single)Holder, Lea3:16
12."Cum On Feel the Noize" (non-album single)Holder, Lea4:25
13."Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" (non-album single)Holder, Lea4:30
2006 Salvo remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
11."My Life Is Natural" (B-side of "Coz I Luv You")Holder3:17
12."Candidate" (B-side of "Look Wot You Dun")Lea, Powell2:52
13."Wonderin' Y" (B-side of "Take Me Bak 'Ome")Lea, Powell2:49
14."Man Who Speeks Evil" (B-side of "Mama Weer All Crazee Now")Lea, Powell3:17
15."Slade Talk to 'Melanie' Readers" (Issued on a single-sided flexi-disc) 6:46

Personnel

[edit]

Slade

Additional personnel

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for Slayed?
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Finland (Musiikkituottajat)[37] Gold 20,000[37]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Slayed? is the third studio by the English band , released on 1 November 1972 by . Featuring ten tracks, it showcases the band's high-energy style characterized by phonetic misspellings in song titles and lyrics, such as the "" and "Gudbuy t' Jane". Produced by Slade's manager , the marked a peak in the group's commercial success during the early movement. Upon release, Slayed? reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, where it remained for three weeks and spent a total of 29 weeks in the top 40. The album's singles propelled its success: "Mama Weer All Crazee Now", released in August 1972, became Slade's third UK number-one single, holding the top spot for three weeks, while the follow-up "Gudbuy t' Jane" peaked at number two in November 1972. Internationally, the album performed strongly in Europe and reached number 1 on the Australian Kent Music Report chart. Critically, Slayed? is regarded as one of Slade's strongest works, blending with anthemic choruses that exemplified their live-wire stage presence and influence on subsequent glam and acts. The record's boisterous energy, driven by Noddy Holder's raspy vocals and the rhythm section of and Jim Lea, solidified Slade's status as a chart-topping force in Britain amid the era's glitter-rock explosion.

Background and production

Development

Following their breakthrough single "Get Down and Get With It" in 1971, which peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and marked 's first top 40 hit, the band gained significant momentum in the scene. This success propelled them toward recording their debut live album, Slade Alive!, capturing performances from late 1971 that showcased their high-energy stage presence and audience interaction. Released in March 1972, Slade Alive! achieved massive commercial acclaim, further solidifying Slade's rising popularity and prompting the decision to quickly follow with a studio album to build on this live triumph. Vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea, the band's primary songwriting duo, composed the majority of the material for what became Slayed? amid their intensive 1972 touring schedule, drawing from the raw excitement of their concerts to craft anthemic tracks. Manager and producer , formerly of , guided the project's creative direction with a focus on replicating the band's visceral live energy in a studio setting, emphasizing unpolished riffs and crowd-pleasing hooks to evoke the chaos of their performances. This vision influenced songs like "," where Lea's melody stemmed from observing fervent audience sing-alongs at a concert, while Holder's lyrics reflected the frenzied crowd response during Slade's own show earlier that year, including smashed seats from overzealous fans.

Recording

The recording sessions for Slayed? took place at in during the summer of 1972, spanning approximately two weeks under the production of . Chandler, who had previously managed and produced , focused on capturing the band's explosive live energy by employing techniques that prioritized raw performances with minimal overdubs and heavy amplification to achieve a gritty, unpolished sound reflective of their stage shows. The Slade members aimed to translate their intensity into the studio, highlighted by drummer Don Powell's thunderous, propulsive style that drove the rhythm section and guitarist Dave Hill's innovative effects, including his signature mirror-spangled guitar for added visual and sonic flair during tracking. To preserve spontaneity, several tracks were captured in quick takes; for instance, —co-written by vocalist and bassist Jim Lea—was recorded in just 30 minutes, with the second take selected for its immediate vitality. Another notable incident occurred during the tracking of "I Won't Let It 'Appen Again," where Powell's instinctive "Yeah!" shout bled into the drum microphones and was retained in the final mix due to the era's technical limitations in isolating it. These moments underscored the album's ethos of harnessing the band's unfiltered dynamism rather than over-refining in .

Composition

Musical style

Slayed? is a seminal example of fused with elements, featuring stomping rhythms inspired by football terrace chants, driving power chords, and anthemic, sing-along hooks that pay homage to rock 'n' roll. The album's energetic sound captures the raw vitality of Slade's live performances in setting, marking a departure from the less polished production of their earlier releases like (1970). Clocking in at 34 minutes and 30 seconds, it delivers a concise burst of high-octane tracks that amplify the band's working-class rock ethos. Central to the album's groove are the instrumental contributions of its core members: Jim Lea's bass lines lead the propulsion on opening tracks, providing a hypnotic foundation that underscores the rhythmic drive. Don Powell's thunderous drumming delivers a marching, pounding backbone, evoking the thunder of crowd participation. Dave Hill's jagged guitar riffs and solos add a gritty, distorted edge, while Noddy Holder's raspy, unrestrained vocals command attention with their hoarse power and crowd-engaging delivery. Track-specific styles further define the album's sonic palette. "Gudbuy t'Jane" exemplifies a fast-paced rocker with its super-catchy melody, prominent power chords, and a chorus propelled by energetic drumming. Similarly, "" stands out as a heavy riff-driven , incorporating hand claps and a terrace-chant chorus that invites audience participation, blending intensity with glam accessibility. These elements, rooted in the band's evolution toward a more confident studio sound, solidify Slayed? as a of early British rock.

Lyrics and themes

The lyrics of Slayed? predominantly explore themes of youthful rebellion, exuberant party anthems, and working-class escapism, drawing from the band's roots in the of late-1960s Britain. These motifs reflect Slade's appeal to a demographic of young, blue-collar fans seeking release from everyday drudgery through raucous, communal energy, as seen in tracks like "," which captures the frenzy of a rowdy audience with its chant-like declarations of collective madness. The album's songwriting echoes the terrace chants and pub camaraderie associated with , even after the band distanced itself from the style's more violent connotations, emphasizing instead a defiant, high-spirited camaraderie. A distinctive feature of the lyrics is the use of phonetic to replicate regional working-class accents, enhancing and relatability for British youth. Titles such as "" and "" employ deliberate misspellings like "Crazee" and "t'Jane" to evoke the spoken by vocalist and his bandmates, transforming into a playful, immediate form that mirrored the speech patterns of their audience and fueled sing-along participation at live shows. This approach, a hallmark, extended to the album's overall verbal style, making the content feel raw and conversational rather than polished. The album's words were primarily crafted through the collaboration of and Jim Lea, who prioritized straightforward, repetitive phrasing designed for audience engagement and live interactivity. Their process focused on crafting "chantable" hooks that amplified the record's anthemic quality, as in the repetitive "Mama, mama, mama" outro of the title-inspired track, ensuring served the communal thrill of performance over intricate storytelling. This simplicity reinforced the themes of , allowing fans to join in effortlessly during concerts.

Release and promotion

Singles

The lead single from Slayed?, "", was released on August 25, 1972, and became Slade's third number-one hit, topping the charts for three weeks. The track, backed with the non-album B-side "Man Who Speeks Evil", was promoted through high-energy performances on BBC's , where the band's chaotic stage presence—complete with Noddy Holder's gravelly vocals and audience interaction—helped propel its success and build anticipation for the album. The follow-up single, "Gudbuy t'Jane", arrived on November 17, 1972, shortly after the album's release, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart and spending 13 weeks in the top 40. Paired with B-side "I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen", it featured similar promotional efforts, including another appearance that December, emphasizing the song's stomping rhythm and phonetic spelling to align with Slade's image. Radio airplay on stations like further tied the single to the album, contributing to Slayed?'s chart dominance. Following the album's success, Slade released "Cum On Feel the Noize" in February 1973 as the lead single from their next compilation Sladest, though it was closely associated with the Slayed? era due to its stylistic continuity and the band's ongoing momentum; it debuted at number one on the UK charts. These efforts, including additional Top of the Pops slots, sustained Slade's visibility and linked single sales directly to album consumption.

Artwork and packaging

The cover art for Slayed? features the band members—, Dave Hill, Jim Lea, and —posed in outfits against a stark black background, captured in a by Gered Mankowitz in during 1972. The title appears in bold, handwritten-style font, aligning with Slade's longstanding tradition of phonetic misspellings in song and album titles to convey chaotic fun and phonetic working-class expression. The inner sleeve includes photos evoking the band's live energy and raw rock aesthetic to complement the album's high-octane vibe. The original release came in vinyl LP format on Polydor in the UK (catalogue 2383 163) and in the , presented in a sleeve with printed for fans to follow along.

Commercial performance

Chart performance

Slayed? entered the on 9 December 1972 and reached number one on 13 January 1973, where it held the top position for a total of three non-consecutive weeks, spending 34 weeks on the chart in total. In the United States, the album peaked at number 69 on the in 1973 and charted for 26 weeks. The album also performed strongly in other international markets, reaching number one in for six weeks starting in 1973, number three in for one week with a total of 12 weeks on the chart, peaking at number three in with a total of 24 weeks on the chart, and number 10 in the for one week. On the year-end albums chart for , Slayed? ranked at number 19, underscoring its sustained popularity following the late-1972 release.

Sales and certifications

Slayed? achieved notable commercial success, surpassing the sales of Slade's studio debut album while building on the momentum generated by their breakthrough live release, Slade Alive!. The album received several certifications reflecting its strong performance in international markets. In , Slayed? was awarded status shortly after release by the Australian Record Industry Association, denoting shipments of 50,000 units. In , it earned a certification from the IFPI for sales of 20,000 copies in . In the , the BPI certified the album Silver in early 1973, a recognition that aligned with the era's standards for sales thresholds of at least units for albums. Long-term sales of Slayed? received a boost from the revival of interest in 1970s glam rock, sustaining its popularity among fans and collectors decades later. Peak chart positions, including No. 1 in the UK, further supported its enduring commercial impact.

Reception

Initial reviews

Upon its release in November 1972, Slayed? received largely positive reviews in the UK music press for its raw energy and infectious hit singles. Charlie Gillett of Let It Rock described the album as "rock and roll at its very best, today," highlighting its vibrant distillation of the genre's spirit distinct from its 1950s origins. In the United States, reception was more mixed, with critics appreciating the hooks but often critiquing the album's perceived lack of depth relative to contemporary American acts. in acknowledged Slade's dominance in , where their singles were "launched like tank shells" into the Top Ten, but suggested the studio recording did not fully capture their explosive live energy. Similarly, Greg Shaw of lauded the album's role in Slade's "explosive streak of singles" and its anthemic drive, though he framed it within the band's broader, unpretentious appeal. The album's party-oriented sound earned strong endorsements from fans and radio programmers, particularly through frequent plays on , including a live broadcast from London's Paris Theatre in 1972 that showcased its rowdy, participatory vibe. Overall, the 1972 critical consensus positioned Slayed? as a high point in British glam rock's commercial ascendancy, cementing Slade's status as purveyors of unbridled, crowd-pleasing rock.

Retrospective reviews

In the 1981 edition of Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies, critic awarded Slayed? an A− grade, praising the album's unpretentious fun and its embodiment of proto-oi energy as cruder and more boisterous than contemporaries like T. Rex. He highlighted 's ability to deliver loud, dumb, yet infectious rock that connected directly with working-class audiences. The 's influence on was affirmed by its inclusion in the 2005 book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, edited by Robert Dimery, where it was selected for capturing the raw, stomping essence of the genre during its 1970s peak. AllMusic's retrospective review, rated 4 out of 5 stars, emphasized the 's enduring vitality as a cornerstone of , noting its raw power and infectious anthems that maintained their appeal decades later. In a 2006 reissue appraisal for The Guardian, the album was reappraised as a raw classic amid 1970s nostalgia, with its party-ready riffs on tracks like "Gudbuy T'Jane" and "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" celebrated for their unfiltered energy and subtle reflections on fame's burdens in ballads such as "Look at Last Nite." The piece underscored its lasting impact on later acts like Oasis, positioning Slayed? as a vital document of glam's gritty underbelly.

Track listing and personnel

Track listing

The standard edition of Slayed? contains ten tracks, with a total runtime of 34:30. All original songs were written by and Jim Lea, except for the covers "Move Over" (written by ) and "Let the Good Times Roll" (written by Sam Theard and Fleecie Moore).
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.How D'You RideHolder, Lea3:11
2.The Whole World's Goin' CrazeeHolder, Lea3:36
3.Look at Last NiteHolder, Lea3:20
4.I Won't Let It 'Appen AgenHolder, Lea3:18
5.Move Over3:46
6.Holder, Lea3:32
7.Gudbuy GudbuyHolder, Lea3:28
8.Holder, Lea3:44
9.I Don' MindHolder, Lea3:06
10.Let the Good Times RollTheard, Moore3:47

Personnel

Slade's Slayed? features the band's core lineup performing all instruments, with no guest musicians contributing. provided lead vocals and throughout the album. Dave Hill handled lead guitar and backing vocals. Jim Lea played bass guitar and backing vocals. performed on drums for all recordings. The album was produced by . Engineering duties were carried out by Alan O'Duffy at in .

Legacy

Reissues and remasters

The first significant of Slayed? was released in by Salvo, a subsidiary of Union Square Music, as a digitally remastered edition featuring improved audio quality through modern digital processing. This version added five bonus tracks—"My Life Is Natural," "," "Wonderin' Y," "Man Who Speeks Evil," and "Slade Talk To '' Readers"—which included previously unavailable singles mixes and an interview segment. It also incorporated offering historical context on the album's production and the band's . In 2021, BMG issued a limited-edition vinyl on yellow and black splatter-colored pressing, emphasizing enhanced analog sound reproduction while retaining the original tracklist without bonus material. This format catered to collectors seeking high-fidelity vinyl playback with visual appeal. BMG followed with a 2022 deluxe edition in mediabook packaging, complete with an expanded 12-page booklet featuring historical essays and replicated from prior remasters. Like the 2006 version, it included the same five bonus tracks for added value, alongside refined audio mastering to highlight the album's energy. Digital remasters derived from the 2006 edition became widely available on streaming services such as during the , enabling broader access to the enhanced sound and bonus content without . These updates collectively preserved Slayed?'s raw production while incorporating singles mixes and contextual documentation to appeal to new and archival audiences.

Cultural impact

Slade's album Slayed? exerted significant influence on subsequent glam and punk movements, with its raw energy and anthemic style cited by key artists. Quiet Riot's 1983 cover of "Cum On Feel the Noize," a track from Slayed?, became a No. 5 U.S. hit and introduced the band's sound to American audiences, propelling glam metal's rise. Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher explicitly acknowledged Slade's impact, stating in Dave Hill's autobiography that "No Slade = No Oasis," reflecting the album's role in shaping Britpop's boisterous rock ethos. Punk pioneers like the Ramones and Sex Pistols also drew from Slade's proto-punk aggression, as noted by band leader Noddy Holder in interviews. In the British glam era, Slayed? epitomized 1972's fusion of working-class rock with glittery spectacle, bridging mod subcultures and emerging punk attitudes through its unpolished, foot-stomping anthems. The album's transition from Slade's early phase to glam dominance captured a gritty, youthful rebellion that resonated across scenes. The album appeared in media references that underscored its cultural footprint, including the 1974 semi-biographical film Slade in Flame, where the band portrayed a fictional group navigating rock's underbelly, featuring original songs inspired by their glam peak. Tracks from Slayed? influenced 1990s Britpop, with Oasis covering "Cum On Feel the Noize" as a B-side to reclaim its raw spirit for a new generation. Slayed?'s modern legacy endures in glam rock rankings and revival efforts, such as its No. 26 placement on Paste magazine's list of the 30 greatest albums, praised for setting templates in sass and riffs that echoed in later metal scenes. The album has inspired 2020s nostalgia tours, culminating in Slade's announced final run in December 2025, celebrating their enduring holiday anthems and rock 'n' roll riot. Retrospective critiques often highlight its unfiltered joy, reinforcing its status as a glam cornerstone.

References

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