Up to Oxford Street I merrily trolled and into HMV with my honourary escort to record the joys of SLADE Day and there it was in the new releases section, 'SLAYED?' in all it's glory, proud and brash. I nabbed it then wandered down the racks to find the others. No sign of them, so I scooted over to the SLADE section in the A-Z racks and .... nothing! Where are they? Why aren't they here? What villainy is this?
Time was limited so I hurriedly got 'SLAYED?' and scurried down to Virgin to see if it had them - it didn't even have 'SLAYED?' so I'm designated it a crap shop. Back to HMV to ask about the other CDs and it appears there are distribution problems but they'll be available "any day". I'm afraid "any day" isn't good enough. So much for relying on 'real life' stores for my SLADE fix...
Headed off to the tube to get over to Fulham for my long-awaited appointment with the back doctor at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. I worked in Fulham 16 years ago and got instantly confused when I realised they've totally changed the tube station and built a small shopping centre on it! I looked in the Virgin there are there was a solitary SLADE CD - I've decided that Virgin is officially crap everywhere apart from Times Square.
Then I scurried down Fulham Road to the hospital which is conveniently situated nowhere near any tube station. I eventually see the doctor who tells me to strip down to me pants and then pokes and prods me. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect since I'm almost better now, no severe symptoms to diagnose or dismiss, so it was rather odd. Unfortunately, he hadn't seen the x-ray from nearly 2 months ago (either my doctor didn't send it or the hospital lost it). Basically, I just need to keep doing what I'm doing, exercising, seeing the physio and he'll see me again in two months. He offered to arrange physiotherapy on the NHS but couldn't say when or where it would happen - I thought I'd stick with what I've got.
I was really quite down after that. Part of me realises he can't really do anything since I'm over the worst but the other part wonders what will happen the next time my back goes and it will, it's only a matter of time. Do I start afresh again and wait until I'm virtually better before I see a proper back doctor? I suppose that's what bothers me.
Home in the rush hour, what fun. Victoria Station HMV has 'SLAYED?' but not the others. O bugger. But I read the booklet on the train home and that started to get me in the mood. I put the CD on the player as soon as I get through the door to hear a marvelous crisp and rich sound, much improved on the 1992 CD release I have.
I'm thoroughly enjoying the CD and then I hear a sound I haven't heard since the '70s - the first of the 'B' sides! They're good and sound so fresh, powerful and more 'serious' than the singles. And the memories come flooding back... I particularly loved hearing Don get his short stint on the Melanie fan-disc wrong - I remember it so well!
Then up to the gym to work off some aggression listening to 'SLAYED?' on iPod on the way there as well as on the way home. What an odd day...
Looking on the bright side, I've got another three new SLADE CDs to get during August. It's been a long time since I could say that!
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