SLADE - 'Live At The BBC'

The new record from SLADE was released on Monday, 'Live At The BBC', and this is a new record, not an existing album remastered, this is all-new stuff and my, my, my but it is *good*.

If you're a SLADE fan, you'll have heard most of these songs but not necessarily these versions, live studio versions of great SLADE songs from sessions for BBC radio between 1969-1972. A lot of the songs are on 'Play It Loud' but I think I prefer these versions which sound fresh and under-produced in comparison. It's great to hear the frantic pace of Don's drumming and Jim's bass high in the mix for a change - a truly powerful rhythm section that deserves more credit that they ever get. Don is clearly a powerhouse and right up-front. Dave gets in some guitar solos and Noddy is, of course, Noddy, one of the best ever rock voices.

There are some covers of songs I've never heard before, so not only is this a record full of new versions of loved songs, but there are *new* songs to fall in love with. Ever heard SLADE do 'Nights In White Satin' with Nod doing tender and Dave and Jim doing falsetto vocals? The Beatles' 'Getting Better' and a few others that you wouldn't expect, such as SLADE doing a rock version of a Fairport Convention song? What's that about...?

Needless to say, I'm loving it. The first disc is made up of studio sessions plus four jingles SLADE did for Radio 1. Disc 2 is a live concert recorded at the Paris Studios in August 1972 for Radio 1's In Concert series. The packaging is, again, excellent (kudos to Salvo and Union Square), with some photos I've never seen before and new interviews with the band in the booklet.

Have you got your copy yet?