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The Slade Box (A 4CD Anthology 1969–1991) is a four-disc box set by the British rock band Slade. It was released by Salvo on 2 October 2006.[1]

The Slade Box contains eighty-four tracks ranging across the band’s career from 1969 to 1991. A 72-page booklet was included with liner notes by Keith Altham. In 2011, the box set was re-issued by Salvo. It featured the same track listing but was packaged in a shortened case with the booklet reduced to 36 pages.[2]

Track listing

Disc one

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1.Born to Be WildMars Bonfire3:23
2.“Roach Daddy”Dave Hill, Noddy Holder, Jim Lea, Don Powell3:03
3.Wild Winds Are BlowingBob Saker, Jack Winsley2:38
4.The Shape of Things to ComeBarry Mann, Cynthia Weil2:17
5.Know Who You AreHill, Holder, Lea, Powell2:53
6.“Pouk Hill”Holder, Lea, Powell2:23
7.“One Way Hotel”Holder, Lea, Powell2:39
8.Get Down and Get with ItBobby Marchan3:48
9.“In Like a Shot from My Gun (Live)”Holder, Lea3:09
10.Coz I Luv YouHolder, Lea3:25
11.Look Wot You DunHolder, Lea, Powell2:57
12.Take Me Bak ‘OmeHolder, Lea3:15
13.“Wonderin’ Y”Lea, Powell2:49
14.Mama Weer All Crazee NowHolder, Lea3:44
15.Gudbuy T’JaneHolder, Lea3:32
16.“The Whole World’s Goin’ Crazee”Holder3:35
17.“I Won’t Let It ‘Appen Again”Lea3:15
18.Cum On Feel the NoizeHolder, Lea4:24
19.“I’m Mee I’m Now and That’s Orl”Holder, Lea3:40
20.Skweeze Me, Pleeze MeHolder, Lea4:28
21.“Kill ‘Em at the Hot Club Tonite”Holder, Lea3:19
22.My Friend StanHolder, Lea2:40
23.Merry Xmas EverybodyHolder, Lea3:26

Disc two

All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea except “My Baby Left Me” by Arthur Crudup.

No.TitleLength
1.When the Lights Are Out3:04
2.“We’re Really Gonna Raise the Roof”3:08
3.“How Can It Be”3:01
4.Everyday3:09
5.The Bangin’ Man4:11
6.“She Did It to Me”3:18
7.Far Far Away3:36
8.“So Far So Good”3:01
9.How Does It Feel5:53
10.Thanks for the Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam)4:33
11.In for a Penny3:35
12.“Can You Just Imagine”3:31
13.Let’s Call It Quits3:31
14.“When the Chips are Down”4:14
15.Nobody’s Fool4:39
16.“L.A. Jinx”3:58
17.Gypsy Roadhog3:24
18.“Be”3:55
19.“It Ain’t Love but It Ain’t Bad”3:10
20.Burning in the Heat of Love3:36
21.My Baby Left Me but That’s Alright Mama2:24

Disc three

All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea except “Okey Cokey” by Jimmy Kennedy.

No.TitleLength
1.Give Us a Goal2:49
2.Rock ‘n’ Roll Bolero4:05
3.“It’s Alright Buy Me”3:21
4.Ginny, Ginny3:39
5.Sign of the Times3:57
6.“Not Tonight Josephine”3:02
7.Okey Cokey3:25
8.“Don’t Waste Your Time (Back Seat Star)”3:28
9.We’ll Bring the House Down3:32
10.Wheels Ain’t Coming Down3:36
11.“Night Starvation”3:05
12.“When I’m Dancin’ I Ain’t Fightin'3:08
13.Knuckle Sandwich Nancy3:14
14.Lock Up Your Daughters3:28
15.Rock and Roll Preacher5:45
16.“Till Deaf Do Us Part”3:29
17.Ruby Red2:53
18.“A Night to Remember”3:55
19.(And Now the Waltz) C’est La Vie3:50
20.My Oh My4:10
21.“Keep Your Hands off My Power Supply”3:33

Disc four

All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea except “Let’s Dance” by Jim Lea, and “Radio Wall of Sound” and “Universe” by Lea.

No.TitleLength
1.“Don’t Tame a Hurricane”2:32
2.“Ready to Explode”8:30
3.Run Runaway5:00
4.“Two Track Stereo One Track Mind”2:53
5.All Join Hands5:30
6.Little Sheila3:56
7.7 Year Bitch4:15
8.“Leave Them Girls Alone”3:14
9.Myzsterious Mizster Jones3:35
10.Do You Believe in Miracles4:09
11.Still the Same4:12
12.“Gotta Go Home”3:18
13.That’s What Friends Are For3:17
14.You Boyz Make Big Noize3:00
15.Ooh La La in L.A.3:51
16.We Won’t Give In3:37
17.Let’s Dance ’882:40
18.Radio Wall of Sound3:46
19.Universe4:15

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[3]
BBC Radio Londonfavourable[4]
Daily Mirrorfavourable[4]
Classic Rockfavourable[4]
Music Weekfavourable[4]

Upon release, Dave Thompson of AllMusic commented:

“The problem with Slade is, when they were good they were so very, very good that it becomes very difficult to pay much attention to the rest of their career. Which means, sadly, that anybody buying The Slade Box as any kind of substitute for the earlier albums is in for something of a disappointment. No complaints with the track listing, though. Across 84 tracks, Slade’s entire catalog has been cherry-picked for precisely the right songs to illustrate a career of their depth and dynamism. But when the strict chronology means you hit “Merry Xmas Everybody” at the end of disc one; and “In for a Penny” by midway through disc two, that means there’s an awful lot more to listen through before the four discs are at an end. And it really is too much, no matter how much you love the band. Of course, a democratic trawl through the band’s entire catalog is no less than Slade deserve, and history will thank Union Square for finally giving the later years a fair crack of the whip. The booklet is wonderful, the packaging attractive and the sound quality is superlative.”[5]

Gary Crowley of BBC Radio London said: “This splendidly put together 4-CD set is a timely reminder of their might and talent, which went far beyond the numerous foot-stompin’, badly-spelt hits they racked up in the singles charts over the years.” Gavin Martin of Daily Mirror wrote: “This collection – complete with an excellent essay charting their career – is an essential fan’s portrait of a working band in their prime.” Peter Makowski of Classic Rock commented: “This four-CD compilation presents a comprehensive history of our dyslexic gurners, from their early skinhead days as an underwhelming rock band to the golden years and a non-stop barrage of stomping hits.” Alan Jones from Music Week said: “Appearing hot on the heels of individually upgraded and remastered editions of Slade’s albums, this four CD boxed set is a superb alternative, collecting together 84 hits, album cuts and rarities from 1969 to 1991 in a sturdy cardboard longbox, which also includes a 72-page booklet containing an informative essay on the band by Keith Altham, an extensive discography and a multitude of pictures of the band.”[4]

Personnel

Slade
The Slade Box personnel
  • Slade, Colin Newman – project management
  • Mark Brennan – project consultant
  • Tim Turan – remastering
  • Keith Altham – liner notes
  • Andrew Birkin, Barry Plummer, Dezo Hoffmann, Gered Mankowitz – photography

References