Name: Slade
Release: Merry Xmas Everybody (Slade Party Hits)
Release Dates: Nov 23rd 2009
Label: Universal
During a period in musical history which is accused of suffering from a lack of originality and centring on nostalgia, where Johnny Rotten (supposedly Britain’s most prominent Punk figurehead) advertises butter, and we are subjected to endless reformations of 90s boy bands, it came as no surprise to me that Slade were releasing a greatest hits album for this Christmas.
As I began to listen to the Wolverhampton glam rocker’s “Merry Christmas Everyone” I realised maybe I should take my reviewers hat off and replace it with a paper one that you get from a Christmas cracker.
The album appears to provide the score for a Christmas party, conveying the excitement of the guests arriving by opening with the instantly recognisable title track “Merry Christmas Everyone” as well as equally identifiable tracks such as “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” and “Mamma Weer All Crazy Now”.
The middle section caters for the nicely tipsy individuals, with big sing alongs including “C’mon Feel The Noize” and “Squeeze Me Please Me” for them to spill they’re drinks to whilst trying desperately to lip synk the lyrics.
Finally the album serves as a moving soundtrack for the heart warming scenes as people say their goodbyes using ballads such as “Do You Believe in Miracles?” and “Here’s To The New Year”.
Songs that don’t fall into the party category are sandwiched in between these sections. Some of these seem to be included to give Granddad a few minutes to hang off the bar and catch his breath in between dancing, such as “My Baby Left Me But That’s Alright Mamma” with its 50s rock and roll sound which offers a 2 minute 17 second respite. Whereas other songs include genuinely great tracks for instance “Goodbye To Jane” which recorded in mono has a warm, smooth, 70s Rod Stewart sound with shades of the Rolling Stones, and “Coz I Love You” which reeks of 1960s influences, serving as a reminder of just how successful Slade were at their peak.
What a shame therefore that the album lets itself down by jumping between production values. Using iconic songs such as the title track recorded in mono using a simple structure which the band are famous for, on the same record as tracks recorded in stereo such as “Hey Ho Wish You Well” where the use of electrical instruments produces a hybrid of Thin LIzzy and Van Halen which ends up sounding more like Spinal Tap (if they were being serious).
The second half of the album struggles to fill the gaps on the records 20 track play list, including a cover of Chuck Berry’s “I’m A Rocker” amongst other 50s rock and roll style songs which begin to sound like the sound track to the Home Alone films. The band then seem to have decided to cover as many genres as possible including bizarre folk style songs such as “Do You Believe in Miracles?” and a completely senseless inclusion of the Oakey Coakey.
At times this may as well not be a Slade album and could be easily mistaken for a generic Christmas compilation with unknown artists. This is a record which has the opportunity and ability to recruit a new wave of Slade fans, instead it shamelessly wastes this chance. A cliché it may be but the term “cashing in” has never been more apt.
