Slade - Born To Be Wild(BBC-1972)HD
- 12 years ago
Success and peak (1971-74)
Noddy Holder (right) and Dave Hill (left), near the height of their fame in 1973, showing some of their more extreme glam rock fashions
Chandler had been managing the band for almost two years without success when he suggested releasing a version of the Bobby Marchan song, "Get Down and Get With It", originally performed by Little Richard. Slade still enjoyed a good reputation as a live act and the song had been used in their performances for many years. Always popular, the song's lyrics demanded audience participation and it was hoped that the feeling of a live gig would be projected into the studio recording.The song was released in mid-'71, and by August the single had entered the top 20 in the U.K., peaking at number 16.
The band members grew their hair long and allied themselves to the glam rock movement of the early 70s. Hill's memorable stage costumes also became notable during this period.Chandler now demanded the band write a follow-up single themselves which led to Lea and Holder writing Coz I Luv You. The song was written in just half an hour and started a writing partnership which would continue throughout Slade's career. Upon hearing the track played to him acoustically, a pleased Chandler predicted the song would make number one. While recording, the band felt the song's sound to be too soft and so clapping was added. The song's misspelled title also became a trademark for Slade while causing a furore among British school teachers.The attendant appearance on BBC TV Top of the Pops brought Slade to a wider audience as well as pushing "Coz I Luv You" to number one in the UK charts.In November 71, NME reported that Slade had turned down a multi-million dollar campaign, including a television series and a heavily promoted tour of the US. "But", commented Holder, "acceptance would have meant the cancellation of many commitments here - and the last thing we want to do is to mess around the people who have put us where we are"
Noddy Holder (right) and Dave Hill (left), near the height of their fame in 1973, showing some of their more extreme glam rock fashions
Chandler had been managing the band for almost two years without success when he suggested releasing a version of the Bobby Marchan song, "Get Down and Get With It", originally performed by Little Richard. Slade still enjoyed a good reputation as a live act and the song had been used in their performances for many years. Always popular, the song's lyrics demanded audience participation and it was hoped that the feeling of a live gig would be projected into the studio recording.The song was released in mid-'71, and by August the single had entered the top 20 in the U.K., peaking at number 16.
The band members grew their hair long and allied themselves to the glam rock movement of the early 70s. Hill's memorable stage costumes also became notable during this period.Chandler now demanded the band write a follow-up single themselves which led to Lea and Holder writing Coz I Luv You. The song was written in just half an hour and started a writing partnership which would continue throughout Slade's career. Upon hearing the track played to him acoustically, a pleased Chandler predicted the song would make number one. While recording, the band felt the song's sound to be too soft and so clapping was added. The song's misspelled title also became a trademark for Slade while causing a furore among British school teachers.The attendant appearance on BBC TV Top of the Pops brought Slade to a wider audience as well as pushing "Coz I Luv You" to number one in the UK charts.In November 71, NME reported that Slade had turned down a multi-million dollar campaign, including a television series and a heavily promoted tour of the US. "But", commented Holder, "acceptance would have meant the cancellation of many commitments here - and the last thing we want to do is to mess around the people who have put us where we are"