November 29, 1974 - Slade

Slade's 'Slade In Flame' album was launched in the U.K. As the band's first soundtrack and fifth studio album, it achieved No. 6 in the UK charts and received a Gold certification from BPI in February 1975. Produced by Chas Chandler, the album features songs from the band's film of the same title. The band aimed to infuse the album with a "sixties" ambiance to match the film's 1966 setting.

In the US, the album was issued under the Warner Bros. label, featuring "The Bangin' Man" instead of "Summer Song (Wishing You Were Here)" and "Thanks for the Memory" in place of "Heaven Knows".

The 2015 re-issue featured Salvo Sound & Vision releasing a repackaged CD and DVD version of the album and film. On November 26th, 2021, BMG reissued the soundtrack album on splatter vinyl.

"So Far So Good" was covered by Alice Cooper songwriter Mike Bruce on his 1975 solo album In My Own Way, in a 1989 fan club interview, drummer Don Powell singled out "Standin' On the Corner" as one of the band's best efforts on record: "It's got a great swing to it and it's the first time we even used brass.

By 1974, Slade had achieved significant success in the UK, Europe, and beyond. However, the band was not content with simply producing more of the same. At the suggestion of their manager, Chas Chandler, Slade decided to make a movie. Instead of a film that showcased their "happy-go-lucky" image, they chose to focus on the stark narrative of a fictional 1960s band named Flame. The screenplay, penned by Andrew Birkin and Dave Humphries, drew heavily from real events in the music industry that Slade and their contemporaries had experienced.

To complement the film, Slade's lead vocalist Noddy Holder and bassist Jim Lea composed material for a soundtrack album, marking a departure from their established formula to explore diverse musical styles. Following their fifth US tour, the band dedicated a month to record the new album. The lead single "Far Far Away" was released in October 1974 and climbed to No. 2 in the UK charts. The album "Slade in Flame" was released in November, reaching No. 6. Despite critical acclaim, the album's sales were modest, especially compared to the band's previous three albums, which had all topped the charts.

"Slade in Flame" represented a significant progression for Slade, yet it simultaneously signaled the decline of their status as Britain's beloved band. "Far Far Away" fared well in the UK; however, the album's lead track and subsequent single, the ballad "How Does It Feel," diverged so markedly from the British teen pop of that era that it underscored the disconnect between Slade's direction and public expectations. Despite being celebrated three decades later as one of the finest rock movies, the film's release in January 1975 did little to bolster their standing. Slade's fans, accustomed to the band's high-energy entertainment, were disconcerted rather than excited by the film's grim and bitter tone.

The album was initially set for release on 22 November 1974, but Polydor could not produce enough copies to meet pre-order demands. Before its release, the album had already been awarded a Gold Disc due to these pre-orders. By February 1975, it had exceeded 200,000 sales in the UK.

UK track listing

All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea

Side one

No. Title Length

1. "How Does It Feel" 5:54

2. "Them Kinda Monkeys Can't Swing" 3:27

3. "So Far So Good" 3:02

4. "Summer Song (Wishing You Were Here)" 3:36

5. "O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday" 3:58

Side two

No. Title Length

6. "Far Far Away" 3:37