The Slade

Crackers is a studio/compilation album by the British rock band Slade. It was released on 18 November 1985 and reached No. 34 in the UK charts. The album was produced by bassist Jim Lea except "All Join Hands", "Do You Believe in Miracles", "My Oh My" and "Run Runaway", which were all produced by John Punter. The album contained a mix of the band's previous hits, some re-recorded songs and a selection of covers. On Crackers, Slade tried to create an LP that had a party atmosphere to it.

Before the hits really starting coming, Slade showed why they were one of England's best live acts with this fevered concert recording from 1972. Set alight by plenty of stomping beats, lumbering bass, fat guitars, and Noddy Holder's hoarse vocal scream, Slade Alive! finds the lads from Wolverhampton goading on their rabid fans at every juncture ("Wan ya ta really let loose on iss one"). In return, the crowd's handclap choruses and drunken exhortations fire up the band, inspiring them to take pub rock to glam proportions ("In Like a Shot From My Gun"), make a fine mess out of a Steppenwolf classic ("Born to Be Wild"), and add a bit of feedback to John Sebastian's folk-pop ("Darling Be Home Soon"). Plus, hits like the MC5-esque "Know Who You Are" and retro-rocker "Get Down Get With It" are given proper live workouts.

Still riding high on their successes of the early 70’s, Slade rode into London's New Victoria Theatre for two nights as part of the tour promoting the soundtrack LP from their feature film Flame which had been recently released to critical acclaim. The second of these nights was recorded on 26th April 1975 and captured for BBC Radio1 to later broadcast as the second part of the ‘Insight’ radio show entitled ‘Six Days On The Road’. It features the highly regarded ‘How Does It Feel’ as well as classic hits including ‘Gudbuy T'Jane’, ‘Far Far Away’ and ‘Mama Weer All Crazee Now’ as well as long time stage favourite ‘Just A Little Bit’.