SLADE RECORD COLLECTION
Slade Record Collection
Me before the New Victoria gig - 1975
I bought every UK Slade single from "Take Me Bak 'Ome" to "Universe" and all albums from "Slade Alive" onwards.
Of course, I also went "backwards" and at one time collected all the UK releases by the N Betweens / Ambrose Slade and Slade. In the 70's I used a Record collector's shop in Roman Road, Fulham (Roman Records). I got to know the owner and set him the task of searching out all Slade's early releases for me. I promised I would buy them - if he could get hold of them.
He found them all within the space of a year!
Additionally, he went on to find me loads of the European picture sleeved singles. I had copies of most of the big hits from all the European counties such as:- France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and Czech Republic. All these singles had slightly different artwork or photos. I had some rare pieces such as "Juanita Banana" the EP released in Spain by The Hills that had two tracks by the N Betweens on the flipside.
Of course, I also went "backwards" and at one time collected all the UK releases by the N Betweens / Ambrose Slade and Slade. In the 70's I used a Record collector's shop in Roman Road, Fulham (Roman Records). I got to know the owner and set him the task of searching out all Slade's early releases for me. I promised I would buy them - if he could get hold of them.
He found them all within the space of a year!
Additionally, he went on to find me loads of the European picture sleeved singles. I had copies of most of the big hits from all the European counties such as:- France, Belgium, Holland, Spain and Czech Republic. All these singles had slightly different artwork or photos. I had some rare pieces such as "Juanita Banana" the EP released in Spain by The Hills that had two tracks by the N Betweens on the flipside.
Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall - 5 April 1978
The only guy I knew who, at the time, had a better collection than me was an strange guy called Gerard Goyer from Paris. He would pay serious money to get hold of rare records. (I was in touch with Gerard in the late 70's. A fraudster from Shadwell in London's East End was selling him expensive fake signed Slade articles. This guy purported to be Nod's cousin. Nod confirmed to me he had no cousins in London - so I let Gerard know. The guy had done such a good job that Gerard wouldn't believe he wasn't genuine!)
After a recommendation from Jim, Chris Charlesworth interviewed me for his Slade biography "Feel The Noize" in 1983. He visited me at my flat in Finchley and was impressed by my knowledge and record collection. He borrowed all the UK album covers from me - so that they could be photographed and used in the book.
He got the precious covers couriered back to me by biker. Chris also asked me to proof-read the final copy of the book. He let me keep the copy to which I made some amendments. One big sticking point was that Jim had told him that Slade had played Wembley Empire Pool in 1974. I insisted that they hadn't. (They definitely hadn't). As a thank-you Chris invited me to attend the book launch - which was in the Spice of Life pub in Cambridge Circus, London. The event was filmed by BBC News (a fan has uploaded this to You Tube).
Five years ago I sold my record collection. I was moving home from Enfield to Cambridgeshire. The collection had sat for years in my loft for years in my old house and now I was just going to move it to a new loft, which seemed pretty pointless. I therefore offloaded my collection on Ebay. It was all pretty sad - but as I no longer had a record player, the collection was just gathering dust and getting warped with the heat in the loft. I'd "been there, done it" - getting hold of every Slade record that I ever wanted. I used the proceeds (which were substantial) on a fabulous family summer holiday to the US.
I have kept all my Slade CDs and own all the excellent Union Square re-issues of the Slade catalogue. So I still spin the tracks when my kids allow! Also, I have kept all the vinyl albums that I got signed by the band over the years. To me my photos, scrapbooks and memorabilia are the most valuable items of all. These Slade items that are personal and are too precious to sell!
After a recommendation from Jim, Chris Charlesworth interviewed me for his Slade biography "Feel The Noize" in 1983. He visited me at my flat in Finchley and was impressed by my knowledge and record collection. He borrowed all the UK album covers from me - so that they could be photographed and used in the book.
He got the precious covers couriered back to me by biker. Chris also asked me to proof-read the final copy of the book. He let me keep the copy to which I made some amendments. One big sticking point was that Jim had told him that Slade had played Wembley Empire Pool in 1974. I insisted that they hadn't. (They definitely hadn't). As a thank-you Chris invited me to attend the book launch - which was in the Spice of Life pub in Cambridge Circus, London. The event was filmed by BBC News (a fan has uploaded this to You Tube).
Five years ago I sold my record collection. I was moving home from Enfield to Cambridgeshire. The collection had sat for years in my loft for years in my old house and now I was just going to move it to a new loft, which seemed pretty pointless. I therefore offloaded my collection on Ebay. It was all pretty sad - but as I no longer had a record player, the collection was just gathering dust and getting warped with the heat in the loft. I'd "been there, done it" - getting hold of every Slade record that I ever wanted. I used the proceeds (which were substantial) on a fabulous family summer holiday to the US.
I have kept all my Slade CDs and own all the excellent Union Square re-issues of the Slade catalogue. So I still spin the tracks when my kids allow! Also, I have kept all the vinyl albums that I got signed by the band over the years. To me my photos, scrapbooks and memorabilia are the most valuable items of all. These Slade items that are personal and are too precious to sell!
Wooh Gary Davies - on your doorstep
Don - Wigan Casino - 1 April 1978
I remember sitting in the living room of Don Powell's flat in Mill Lane - and hearing some guy shouting up to the flat from the street.
Don's girlfriend at the time was called Carol - and we were sure somebody was shouting her name.
(It transpired that the guy concerned was calling "Karen" but it sounded like Carol when shouted).
We opened the window and looked down. Who was doing the shouting? It was none other than Gary Davies - the Radio One DJ. His sister Karen, had moved into the flat beneath Don - and he was trying to get her attention as the intercom wasn't working. There was laughter as Don realised who was doing all the shouting.
Slade knew Gary Davies since his days on Piccadilly Radio in Manchester - before he moved to Radio One. I remember that after this instance that Don bumped in to Gary when he was visiting his sister.
A few years later I was in HMV, Bond Street, London and noticed the said Gary Davies. He was actually buying the "Radio Wall Of Sound" single (strange because surely he'd have got a free copy as a DJ?). We spoke at the till - and he said that he'd always liked Slade - "they're a great band".
Don's girlfriend at the time was called Carol - and we were sure somebody was shouting her name.
(It transpired that the guy concerned was calling "Karen" but it sounded like Carol when shouted).
We opened the window and looked down. Who was doing the shouting? It was none other than Gary Davies - the Radio One DJ. His sister Karen, had moved into the flat beneath Don - and he was trying to get her attention as the intercom wasn't working. There was laughter as Don realised who was doing all the shouting.
Slade knew Gary Davies since his days on Piccadilly Radio in Manchester - before he moved to Radio One. I remember that after this instance that Don bumped in to Gary when he was visiting his sister.
A few years later I was in HMV, Bond Street, London and noticed the said Gary Davies. He was actually buying the "Radio Wall Of Sound" single (strange because surely he'd have got a free copy as a DJ?). We spoke at the till - and he said that he'd always liked Slade - "they're a great band".
