QSP - Quatro, Scott & Powell

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QSP - Quatro, Scott & Powell

Warner Music Russia (!)

Released 2017

Get three of the top 1970's Pop/Rock Superstars together, with over 150 years of musical experience between them, stick them in a studio and let the magic happen!

(Don, Suzi and Andy)

It's kind of how it went with the collective known as QSP that features Suzi Quatro - Bass and Vocals, Andy Scott (The Sweet) - Guitar and Vocals and Don Powell (Slade) - Drums.

All three were a huge part of my musical life back when I was a kid. There was always the debate as to who was better Slade or The Sweet (Slade won it hands down every time in my book!) and of course the Detroit Dynamite Suzi Quatro was probably one of the first posters on the wall for many a young boy back then! I had seen video of Suzi and Andy working together before back in the 1980's so it was a real surprise to see Don joining them and making a classic little Supergroup!

The album was released in Australia earlier this year when the band were touring and it's only recently been issued here in Europe as a Deluxe Edition. Whilst a number of Cover versions are included on the album the band actually wrote some songs specifically for the album.

I was actually very impressed with it.

QSP

Listen Here:

Tracklist

 1 Slow Down 3:45
2 Long Way From Home 6:14
3 Tobacco Road 3:42
4 If Only 4:42
5 Bright Lights Big City 5:45
6 Pain (Band Version) 4:08*
7 Just Like A Woman 5:12
8 Mend A Broken Heart 3:24*
9 The Price Of Love 5:05
10 Broken Pieces Suite 5:54*
11 I Walk On Gilded Splinters 5:57*
12 Late Nights Early Flights 3:52
13 Little Sister 3:09
14 Fever (New Track) 5:38*
15 Tossin' & Turnin' (New Track) 3:17*
16 Pain (Orchestral) 4:03

* Not included on the playlist due to not being available on You Tube.

Stepping Back to the 1970's

Suzi, Andy and Don!

Five of their Best

Click on The Links To Watch/Listen

Suzi Quatro

01 The Wild One

02 Devil Gate Drive

03 48 Crash

04 I May Be Too Young

05 Mama's Boy

The Sweet

01 Ballroom Blitz

02 Teenage Rampage

03 Hell Raiser

04 The Six Teens

05 Blockbuster

Slade

01 Cum on Feel The Noize

02 How Does It Feel

03 Get Down and Get With It

04 We'll Bring The House Down

05 Shape of Things To Come

Rewind: Old New Borrowed and Blue - Slade (1974)

Old New Borrowed and Blue - Slade

Polydor

Produced by Chas Chandler

Released 15th February 1974

UK Chart #1

Australian Chart #6

Finnish Chart #2

Norwegian Chart #3

German Chart #20

US Chart #168*

* The album was released in the USA on the Warner Bros. label, under the title Stomp Your Hands, Clap Your Feet, minus the tracks "My Town" and "My Friend Stan" (as they had been previously released there on Sladest).

 

Side One

Side Two

Personnel
Slade
    Noddy Holder - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
    Dave Hill - lead guitar
    Jim Lea - bass guitar, lead vocals on "When the Lights are Out", piano
    Don Powell - drums

Additional credits
Tommy Burton - piano on "Find Yourself a Rainbow"

Singles On Old New Borrowed and Blue

(Swiss Picture Cover)

A-Side: MY FRIEИD STAИ

B-Side: My Town

Released 28th September 1973

UK Chart #2

 (US Release Only)

A-Side: Good Time Gals

B-Side: We're Really Gonna Raise The Roof

Released February 1974

Did Not Chart

(Dutch Picture Sleeve)

A-Side: Everday

B-Side: Good Time Gals

Released 29th March 1974

UK Chart #3

(US Released Single Only)

A-Side: When The Lights Are Out

B-Side: How Can It Be

Released May 1974

Did Not Chart

**********************

The fourth studio album from Slade had been delayed a bit due to the near fatal car accident of drummer Don Powell and hence in 1973 the Sladest compilation album had been released (and topped the charts). 

As this gave them time they worked a little harder on the musical arrangements for what would become Old New Borrowed and Blue.

The album kicks off with Just Want A Little Bit. The song had originally been released in 1959 by Tiny Topsy and had also been performed by The Animals (which was of course the band their manager/producer, Chas Chandler had been in).

When The Lights Are Out is sung by Jim Lea (he wouldn't sing lead vocals again until the 1987 B-Side Don't Talk To Me About Love). This is probably my favourite track on the album. It has also been covered by a number of bands down through the years including an absolute belter of a version by Cheap Trick for their 2009 album The Latest. In 1980, Jim Lea would release the song along with his brother Frank under the banner of The Dummies. American band Three Hour Tour also recorded a version of it in 1994.

My Town, which was a B-Side to the My Friend Stan single is a typical Slade rocker that would have you stamping your platform boots in time with Don Powell's big drums.

Find Yourself A Rainbow is another piano led song. Tinkling the ivories on this one was Tommy Burton, who was actually the landlord of a local pub that Slade would frequent! Not one of Slade's best numbers but it was covered by Max Bygraves!! 

Miles Out To Sea another typical Slade mid-tempo rock ballad. The song was covered by a German band called Not Fragile and Jim Lea recorded it for his band The Dummies in 1980 as the B-Side to Didn't You Used To Be You?

We're Really Gonna Raise The Roof - Slade at their foot stomping best here, they could churn these type of numbers out in their sleep!

Do We Still Do It  - This one joins the long line of Slade Anthems like Cum On Feel The Noize and Mama Weer All Crazee Now.

How Can It Be - Not quite a Country song but almost bordering on it and it's a style that Holder had been tinkering with!

Don't Blame Me - Was originally the B-side to their huge Christmas hit, a hard hitting vocal from Noddy Holder that sounds like he gargled some gravel he picked up from some local roadworks!

MY FRIEИD STAИ had been the first single (Powell had played on it. He was walking with a stick and had to be lifted onto the drum stool). It was a little bit different in that the song was more piano led rather than the usual crescendo of loud guitars! Chas Chandler had encouraged Jim Lea to finish the song after he had heard the bassist playing it at home. It would spend only 8 weeks on the chart and despite reaching #2 on the chart it was deemed a bit of a disappointment. Strangely enough it actually sold as many copies as their previous single Skweeze Me Pleeze Me which had gone to #1! It actually sounds a little out of place on the album I think!

Everyday - I don't think anyone on plant earth ever imagined that Slade would release a ballad as a single but they did so with Everyday, which came out out a month after the album was released. Surprisingly it only reached #3 on the chart, I say suprisingly because it is actually a real gem of single and surely deserved top spot on the charts! 

Dave Hill doesn't actually appear on the single as he was away on his honeymoon when it was recorded. His guitar parts were done by Jim Lea, who also played bass and piano on the song. When they appeared on TV promoting the song Noddy Holder was "playing" bass guitar!

Good Time Gals - closes the album. It had been the B-Side of Everyday but in the States Warner Bros. had chosen it as the single. It didn't chart.

Bob Stanley of The Times wrote (whilst reviewing the 2006 Remaster on Salvo of the album), "Slade are now known as the missing link between the Beatles and Oasis. This 1974 effort is the pick of their early albums: Noddy Holder’s girder-munching vocals are spread evenly between Black Country rock ("Just a Little Bit"), Macca-styled ballads (the hit, "Everyday"), and the odd music-hall blunder. This is joyous, unshackled and unpretentious stuff that reminds you how they rattled off six No. 1s." 

The Bonus Tracks on the Remaster were:

13 I'm Mee I'm Now And That's Orl
14 Kill 'Em At The Hot Club Tonite    
15 The Bangin' Man    
16 She Did It To Me    
17 Slade Talk To "19" Readers.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!: Day 346 - Slade

The Very Best Of... - Slade

Polydor

Released 28th November 2005

UK Charts #39

Released as a 2CD set

Notes On Singles
(In chronological order)

(German Picture Sleeve)

Get Down And Get With It / Do You Want Me / Gospel According To Rasputin

May 1971

UK Chart #16

(Italian Picture Sleeve)

Coz I Luv You / My Life Is Natural

October 1971

UK Chart #1

Look Wot You Dun / Candidate

January 1972

UK Chart #4

(Portuguese Picture Sleeve)

Take Me Bak' Ome / Wonderin' Y

May 1972

UK Chart #1

(Austrian Picture Sleeve)

Mama Weer All Crazee Now / Man Who Speeks Evil

August 1972

UK Chart #1

(Dutch Picture Sleeve)

Gudbuy T' Jane / I Won't Let It 'Appen Agen

November 1972

Uk Chart #2

(Spanish Picture Sleeve)

Cum On Feel The Noize / I'm Mee, I'm Now, an' That's Orl

February 1973

UK Chart #1

(German Picture Sleeve)

Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me / Kill 'Em At The Hot Club Tonite
June 1973
UK Chart #1

 (Swiss Picture Sleeve)

My Friend Stan / My Town
September 1973
UK Chart #2

(Belgian Picture Sleeve)

Merry Xmas Everybody / Don't Blame Me
December 1973
UK Chart #1

Everyday / Good Time Gals

March 1974

UK Chart #3

 The Bangin' Man / She Did It To Me
June 1974
UK Chart #3

 Far Far Away / O.K. Yesterday Was Yesterday
October 1974
UK Chart #2

How Does It Feel? / So Far So Good
February 1975
UK Chart #15

 Thanks For The Memory (Wham Bam Thank You Mam) / Raining In My Champagne
May 1975
UK Chart #7

 In For A Penny / Can You Just Imagine
November 1975
UK Chart #11

(French Picture Sleeve)

Let's Call It Quits / When The Chips Are Down
January 1976
UK Chart #11

Gypsy Roadhog / Forest Full Of Needles
January 1977
UK Chart #48

My Baby Left Me / That's All Right / O.H.M.S.
October 1977
UK Chart #32

This would be their last charting single until 1981. The previous single, not included on the album, Burning In The Heat Of Love (April 1977), had been the first Slade single not to chart since 1970!

When I'm Dancin' I Ain't Fightin' / Born To Be Wild /  Somethin' Else/Pistol Packin' Mama/Keep A Rollin'
September 1980
UK Chart #44

Their rising from the ashes at Reading Festival in August 1980 gave them a new lease of life.
 

We'll Bring The House Down /Hold On To Your Hats
January 1981
UK Chart #10

Wheels Ain't Coming Down / Not Tonight Josephine
March 1981
UK Chart #60

(Dutch Picture Sleeve)

Lock Up Your Daughters / Sign Of The Times
September 1981
UK Chart #29

A1 Ruby Red    
B1 Funk Punk & Junk    
    Special Bonus Single - Not To Be Sold Separately
C1 Rock And Roll Preacher (Live Version)    
D1 Tak Me Bak 'Ome (Live Version)
March 1982
UK Chart #51

(German Picture Sleeve)

(And Now - The Waltz) C'est La Vie / Merry Xmas Everybody (Live & Kickin')
November 1982
UK Chart #50

Not exactly a "Top Hit" as the picture sleeve announced!

A My Oh My    
B1 Merry Xmas Everybody (Live & Kickin')    
B2 Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply
November 1983
UK Chart #2

Run Runaway / Two Track Stereo, One Track Mind
January 1984
UK Chart #7

All Join Hands / Here's To...
November 1984
UK Chart #15

7 Year Bitch / Leave Them Girls Alone
January 1985
UK Chart #60

Myzsterious Mizster Jones / Mama Nature Is A Rocker
March 1985
UK Chart #50

Do You Believe In Miracles / My Oh My (Swing Version)
November 1985
UK Chart #54

Still The Same / Gotta Go Home
February 1987
UK Chart #73

A Radio Wall Of Sound    
B1 Lay Your Love On The Line    
B2 Cum On Feel The Noize
October 1991
UK Chart #21

Released a month prior to the compilation Wall of Hits that went to #34 in the UK Album Charts

A1 Universe    
A2 Red Hot    
B1 Gypsy Roadhog    
B2 Merry Xmas Everybody
December 1991
Did Not Chart

Was included on the Wall of Hits Compilation released in November 1991.

It was also to be the final single with the original line-up of Slade as Noddy Holder retired as did Jim Lea. Dave Hill and Don Powell carried on under the banner of Slade 2 and are still at it these days but go under the name of Slade.

***********************

Whilst many girls were in a frenzy about The Osmonds and Jackson 5 back when I was a kid most of the boys would be raving about the greatness of Sweet or Slade.  

Slade were one of the first bands I really took to as a kid and one that I consistently saved up my pocket money in order to buy their singles and albums. There was such a wealth of brilliant singles as well.

They were never short of a song or two to fill a compilation either. Their very first being a German release in 1970 called Coz I Luv You (the album was also released in Holland with a slightly different track listing) that contained the very early singles from the late 60s, half of the 1970 album Play It Loud. 

The first UK compilation release of course was Sladest in 1973. This gave them their second #1 album entering the chart in Top spot and hanging around the Top Ten until early 1974 when it topped the chart for the second time.

Slade Smashes! from 1980 went to #21. It was released mainly because all of the Slade singles were deleted apart from Merry Xmas Everybody. It's actually quite a good collection despite the fact that some tracks had been remixed to give them a more 1980's feel.

Slade Greatz (1984) was released in response to the success of My Oh My and Run Runaway (both not included on the album!) and although it only reached #89 in the charts it's not a bad compilation but it does bear a striking resemblence trackwise to Smashes!

Wall of Hits came in 1991 and featured their final two singles Radio Wall of Sound and Universe. It reached #34 in the charts and it was basically a "Gudbuy" from the band as Noddy Holder hung up his hat after 25 years of being in the band in 1992 followed by Jim Lea. There was some discussion about the absence of some recent hit singles ( "We'll Bring the House Down", "Myzsterious Mizster Jones" and "Still the Same") from the album and the fact that they could have been included if they had not included some of the earlier hit singles that were also available in other places! But I guess if they had done that people would have been saying "How can you release a Best Of and not include...."(insert song title here!).

Feel The Noize - Greatest Hits (1997) reached the heady heights of #19 and spent five weeks on the chart. Nothing much to write home about regarding this one as there were still debates about certain "newer" singles that were left off.

And so to The Very Best Of... posted above. Well to begin with it does contain a fair number of tracks that had been discarded on other compilations and that's a real plus. It also manages to leave out many of the "not so good" Slade singles that were released between 1977 and 1988, that's also a plus. 

The only negative (and it's a small one), is that if we are considering The Very Best of Slade then surely room could have been made for the excellent Shape of Things To Come from 1970, although not a hit it is one of the finer tunes from their earliest days. I would have ousted 7 Year Bitch in order to include their magnificent second single.

The album would spend four weeks in the UK Album Chart peaking at #39.

Let The Day Begin...Let The Day Start!