Slade’s Merry Xmas Everybody Party Hits album

In November 2009 Slade’s ”Merry Xmas Everybody Party Hits” album was released through Universal. Now – almost 3 months later - I finally got my review copy. People have said, ”You can’t review a Christmas album in February!”, but of course I can! As it says in the liner-notes of the album: ”Slade is not just for Christmas”, so why not?

The album consists of 20 tracks whereof 4 are ”festive” songs. Apart from Slade’s Christmas-hit “Merry Xmas Everybody”, you’ll also find Coots/Gillespies ”Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”, and Slade’s own ”Here’s To,,,” as well other party-tunes such as ”Let’s Have A Party” (Baxter/Friend/Haynes) and ”Okey Cokey” (Kennedy).

On the album you’ll also find some of Slade’s greatest self-penned hits: “Mama Weer All Crazee Now”, “’Coz I Luv You”, “Gudbuy T’Jane”, “Cum On Feel The Noize” and “Skweeze Me Pleeze Me”, but also songs less known. Of cover songs you’ll find “Let The Good Times Roll/Feel So Fine” (Lee), “My Baby Left Me/That’s Alright” (Crudup), “Let’s Dance” (Lee) and “I’m A Rocker” (Berry) as well as self-penned ones such as “We’re Really Gonna Raise The Roof”, “Hey Ho Wish You Well”, “Do You Believe In Miracles” and “All Join Hands”. My two favourite songs on the album (both self-penned Holder/Lea tracks) are “My Oh My (Swing Version)” from 1985 and “Standin’ On The Corner” from 1974. Those two songs show the versatility of the band.

If some of you are thinking that ”Merry Xmas Everybody Party Hits” sounds a bit like Slade’s 1985 album “Crackers”, you are not entirely wrong. The new album has a few more songs and some of the “Crackers” songs have been replaced by others, but all in all the new album has the same party-feel to it like the old one. And if nothing else, it proves that Slade is not just for Christmas – although this album is gonna come in handy at any Christmas party!