Slade
Rogues Gallery Remixed .
I bought the original release of this album back in 1985, and then bought this version in June 2008.
The reason I bought the new version was because it has 9 bonus tracks on it. Only tracks 1 to 10 were on the original release.
It is well worth buying this album, if you don’t have a copy of the original release. The original album (the first 10 tracks of this one) is probably the best album Slade ever made. I put it in their top two, but that’s because the very first album I ever bought was “Slayed”, and that album will always have a special place in my heart.
Rogues Gallery, however, has to be Slade at their best. It is a studio album, so there’s none of the live, spontaneous music that is typical of other Slade albums. This album was polished, re-recorded, backing tracks added in the studio until it was perfect. That said, every track is still a foot stomping sing a long Slade song. Meant to be sung, not listened to. This album will get your granny rocking, no matter how long she has been dead!
So, is this version of the album worth buying?
Well, if you don’t have the original version then yes, it is well worth the money.
If you already have the original version, and are a Slade fan then you need to stop and think.
The first 3 bonus tracks, 11 to 13 are just B sides of previous singles from the original album. So you may have those tracks already. Track 15 is the single “Do You Believe In Miracles”. Which is a good single, but you may already have it. Tracks 17 and 18 are 12 inch versions of tracks on the original album, and track 19 is the 12 inch version of “Do You Believe In Miracles”. If you are a Slade fan you may not be getting anything new there.
Tracks 14 and 16 are versions of My Oh My, both very different from the original single.
Track 14 is the original demo version of the song. It features Noddy Holder with piano backing and a small amount of backing vocals. If you like the original My Oh My, and like to hear Noddy singing then you will love this track. Not only does it showcase Noddy’s voice brilliantly, it also contains the original “moon” verse that was cut out of the single.
We’ll be over the moon, my oh my
We’re going over the moon, my oh my
We can start out in the morning, be there in the afternoon
We’re going over the moon, my oh my
If you want to hear this verse please Click here
I think it was a big mistake to cut it out, as I love that versus. If you bought the 12 inch version of “Myzsterious Myzster Jones” then you will also have this version of My Oh My, as it was on the B side.
This leaves track 16, for me the only new thing about the album. It’s a swing version of My Oh My. If you like Slade, love to hear Noddy singing and like swing music (which I do) then you will love this track. It is worthy of releasing as a single, as is the demo version (track 14). According to the leaflet inside the box it was recorded at the suggestion of Frank Sinatra. Man I would love to have heard him sing this version!
To sum up, if you have not got the original version of this album, then it is a well worth buying.
If you are a Slade fan, and have other album or singles, then think carefully. There is a good chance that track 16 will be the only new thing you get.
Speaking as a die hard Slade fan, and a die hard Swing fan, I can say that for me that one track was worth it.
To help you decide whether to buy this album or not I have included an Amazon preview of the tracks below.
On the left you can buy individual tracks at only $0.99 each. Clicking the buy button for the individual tracks will open a popup window. If your browser prevents this just hit the "close controls" link at the bottom left of the preview. Then hit the "Buy MP3" button. This will take you to the page to buy which ever track is playing at the time, so make sure you select the right track first.
If you prefer to buy the CD then use the banner on the right.