Old New Borrowed & Blue - SLADE***

Just Want A Little Bit/When The Lights Are Out/My Town/Find Yourself A Rainbow/Miles Out To Sea/We're Really Gonna Raise The Roof/Do We Still Do It/How Can It Be/Don't Blame Me/My Friend Stan/Everyday/Good Time Gals

Old New Borrowed & Blue signalled a change of style for Slade with less of the stomping rockers and a move to a more mainstream pop sound. Features the UK top three hits My Friend Stan and Everyday. (US:168 UK: 1)

“Most of the songs here are crunching rockers which in the end are diminished by their similarity to one another. Better then to look to the few under-the-radar tunes. These comprise Find Yourself A Rainbow, showing their music-hall influences, the stately ballad Everyday and the pub-rocking My Friend Stan.”

“Their fourth studio set continued the band's move away from glam to a more conventional rock attack. Propelled by Holder's shrieking voice, Dave Hall's crushing guitar, and the rhythm section of bassist Jim Lea and drummer Don Powell these guys epitomized mid-1970s sludge rock. If you were looking for sophisticated musical compositions and thought provoking lyrics, this probably wasn't going to be an album that would make it into your collection.”

“Slade step it up a couple notches by introducing some new musical styles. Pop, ballads, Jim & Noddy's writing improves as they dive fearlessly into new musical territories.”

“This is a decent album with a few outstanding tracks and a few boring ones. The band tones down the stomping rock of past albums, and focuses on the pop side of their sound. They pull off some great melodic hooks, especially on My Town and When The Lights Are Out, but more often the songs aren't quite up to snuff to pull it off, and you end up wanting more noize.”

“This was the last of the great Slade era as their later albums didn't seem to have as many memorable tunes on. It proved to be the most diverse record the band had released and includes music hall, country and folksy balladry.”

“There is no doubt that it showed a greater maturity in song writing and arrangement and less of their stomping trademark. To my mind that is what makes it as an album. A good song is always a good song no matter how much fashions change, and there are plenty to enjoy and love on this album.”