SLADE/SLADE SMASHES POLTV 13 (-80) FRANCE

 Compilation released by British Polydor to celebrate the new interest for the band arousing after their success at the 1980 Reading Festival. It sold gold in the UK and became one of the instruments for their comeback. To me a rewarding bunch of cuts, mixing big hits from the early days - like "Coz I Luv You", "Far Far Away", "Mama WeerAll Crazee Now" and "Goodbuy T' Jane" - with a couple of then recent 45:s. You should think that cramming in ten tracks on each side would hurt the audio considerably and of course it's not the full monty you get from some earlier issues, but to me it all sounds very all right providing good listening. Slade were unique in their ability to blend raw rock'n'roll with catchy melodies and even if I have many of the tracks before, listening to this amazing string of tunes makes me sit straight in the listening chair and just smile. Hard to find an absolute favorite, but if I had to it'd be "Coz I Luv You".  Premiere issues in UK on LP and cassette, then on vinyl also in Ireland and Spain. First French had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (MFÄX*) (ZPÄ*)