30 GENTLE GIANT — OCTOPUS
Before and After shots? The two Octopus covers. Top artwork by an (uncredited) Roger Dean.
There’s no doubt that some progressive bands (or albums) require effort to get into. England’s Gentle Giant are one of those. With scintillating playing, complex compositional structures (featuring changes of time, key, and instrumentation) and melody lines that puzzle on first acquaintance, this is not a band that gives up its treasures immediately. But perseverance will reward, abundantly. The interweaving parts start to beguile like a cosmic quadrille and the vocal lines, once the medieval and operatic influences are absorbed, are unique and refreshing. Octopus demonstrates everything in the preceding screed superbly. It’s wasabi for the ears. [Released 1 December 1972]
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29 SLADE — ALIVE! / SLAYED?
In 1972, Slade, those glammed up Wolverhampton rockers, smashed into the charts with not one, but two hit records. My inability to choose just one resulted in the first tie in this series.
First came Slade Alive!, demonstrating what a powerful and energetic band they were in concert.
As has become customary, the LP received a fiftieth anniversary re-issue earlier in 2022. I came across this quaint little interview with guitarist Dave Hill as he enjoyed the (mandatory) coloured-vinyl pressing.
Dave Hill has opened his copy of Slade Alive! on limited edition red and black splatter vinyl, and has kindly answered some questions about this landmark Slade album…
Q1. What are your memories of the recording of Slade Alive?
“It was a great album to make, they were our stage show songs, so we knew them well. It has a great atmosphere being live with an audience and was a joy to record.”
Q2. Which other songs did you play at Command Studios, that didn’t make it to the finished record?
“I believe we did all the songs and kept them, it was recorded over three nights and we kept the best one for the finished album.”
Q3. Whose idea was it to record a live album?
“It was Chas’s. We didn’t have a studio album ready for release and the record company needed an album as “Coz I Luv You” was number one in the charts.”
Q4. Are you pleased that the album is still so popular, 50 years on?
“Yes, very much so. It was in the charts for many years, and it sounds just as great now as it did all those years ago. It’s a great example of how we were as a live band.
I’m glad we made this album, there are special moments in Slade’s career, and this is one of our best moments. It stands the test of time and is so exciting to listen to again.
Let’s all Keep on Rockin’ to it.”
Later in the year the band did amass enough songs for an album, and it was a scorcher. Before Slayed? came out in November, “Mama weer all crazee now” had already stormed the charts, and the next single “Gudbuy T’ Jane” did the same. Although not quite achieving the same stomping charisma as the singles, the rest of the album was very solid. “The whole world’s goin’ crazee” and and inspired cover of Janis Joplin’s “Move over” are highlights. The roll continued into ’73 with non-album single “Cum on feel the noize” charting just a couple of months later. Despite their lamentable spelling, I love Slayed? and wore out a cassette version, back in the day. [Released 1 November 1972]
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28 STEVIE WONDER — TALKING BOOK
Those dots in the upper right corner are braille. Cool, eh?
1972 was the beginning of a period of intense creativity for grown-up Stevie Wonder. Music Of My Mind and Talking Book came out that year, both deploying the TONTO synthesiser, followed by Innervisions in ’73. Talking Book has some glorious ballads, two of which top and tail the LP. “You are the sunshine of my life” opens proceedings while the album closes with “I believe (when I fall in love it will be forever)” which boasts a simply fabulous chorus. Not much in between, of course. Oh, except for the hit that introduced the world to the funky-sexy sounds of the Hohner Clavinet and is one of the best songs of the entire decade: “Superstition”. [Released 28 October 1972]
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27 LITTLE FEAT — SAILIN’ SHOES
Little Feat’s second album is thrilling. Less blues-based than the debut, it combines strutting rock, stuttering funk, harmony, edge, and variety. Though Bill Payne’s contribution to the song list is significant, it is the folio of brilliant, troubled songwriter Lowell George that provides the highlights on this great LP. Opening with “Easy to slip” followed by “Cold cold cold”, it seems this will be an upbeat set. But then the wistful “Trouble” sneaks into the lounge and puts its feet up on your couch, opening your last beer and regaling you with a sad tale of an acquaintance’s misadventure via a sinuous, captivating melody. Then, a couple of songs later, the glorious “Willin’”, a song that will convert a library loving city slicker into a long haul trucker. Elsewhere, live staple “Tripe face boogie” is jumping fun and “Teenage nervous breakdown” presages the frenetic energy of punk. Sailin’ Shoes is a fabulous entry point to one of America’s best and least lauded bands. [Released February 1972]
A classic Neon Park cover that gets more disturbing the longer you look at it
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26 BLACK SABBATH — VOL. 4
There’s something enduringly pleasing about this cover. The fabulous font certainly helps.
Back in 2015 I wrote about discovering this slab of porto-metal courtesy of my friend Rod Amberton, as the HMV stereo in his room got cranked up to 11. “Two speakers and 8 watts per channel. What power! The windows shivered in fear as we blasted out his LPs. And no record was blastier or shiverier than Black Sabbath Vol 4.”
For a detailed journey through Volume 4, please go here. Otherwise, simply thrill to “Wheels of confusion”, “Snow blind” and the gentle “Changes”.
“It’s oppressive in Sabbath-land, but also comforting. Like being wrestled by an overweight, somewhat dim giant who really wants you to have a good time – as long as you don’t mind a few bruises or perhaps a couple of broken bones.” [Released 25 September 1972]
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vinylconnection.com.au 
Hey, R. is that you in the hat?
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It’s a fine example of the milliner’s craft, most certainly. But the model (a much later model) is, in fact, the same chap (not chapeau) on the right of the cover of ‘Slayed’.
– Bruce
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If I had held a miniature newspaper in front of his face I might have figured it out.
Thanks, B (formally RF)
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Thank God…it covers up that horrible hairdo…one of the more unfortunate 70s-era coifs I’ve ever seen!
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It was a total shocker, eh? And TBH, I wasn’t actually too sure about the silver trousers either.
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Slade Alive was the first album I actually coveted (see Commandment 10). A guy at school had and I wanted it so badly. That red cover drew me in and promising wild live delights. Slayed just added to the pain. To ease it I bought a 50c magazine about the band which I probably learned off by heart. I own them now and they still resonate with me. To me they are the ultimate singles band from that era, with some worthy deep album tracks too.
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Ah, the ‘look’ of Slade. At once ludicrous and a bit intimidating. Hope there was a good photo spread in your magazine! And as you say, *great* singles.
Love these stories, Chris.
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Good stuff in here. I’m mostly drawn to Stevie Wonder and Little Feat. I’ve made a couple of attempts to listen to Gentle Giant but haven’t warmed to them. I also like Slade in general but haven’t listened to that particular album. Black Sabbath had some songs I dig as well.
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That’s pretty reasonable coverage, Christian! 🙂
I certainly get that GG are not everyone’s cup of progressive tea. 😉
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Some bands and artists are an acquired taste, so who knows, eventually, I might end up liking Gentle Giant. 🙂
Initially, I didn’t like Led Zeppelin either. Granted I was pretty young when I first listened to them. Now they’re one of my favorite bands!
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Fair comment, I reckon. I have also noticed that for music fans with curiosity and open ears, after a few years (or decades?) they start to gravitate to more complex (viz. progressive) sounds. Or not. 😅
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I like Octopus. I know it’s heresy but I reckon that Talking Book is a little thin after its two big tracks (Superstition, I Believe…) – they tower over everything else for me. Looking For Another Pure Love and Blame it on the Sun are nice though, and You Are The Sunshine is good but a bit treacly.
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Thank you for calling out the treacle, G. I was going to, but couldn’t quite bring myself. It’s a problem throughout SW’s career; the saccharine factor.
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Out of his “big 5” – Music of My Mind through to Songs in the Key of Life, I reckon there’s more treacle on this one than all the other 4 put together.
Have you heard the two Syreeta albums he produced in the 1970s?
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I have not. Worth checking out?
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Yup, some really good songs on them IMO – Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers and I Wanna Be By Your Side are two favourites.
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Slade Alive was the credible Slade album to own in my corner of the north west. That Little Feat album was my entry point for so much music and it’s the one album of theirs I am missing. Have to fix that.
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Slade and Feat. Wonderful juxtapositions formed by blogging! Enjoy seeking out and sinking into ‘Sailin’ Shoes’. 🙂
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I don’t recall actually listening to Slayed Alive so I think it’s time to address that.
All the best
DD
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It is a real rocker and I am pretty sure I’ve heard it before. Z is complaining about the noise so its a clandestine thumbs up from me.
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(👍)
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“Octopus” is a small work of art in itself. Gentle Giant had similar ways to King Crimson, who had at the same time a similarly odd place in music on another level… Well, and of course “Slade Alive”. They couldn’t do anything wrong because they did everything wrong on purpose.
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Ha! Tell that to Noddy Holder!
Yes, technical brilliance is a trait shared by GG and KC.
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I loved Slade. And when “Slade Alive” came out, I even had respect for them, because nobody was nearly so rough and mean.
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True! Yet their cover of Darlin’ Be Home Soon is fantastic.
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Slade Alive! The second album I bought (the first was ‘Kongos’, by John Kongos) Still play both the original copies to this day. 🙂
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Brilliant. I reckon for people of a certain age, Slade Alive was a door-opening LP.
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Shout out to Stevie, and Sabbath!
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You know you make me wanna SHOUT!
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Signed, Sealed, Delivered!
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Ah, Talking Book! Talking Book, Innervisions, and Fulfillingness’ First Finale are all pure gold. I love every track of TB, and would say that the accusation of treacle is a bit harsh (there’s plenty of it in “I Just Called To Say I Love You” and “Ebony and Ivory”…). To me, Wonder’s interesting harmonies and chord progressions prevent potential candidates “You and I” and “Blame It On The Sun” from slipping into the treacle pot. You have to admire an artist who offers such diversity on a single album: irresistible grooves (IMHO: anyone who doesn’t start moving, in some way, during the opening measures of “Superstition” doesn’t have a pulse), social commentary (“Big Brother”) alonger with mellower fare (not treacle! 🙂 ) Fun fact, which I’m sure you know: Jeff Beck played on “Lookin’ for Another Pure Love”.
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Ah, a big ‘good on you’, JDB. A monograph ‘In defence of treacle’ is probably sorely needed. Totally agree on ‘Superstition’, of course.
PS. Just in case you pick this up, I did the Chicago audit you alluded to after the last post. Fascinating!
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Yes, I saw you’d taken that dive into past posts! Fascinating, indeed!
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Vol.4 is my favourite Sabbath LP by far, nothing beats ‘Supernaut’ and the live pics from the gatefold just look so damned exciting.
I’ve tried Octopus, didn’t dislike it at all, but it was work. Unlike Slayed, which is brilliantly basic.
Plus Talking Book this early in your countdown? that’s a controversial call for me too.
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I think it’s Vol.4 for me too, Joe.
You’d buy Octopus for the Roger Dean cover, wouldn’t you? I know I would!
Stevie on higher ground for you? Fair enough. I do struggle with the ballads and overall ‘niceness’.
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I get you with Stevie, he can overdo the saccharine. On a side note do you flip your wig for Songs In The Key of Life? I worry I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t like it.
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