After several albums featuring few original compositions from the quartet came and went (1969's Beginnings, 1970's Play It Loud), the group began to write their own tunes, grew their hair long, and assumed the look of the then-burgeoning glam movement, joining the same cause championed by such fellow Brits as David Bowie and T. Rex. This new direction paid off in 1971 with the number 16 U.K. single "Get Down and Get With It," which soon touched off a string of classic singles and led to Slade becoming one of the most beloved party bands back home. They released Slayed? in 1972. Slade also utilized another gimmick, humorously misspelled song titles, as evidenced by such singles as "Coz I Luv You," "Look Wot You Dun," "Take Me Bak 'Ome," "Mama Weer All Crazee Now," "Gudbuy t'Jane," "Cum on Feel the Noize," "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me," and "Merry Xmas Everybody" (the latter of which re-entered the charts every holiday season for years afterward). Several attempts at cracking the U.S. market came up empty (with track listings between their U.K. and U.S. full-lengths differing), although such albums as Slade Alive! and Slayed? are considered to be some of the finest albums of the glam era.
Slade continued to score further hit singles back home, including such correctly spelled tracks as "My Friend Stan," "Everyday," "Bangin' Man," "Far Far Away," "How Does it Feel," and "In for a Penny," but with glam rock's dissolution and punk's emergence by the mid-'70s, the hits eventually dried up for the quartet. Despite the change in musical climate, Slade stuck to their guns and kept touring and releasing albums, as the title to their 1977 album, Whatever Happened to Slade, proved that the group's humor remained intact despite their fall from the top of the charts. A large, dedicated following still supported the group as they offered a performance at the 1980 Reading Festival that was considered one of the day's best, resulting in sudden renewed interest in the group back home and Slade scored their first true hit singles in six years with 1981's "We'll Bring the House Down" and "Lock up Your Daughters."
Slade received a boost stateside around this time as well, courtesy of the U.S. pop-metal outfit Quiet Riot, who made a smash hit out of "Cum on Feel the Noize" in 1983 that resulted in a strong chart showing for Slade's 1984 release Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (issued as The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome in the U.K. a year earlier). Slade then enjoyed a pair of U.S. MTV/radio hits, "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My." Holder and Lea also tried their hand at producing another artist around this time as well, as they manned the boards for Girlschool's 1983 release Play Dirty. Despite another all-new studio release, Rogues Gallery, and Quiet Riot covering another classic Slade tune ("Mama Weer All Crazee Now"), Slade was unable to retain their newfound American audience or rekindled British following and they eventually faded from sight once more, this time without a comeback waiting around the corner. During the '90s, a truncated version of the group dubbed Slade II was formed (without Holder or Lea in attendance), while Holder became a popular U.K. television personality as well as the host of his own '70s rock radio show. A 21-track singles compilation, Feel the Noize: The Very Best of Slade, was issued in 1997 (re-released under the simple title of Greatest Hits a couple of years later), which proved to be a popular release in England.
Discography
Beginnings (as Ambrose Slade, 1969)
Play It Loud (1970)
Slayed? (1972)
Slade Alive! (1972)
Old New Borrowed and Blue (1974)
Slade in Flame (1974)
Nobody's Fools (1976)
Whatever Happened to Slade (1977)
Return to Base (1979)
We'll Bring the House Down (1981)
Till Deaf Do Us Part (1981)
The Amazing Kamikaze Syndrome (1983), re-released in 1984 as:
- Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply (1984)
Rogues Gallery (1985)
Crackers - The Christmas Party Album (1985)
You Boyz Make Big Noize (1987)
Keep on Rockin' (1994) (as Slade II), is the only studio album by Slade II. The album was released in 1994 and has seen various re-issues and guises under alternative names such as Wild Nites (1999), Cum on Let's Party! (2002) and Superyob (2003).
There are other artists with the same name:
2. Slade less commonly refers to Grady Slade, Jr, a Rap artist
3. Slade also refers to a rapper who made music from 2013-2016 under the label, Chapter 9. He currently makes music under a new alias, Dante Oasis.
Lay It Down
Slade Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A change of the key by pinching my seat, ooh
A beat on the drum has got to be there
The rise in my voice, a spring on my chair
A ring on the chord, a chord on the ring
A turn of the key, the break of a string
A ring on the chord has got to be here
Let's lay it down on the line
Let's lay it down while it shines
Let's lay it down while it moves
Let's lay it all in the grooves
Let's play it back with attack
Let's make the window pane crack
A bend on the note, a note on the bend
The frog in my throat goes through to the end
A bend on the note is all very fine
So let it hang on a hell of a time
Let's lay it down on the line
Let's lay it down while it shines
Let's lay it down while it moves
Let's lay it all in the grooves
Let's play it back with attack
Let's make the window pane crack
A chase on the bass is all very fine
There's only one place so watch for the sign
Let's lay it down on the line
Let's lay it down while it shines
Let's lay it down while it moves
Let's lay it all in the grooves
Let's play it back with attack
Let's make the window pane crack
Let's lay it down on the line
Let's lay it down while it shines
Let's lay it down while it moves
Let's lay it all in the grooves
Let's play it back with attack
Let's make the window pane crack
In "Lay It Down," Slade, the beloved British rock band, uses a fun play on words to sing about their music creation process. In the first verse, the band talks about layering their sounds by bringing in different elements. The beat on the drum, paired with a change of the key, creates a unique sound. The rise in the vocalist's voice, accompanied by a spring on his chair, is the perfect combo to intensify the track. The second verse talks about different techniques to blend sounds. The ring on the chord, paired with a turn of the key or the break of a string, shows their technical prowess. The frog in the throat, and a bend on a note, combine with the drummer's chase on the bass to produce a hit track. The song's chorus exudes confidence and excitement, encouraging the band to lay down their sounds while they are still in their prime.
Line by Line Meaning
A beat on the drum, a drum on the beat
The importance of rhythm and timing in music, with the beat of the drum leading the way.
A change of the key by pinching my seat, ooh
Key changes in music can be subtle yet impactful, and can be felt physically as well as heard.
A beat on the drum has got to be there
The rise in my voice, a spring on my chair
The energy and emotion of a song is conveyed through the rhythm of the drums and the singer's voice, both of which can uplift and excite the listener.
A ring on the chord, a chord on the ring
A turn of the key, the break of a string
Musical instruments require proper tuning and handling, and any disruption can alter the sound and mood of a song.
A ring on the chord has got to be here
The rise in my voice could sound very queer
Every note, chord, and sound in a song is intentional and necessary, even if it may seem unusual or unexpected to some listeners.
Let's lay it down on the line
Let's lay it down while it shines
Let's lay it down while it moves
Let's lay it all in the grooves
Let's play it back with attack
Let's make the window pane crack
The song should be recorded with passion and intensity, capturing the energy and rawness of the performance. The goal is to create a truly memorable and impactful piece of music.
A bend on the note, a note on the bend
The frog in my throat goes through to the end
Vocal dynamics, such as bends and changes in pitch or tone, can convey emotion and personality in a singer's voice, even if it is not perfectly smooth or polished.
A bend on the note is all very fine
So let it hang on a hell of a time
Rather than trying to perfect every note or sound, sometimes it is better to embrace the imperfections and allow them to be part of the unique character and charm of the music.
A chase on the bass is all very fine
There's only one place so watch for the sign
Musical instruments can 'chase' each other or build upon one another to create a more dynamic and layered sound. However, it is important to stay attuned to the direction and structure of the song so as not to disrupt it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JIM LEA, NEVILLE HOLDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Александр Стафиевских
Slade отличная группа глэм рока.
Fus149 Hammer
At first back when the album was released this song didn't do much for me but as the years pass it's got better to my ears. It's actually a f**king great song!
Heavy or what? And of course there's that voice.......
The boys are growing up here.
jordan S
Interesting, I just recently discovered slade, and this song was blowing my mind on the first listen, instant favorite! especially the chase on that bass WEWW!
Christopher Bingham
Same thing for me
DKNO59
Good time rock n roll. ❤️
Mark Perry
Best song on the album
Christopher Bingham
Great mid-tempo rocker. The saxophones at the end are my favorite part of the song.