Rogues Gallery
Studio album by
Slade
Released29 March 1985
RecordedAngel Recording Studios, Portland Studios, RAK Studios and Utopia Studios, London, UK
GenreHard rock
Length43:29
LabelRCA (Europe), CBS Associated (US)
ProducerJohn Punter, Jim Lea
Slade chronology
Slade's Greats
(1984)		 Rogues Gallery
(1985)		 Crackers - The Christmas Party Album
(1985)
Singles from Rogues Gallery
  1. "All Join Hands"
    Released: 5 November 1984
  2. "7 Year Bitch"
    Released: 14 January 1985
  3. "Myzsterious Mizster Jones"
    Released: 11 March 1985
  4. "Little Sheila"
    Released: May 1985

Rogues Gallery is the twelfth studio album by the British rock group Slade. It was released by RCA on 29 March 1985 and reached number 60 in the UK charts.[1] The album was largely produced by John Punter, with bassist Jim Lea producing "Harmony", "I Win, You Lose" and "Time to Rock".[2] For this release, the band set out to create an album of radio-friendly, potential hit singles which would be released as singles somewhere across the world.[3]

The US version of the album, which was released on the CBS label, replaced "All Join Hands" with the band's 1981 UK hit "Lock Up Your Daughters" (which had originally appeared on the band's album Till Deaf Do Us Part).[4]

Background

After the band's 1984 breakthrough in America with the Top 40 singles "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My", the band were to go on tour that year with Ozzy Osbourne for six weeks. Prior to the tour, the band played a few warm-up shows. However, on the first night of the tour with Osbourne, Slade had to cancel the remainder of the shows when Lea collapsed after the first gig and was diagnosed with hepatitis. Coinciding with the breakdown of lead vocalist Noddy Holder's marriage, the band agreed to stop touring to allow Holder a break. Meanwhile, the band would continue to record.[5]

Still contracted to RCA, the band set out to record their 12th studio album later in 1984. After the success of "Run Runaway" and "My Oh My", producer John Punter was hired to produce most of the album. The lead single "All Join Hands" was released in November 1984 and reached No. 15 in the UK.[1] However, the following single, "7 Year Bitch", released in January 1985, stalled at No. 60 after the song's title caused it to be met with resistance on radio.[1][5] The third single "Myzsterious Mizster Jones" was released in March and peaked at No. 50. The same month saw the release of Rogues Gallery, which peaked at No. 60 in the UK and No. 132 in the US.[1][6] In America and certain European territories, "Little Sheila" was released as a single in April. It reached No. 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 13 on the Mainstream Rock Chart.[7][8] The album was a bigger success in a number of European territories.[5]

Speaking to Kerrang! shortly before the album's release, Lea said: "I think this record has a more rounded quality than anything we've done before. For a start, we've actually gone in and demoed the new material before recording properly. The album is still heavy, lots of guitars, five and six-minute numbers, but everything sounds much more tuneful, meaning there are lots of potential singles on it. There are no long solos but there are some great guitar parts, hot and fast breaks."[9]

Reflecting on the album to Kerrang! in late 1985, Noddy Holder stated, "I'm proud of the songs although I'd admit that the production wasn't all it might have been."[10] He also recalled of the album's recording process in a 1990 fan club interview, "It became a bit of a saga, it took a lot of time and eventually turned out to be a great album although I feel there was something missing - something that is the Slade trademark was missing."[11] Guitarist Dave Hill recalled his mixed feelings about the album in a 1986 interview for the Slade fan club, "I personally think it lacked something. I mean it was a good sounding LP, but maybe it had a bit too much quality. I think it lacked a certain amount of soul, or maybe guts. I think that maybe too many of the songs on Rogues Gallery sounded like pop hits, so the album began to lean too much to being regarded as a sort of 'poppy' album, and there is nothing worse than that for me."[12]

Recording

The album was recorded at Angel Recording Studios, Portland Studios, RAK Studios and Utopia Studios. It was mixed at Air Studios and The Workhouse. Before the album's release, the album's working title was Partners in Crime and the original sleeve design was conceived with this title.[13][14]

Promotion

During autumn 1984 and spring 1985, a full European tour was announced and tickets were put on sale. However, the band had not actually confirmed that they would tour, nor had any contracts been signed. Owing to Holder's existing stance on touring, the tour was soon cancelled. Had the 1985 leg of the tour taken place, Lea was considering adding a keyboard player to Slade's stage show.[15][16]

Noddy Holder spoke about the tour in a 1986 fan club interview: "Although it was virtually me that cancelled it for the personal reasons - that tour was never confirmed. The agent and promoter started promoting it and selling the tickets, and we hadn't even confirmed that we were going to do the tour. The tickets had already been on sale for two months and nobody bothered to tell us!"[17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[18]
Deseret News[19]
Kerrang![20]
Record Mirror[21]
Record-JournalB[22]
Sounds[23]

Upon its release, Sounds noted the album was made up of "high quality power pop, glorious hooks, instant singalongs, ultra-catchy terrace-style chants and anthemic, hymn-like ballads".[23] Dave Dickson of Kerrang! summarised, "What we're presented with here is ten songs that are each hung around totally brilliant choruses; you just can't help but want to singalong [with] Noddy every time he wraps his sandpaper vocals around one. Over the years that this particular 'rogues gallery' have been cranking it out, they've honed their art to perfection. This band has always been about hooks and here they're dripping aplenty!"[20]

In America, reviews were also positive overall. Billboard recommended the album and commented: "Modern, muscular and metallic, Slade can hold their own on the present hard rock scene."[24] Deseret News stated: "Slade is the epitome of a rock band: catchy melodies, infectious rhythms and the most enjoyable lyrical pacing in contemporary music. Rogues Gallery is one of the finest examples of rabble-rousing rock 'n' roll to come along in years... [and] a guaranteed winner."[19] Record-Journal concluded: "The main problem with the album is getting past the first song. If you hang in, however, what follows on Rogues Gallery is some of the most enthusiastic hard rock in recent years, and some of the least annoying."[22]

The Press-Courier wrote: "Veteran quartet is long of toothe but still capable of blowing out amplifiers and speakers."[25] The Canadian Leader-Post felt that Rogues Gallery was a "neater effort" than the preceding Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply, and concluded: "They may be long in the tooth, but they haven't lost their bite."[26] Rich Harry of The Morning Call said: "Slade let non-of that I'm-old-there-fore-I-hurt guff gem up their fine new LP. Resembling Geritol on plastic, the album is a fine pop primer for enjoying life while approaching the gloomy pit stop of middle age."[27]

AllMusic retrospectively reviewed the album, which summarised: "Unfortunately for everyone, the decision was made to lay on a whole pile of keyboards this time out; the end result was an album that was far less endearing than Keep Your Hands Off My Power Supply. The rogues' gallery concept probably would have been a lot more convincing if the music had been stripped of the keyboards and overly slick production and given more of a rock & roll edge."[28]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Noddy Holder and Jim Lea

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Hey Ho Wish You Well"5:18
2."Little Sheila"3:56
3."Harmony"3:43
4."Myzsterious Mizster Jones"3:35
5."Walking on Water, Running on Alcohol"4:57
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."7 Year Bitch"4:15
7."I'll Be There"4:31
8."I Win, You Lose"3:31
9."Time to Rock"4:08
10."All Join Hands"5:31
2007 Salvo remaster bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Here's to..." (B-side of "All Join Hands")3:10
12."Leave Them Girls Alone" (B-side of "7 Year Bitch")3:14
13."Mama Nature Is a Rocker" (B-side of "Myzsterious Mizster Jones")2:52
14."My Oh My (Piano & Vocal)" (B-side of "Myzsterious Mizster Jones" (12" vinyl only))3:12
15."Do You Believe in Miracles" (1985 non-album single)4:10
16."My Oh My (Swing Version)" (B-side of "Do You Believe in Miracles")3:02
17."7 Year Bitch (Extended 12" Version)"5:38
18."Myzsterious Mizster Jones (Extended 12" Version)"4:47
19."Do You Believe in Miracles (Extended 12" Version)"6:14

Charts

Chart (1985) Peak
position
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[29] 64
European Albums (Eurotipsheet)[30] 46
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[31] 26
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[32] 38
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[33] 5
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[34] 27
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[35] 13
UK Albums (OCC)[36] 60
UK Heavy Metal Albums (Spotlight Research)[37] 10
US Billboard 200[38] 132
US AOR Albums (Radio & Records)[39] 17

Personnel

Slade
  • Noddy Holder - lead vocals, backing vocals
  • Dave Hill - lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jim Lea - bass guitar, keyboards, guitar, violin, backing vocals, producer (tracks 3, 8-9)
  • Don Powell - drums
Additional personnel
  • John Punter - mixing, producer (tracks 1-2, 5-7, 10)
  • Frank Barretta - assistant engineer (not credited)
  • Brian Aris Design - photography
  • Estuary English - artwork (design)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Slade | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  2. ↑ "Vinyl Album - Slade - Rogues Gallery - RCA - Europe". 45worlds.com. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  3. ↑ "Nod and Don interview". YouTube. Archived from the original on 17 December 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  4. ↑ "Vinyl Album - Slade - Rogues Gallery - CBS Associated - USA". 45worlds.com. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 Rogues Gallery - 2007 Salvo remaster booklet liner notes
  6. ↑ "Slade Rogues Gallery Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  7. ↑ "Slade Little Sheila Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  8. ↑ "Slade Little Sheila Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  9. ↑ "Rock Magazine Articles - Slade Crazee!". Slade-crazee.weebly.com. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  10. ↑ Dome, Malcolm (9 January 1986). "Slade Double Decade". Kerrang!. No. 111. p. 2. ISSN 0262-6624.
  11. ↑ "Slade International Fan Club newsletter October - November - December 1990". Slade Fan Club. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  12. ↑ "SLADE @ www.slayed.co.uk". Crazeeworld.plus.com. Archived from the original on 15 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Slade Fan Club Archive". Weebly. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  14. ↑ Slade International Fan Club newsletter January - February 1986
  15. ↑ "Slade Fan Club Archive". Weebly. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  16. ↑ Slade International Fan Club newsletter June - July - August 1986
  17. ↑ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  18. ↑ Carruthers, Sean. "Rogues Gallery - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
  19. 1 2 "Heavy metal hasn't killed good, sizzling rock 'n' roll". Deseret News. 21 June 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  20. 1 2 Dickson, Dave (4 April 1985). "Kutz". Kerrang!. No. 91. p. 11. ISSN 0262-6624.
  21. ↑ Smith, Robin (30 March 1985). "Albums". Record Mirror. p. 14.
  22. 1 2 Zebora, Jim (16 June 1985). "Boomtown Rats cut slick winners". Record-Journal. pp. C2. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  23. 1 2 Johnson, Garry (23 March 1985). "Mizster Men". Sounds. p. 29.
  24. ↑ "Albums - Pop - Recommended". Billboard. Vol. 97, no. 15. 13 April 1985. p. 70. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  25. ↑ Welles, Robin (16 June 1985). "World of Music". Oxnard Press-Courier: 13. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  26. ↑ Lawson, Michael (20 April 1985). "Slade is rocking again". Leader-Post: B5. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  27. ↑ The Morning Call newspaper - Album Reviews - Rich Harry - 1 June 1985
  28. ↑ Sean Carruthers. "Rogues Gallery - Slade". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  29. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0526". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  30. ↑ "European Top 100 Albums". Eurotipsheet. Vol. 2, no. 11. 18 March 1985. p. 16. OCLC 29800226.
  31. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Slade". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021. Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 237. ISBN 978-952-7460-01-6.
  32. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Slade – Rogues Gallery" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  33. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Slade – Rogues Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  34. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Slade – Rogues Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  35. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Slade – Rogues Gallery". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  37. ↑ "Albums". Kerrang!. No. 92. 18 April 1985. p. 47. ISSN 0262-6624.
  38. ↑ "Slade Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  39. ↑ "National Airplay: AOR Albums". Radio & Records. No. 583. Radio & Records, Inc. 10 May 1985. p. 77. ISSN 0277-4860.
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