Video hit Slade

Slade - Radio Wall Of Sound

Radio Wall of Sound is a song by the English rock band, Slade, issued as a single in 1991. It was included on their compilation album, Wall of Hits.

It was the first song to be credited solely by Jim Lea since "I Won't Let it 'Appen Agen" almost 20 years earlier. It was also sung by Lea, with Noddy Holder joining with him in the chorus. The B-side, "Lay Your Love on the Line", was written by Dave Hill and former Wizzard member Bill Hunt.

The track was originally for a solo project of Jim Lea.

The recording of the track already existed, complete apart from lead vocals. The track was not in Holder's key and so his vocals were dubbed into the chorus, leaving Lea's lead vocal on the verses.

The track also features Radio One DJ Mike Read as 'the voice of radio'.

In the 1990s, Jim Lea was interviewed by Ken Sharpe. Lea explained the track's meaning which was about having a radio and music playing inside your own mind.

The song appeared on the various artists compilation "Now That's What I Call Music! 20", released November 30, 1991.

This track was covered by Mick White.

The single peaked at #388 for 1991 on rateyourmusic.

In an April 2000 interview with Lea by Mojo magazine, Lea stated "Our last hit was Radio Wall of Sound, which I wrote and sang. The others thought it was a load of shit. The last thing that came out was Universe - very big and lush. Towards the end the records were completely my songs. I'd taken control and it didn't feel like a band any more. Then this offer came to play Castle Donington with Bon Jovi. Noddy said if we weren't headlining, then we weren't doing it. He more or less said that he wasn't going on the road with Slade again. He wanted to be in the band - but I said that without getting out live it wouldn't cohere any more, that we'd lost it. All the fun had gone out of it, so I started getting into the property business, and took a psychology course at college."

A promotional video was created for the single, whilst the song was also performed on UK TV, appearing on Motormouth and Slade's final appearance on Top of The Pops.

Originally, in September, just before the single's release, the Slade fan club newsletter announced plans for a music video. The video was set in a radio station where the DJ Mike Read was trying to out volume Slade playing on the roof, where at the end the entire station blows up. Although this idea wasn't exactly filmed, the video did feature Read as the DJ, with Slade performing on the roof. The radio tower explodes during the song.

The lyrics:

This is rockin' radio the wall of sound

Stay tune to this frequency

This is rockin’ radio the wall of sound

The music that rocks

The music that shocks

That music that comes to you from everywhere

As this is the music of the land

I love that music

I love that sound

I love that record

I love that noise

Stayed tuned to radio W0S

The wall of sound

I’m in trouble I’m in need

I don’t know why you can’t sleep

I feel something in my brain

It’s this sound keepin' me sane

I love that music

I love that sound

I love this new channel that fun

I love that record

I love that noise

This frequencies my favorite toy

Radio wall of sound

Comin' up from my tower

Radio wall of sound

24 hours of power

My head is spinnin' around

If in stereo sound

Tell me just who I am

Who’s that?

Telegram Sam.

I love that record

I love that noise

Now my girl rocks with the boys

I love that music

I love that sound

So just play the radio loud

Radio wall of sound

Comin’ up from my tower

Radio wall of sound

WOS power

Radio wall of sound

Comin’ up from my tower

Radio wall of sound

24 hours of power

This is rockin’ radio the wall of sound

The music that rocks

The music that shocks

That music that comes to you from everywhere

As this is the music of the land

I love that record

I love that noise

I love it, I love it, I love it

This is the big one

This is the wall of sound

I love that music

I love that sound

You’re listening to radio loud

Walled the wall of sound the music comes to

You from all around your head. Look out!

I love that record

I love that noise

You think the music here it not

It’s inside your head you’ve

Walled the wall of sound

Radio wall of sound

Comin’ up from my tower

Radio wall of sound

24 hours of power

Radio wall of sound

Comin’ up from my tower

Radio wall of sound

WOS power

Radio wall of sound

Stay tuned to this frequency