6/22/07: RightWingTrashMan: Noddy Holder

Yes, it’s a pair of rock-oriented RightWingTrashMen in an abbreviated week. We’ll yell at ourselves later. The thing is that we just discovered a rocking little tune about the Army Reserve hidden away as a bonus track on a bootleg CD of glam-rock obscurities. It starts out like this:

You’ll learn what you’re made of while you’re earning your share
In the Army Reserve, you’ll be proving that you care
While you’re serving your country
And your future, besides
As a part-time solder with full-time pride

More catchy rock follows, and then a moment of spoken word over a musical bed:

Hi, this is Noddy Holder from Slade. When you serve in the Army Reserve, you learn a skill and earn a second income. There’s another part to what you earn. It’s something you pay for with your sweat, your spirit, your mind, and your time. It’s called pride.

Then it’s back to a last catchy chorus. We’d usually guess that any rocker doing that kind of radio spot would be fulfilling part of a plea bargain. Not so much with Noddy Holder. The legendary UK glam-rocker fronted Slade through an impressive slew of hits, including “Mama Weer All Crazee Now” and the original “Cum On Feel The Noize.” Despite their fancy footwear, Slade was always a real workingman’s band—as best illustrated when the band starred in the surprisingly gritty 1975 film Flame.

Anyway, Noddy Holder—and maybe even all of Slade—rocking for any country's Army Reserve is one of the neatest things we’ve heard since a hidden track where The Cyrkle sang about giving to United Way. (That was back when United Way actually did some good). We discovered Holder’s cool commercial spot while on our recent vacation, and then got back home to learn that he marked his 57th birthday on June 15th. So here’s our belated best wishes to a terribly important and terminally uncool rock icon who took pride in the potential of his teenage fan base.

Make him your own: We’re currently working through last year’s Slade Box. Maybe we’ll find that Army Reserve spot once again hidden away as a bonus track. Most of Slade’s original albums have also recently been reissued with bonus tracks, but the box set’s probably the best way to go. Flame is available on DVD, too.

 

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