📰 Tape and Hi-Fi Info – Mar. 1972
- Slade
- Mar 18, 1972
- 3 min read
Writer: Barry O’Keefe / Record Mirror
Date: March 18, 1972
Length: ~6 min read
A lively roundup of cassette releases from Slade, Savoy Brown, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and more — capturing the sonic pulse of March 1972.
Pop on tape: from glam thunder to TV themes and soundtrack sparkle.
Record Mirror’s “Tape and Hi-Fi Info” column for March 18, 1972 surveys the latest cassette releases hitting UK shops. Slade’s Slade Alive! leads the pack, joined by new tapes from Melanie, The Seekers, Savoy Brown, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and a host of film and TV compilations.
📰 Key Highlights
• Slade’s Slade Alive! cassette praised for energy and balance
• The Seekers return with a hits compilation including Eurovision favourites
• Melanie’s Garden in the City and Greatest Hits both featured
• Soundtrack tapes from The Boyfriend and Christina highlighted
• RCA and EMI flood the market with pop, jazz, and country releases
📰 Overview
The March 18, 1972 edition of Record Mirror’s “Tape and Hi-Fi Info” column reflects a moment of abundance in the UK music retail scene. After a period of power cuts and supply delays, cassette releases returned in full swing — and Barry O’Keefe’s column captures the excitement.
Leading the roundup is Slade’s Slade Alive!, described as “youthful,” “well-balanced,” and “a very good buy.” The Seekers follow with a hits compilation featuring Eurovision classics and commercial favourites. Melanie earns dual coverage with Garden in the City and a Greatest Hits tape, praised for her “delightful manner” and emotional resonance.
The column also highlights soundtrack releases from Ken Russell’s The Boyfriend and the film Christina, alongside RCA’s World of TV Themes — a collection of British broadcast staples. Additional entries include Savoy Brown’s Hellbound Train, Buffy Sainte-Marie’s Candle Light, and jazz offerings from Giorgio and Herbie Mann.
📰 Source Details
Publication / Venue: Record Mirror
Date: March 18, 1972
Format: Tape Release Roundup / Editorial Column
Provenance Notes:
• Scanned directly from the published page
• Written by Barry O’Keefe
• Includes cassette catalogue numbers and artist commentary
📰 The Story
Barry O’Keefe’s column opens with Slade — a band riding high on glam‑rock momentum. Their Slade Alive! cassette is praised for capturing the group’s raw energy, with standout tracks like “Get Down and Get With It” and “Coz I Luv You.” The review notes Polydor’s successful transfer of Slade’s sound to tape, marking a milestone in their commercial arc.
The Seekers’ compilation is framed as a Eurovision‑tinged comeback, with tracks like “Beg, Steal or Borrow” and “Georgie Girl” anchoring the release. Melanie’s Garden in the City is described as “exciting,” while her Greatest Hits tape earns praise for emotional depth and replay value.
Soundtrack fans are treated to The Boyfriend and Christina, both presented as cinematic extensions of the listening experience. The column also nods to Buffy Sainte-Marie’s dual releases, Giorgio’s jazz tapes, and a variety of pop and country entries from EMI and RCA.
Throughout, O’Keefe’s tone is enthusiastic and conversational — a reflection of the era’s growing appetite for tape culture and portable music.
📰 Visual Archive
A monochrome editorial page titled “TAPE AND HI-FI INFO,” featuring a black‑and‑white photograph of Slade performing live. The caption reads: “SLADE: lively and well-balanced.” The layout includes bold red headers and dense column text listing cassette releases and commentary.
Record Mirror – “Tape and Hi-Fi Info” column, March 18, 1972. Slade leads a packed field of cassette releases.
📰 Related Material
• Slade – Slade Alive! (1972)
• The Seekers – Eurovision & Hits Compilation
• Melanie – Garden in the City / Greatest Hits
📰 Closing Notes
This column captures the tactile thrill of early‑’70s tape culture — a moment when glam, folk, country, and cinema all converged on cassette shelves. It’s a sonic snapshot of March 1972, full of energy, variety, and pop‑era optimism.
📰 Sources
• Record Mirror, March 18, 1972
• Tape catalogue listings from Polydor, EMI, RCA
• Editorial column by Barry O’Keefe
📝 Copyright Notice
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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