A Raucous Surge of Urgency That Questions Passion, Identity and the Fire That Keeps a Band Alive
When Slade released Old New Borrowed and Blue in 1974, the album shot straight to number one on the UK Albums Chart, confirming the group’s dominance during the peak of British glam rock. Among its fiercely energetic tracks, “Do We Still Do It” stands out as a blistering reminder of the band’s raw power, their sense of humor and their instinctive understanding of rock’s emotional core. It arrives early in the album not merely as another burst of volume but as a pointed question, wrapped inside a feverishly catchy performance, about whether the passion, the daring and the reckless thrill of rock still burn as bright as before.
From the first moment, the track hits like a thrown-open door. Dave Hill’s guitar attacks the rhythm with a jagged, metallic edge, while Jim Lea’s bass drives the groove forward with a pulse that never lets the listener settle. Don Powell’s drumming brings both weight and swagger, pounding out a beat that feels like it was built for packed clubs, sticky floors and crowds shouting along until the rafters shake. At the center of it all stands Noddy Holder, delivering his vocal with the unmistakable rasp that made Slade iconic, a voice that carried equal parts joy, grit and theatrical fire.
The heart of the song lies in its central question. “Do we still do it” is less about an individual act and more about the survival of spirit. In the context of mid seventies Slade, the line resonates as a reflection on momentum, identity and the pressure placed on a band that had been firing out hit after hit. Glam rock was shifting, the musical landscape was widening, and Slade faced the challenge of evolving without losing the unruly spark that defined them. The track responds not with worry but with celebration. It is a loud, defiant assertion that the band still carries the hunger that fueled their early success.
Musically, the song embodies what made Slade so distinctive. There is a sense of looseness mixed with precision, a rare balance where every note feels both spontaneous and expertly placed. The chorus explodes with communal spirit, the kind of hook crafted to be shouted by thousands yet grounded in simple, unpolished rock instinct. The verses build tension with gritty riffs, while the band’s trademark backing shouts give the track its rough edged camaraderie.
Within Old New Borrowed and Blue, “Do We Still Do It” plays an essential role in maintaining the album’s lively momentum. This was a record that showcased the breadth of Slade’s songwriting, moving from raucous stompers to more melodic, reflective moments. In this landscape, the track stands like a lightning bolt, a reaffirmation of the band’s roots and an anchor that grounds the album in the fearless energy fans had come to expect.
Listening now, “Do We Still Do It” captures Slade at a moment of both triumph and transition. It is loud, confident, electrifying and utterly sincere in its celebration of rock’s enduring pulse. It reminds us why Slade mattered and why their music still ignites that instinctive spark that makes listeners lift their heads, raise their voices and answer the question with a resounding yes.