Slade Breaks Through with Get Down And Get With It A Defining Television Moment
In nineteen seventy one Slade achieved their first major breakthrough with Get Down And Get With It, a performance that would become intrinsically linked with their rise in the British rock scene. The song’s popularity was amplified by televised appearances on key programs such as Top of the Pops and The Roger Whittaker Show, bringing the band into living rooms across the United Kingdom and helping the single reach number sixteen on the UK charts. This success marked a pivotal moment for Slade, setting the stage for their later dominance in the decade.
Get Down And Get With It was not originally written by Slade, but their gritty and high energy interpretation became definitive. Rooted in rhythm and blues, the track showcased Slade’s ability to transform a cover into something distinctly their own. The band’s raw performance style, complete with driving rhythms and palpable stage presence, made the song resonate strongly with British youth at the time. Their televised performances captured this energy and communicated it directly to a national audience.
Performing on Top of the Pops was particularly significant. The show was the premier music television program in the UK, and a performance there could elevate a song’s visibility dramatically. Slade’s appearance exemplified their appeal. The group played with a confident intensity, emphasizing rhythmic propulsion and engaging with the camera in ways that hinted at their future status as one of the country’s most charismatic rock acts. Audiences unfamiliar with Slade in club environments could now see the band’s dynamic live persona, bridging the gap between stage and screen.
The Roger Whittaker Show represented another key platform, albeit one with a different audience. Slade’s performance on this program demonstrated the band’s willingness to bring rock oriented material into spaces not traditionally dominated by heavier sounds. By delivering a strong performance in that context, they broadened their reach and exposed their music to listeners who may not have encountered it otherwise.
The success of Get Down And Get With It provided Slade with momentum that would carry them into a series of subsequent hits throughout the nineteen seventies. While the band would later be known for anthemic originals and chart topping singles, this early hit holds a distinct place in their history as the track that first captured national attention.
The song’s televised performances remain valuable historical documents. They highlight a band in the early stages of defining their sound and public image. In raw energy and broad appeal, Slade’s delivery on British television in nineteen seventy one helped establish a foundation for their lasting influence in rock music.