The Slider
Encyclopedia
The Slider is the seventh studio album by British glam rock
band T. Rex
, released on July 21, 1972. Produced by Tony Visconti
, it was the band's second record released with their new glam rock style opposed to the band's previous folk oriented music.
Singles of "Telegram Sam
" and "Metal Guru
" were released to promote the album. The Slider peaked at number four on United Kingdom
charts and number seventeen on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes
chart. The album received very high praise from critics, with an Allmusic review describing the album as "flawlessly executed, and every bit the classic that its predecessor is."
, The Slider was recorded outside of Paris at Château d'Hérouville
to avoid British
taxing laws. Production started on March 1972 and the basic recordings were completed in Strawberry Studios in five days. One of the songs recorded at Chateau was "Metal Guru
". Bolan described the song as a "festival of life song" and that he related "Metal Guru" to "all gods around...someone special, a godhead. I thought how god would be, he'd be all alone without a telephone".
Further recording was done at the end of March in Rosenberg Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The backing vocals by Flo & Eddie
were recorded in Elektra Studios in Los Angeles
in April.
" which was released January 1972 and charted in the United Kingdom for 12 weeks and peaked at number one. "Telegram Sam" also charted in the United States
and peaked at 67 on the Pop Singles chart. The second single was "Metal Guru
" which was released in May 1972 and charted in the United Kingdom for 14 weeks and peaked at number one. It didn't chart in the United States
.
The Slider was one of T. Rex's best-selling releases. The Slider entered the United Kingdom charts on August 5, 1972 where it charted for 18 weeks, peaking at number four. In the United States
, where the album was promoted upon release with a television commercial featuring the band miming to "Chariot Choogle," it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes
chart.
The Slider was remastered for CD by Edsel Records
in 1994 as part of their extensive T.Rex reissue campaign and a number of bonus tracks were added. A companion release, entitled Rabbit Fighter (The Alternate Slider), was released in 1995 which contained alternative versions and radio sessions of the main album and bonus tracks. A combined CD digipak
of these releases was issued in 2002.
Also in 2002, further recordings from the Slider sessions were released by Thunderwing Productions Limited (TPL), the owners of several original ¼", 1" and 2" Master Tape recordings of Marc Bolan & T.Rex. These tracks were released as The Slider Recordings. In 2010, The Slider was remastered and reissued by Fat Possum Records. The remastering was done by Chicago Mastering.
with the front and back cover photographs. The photograph was taken the same day that Ringo Starr was filming the T Rex documentary Born to Boogie
at John Lennon
's estate, Ascot. Tony Visconti, however, disputes that Starr took the photograph. Instead, he said, "...In fact Marc handed me his motorized Nikon and asked me to fire off two rolls of black and white film while we were on the set of "Born To Boogie." Ringo, the director of the film, was busy all day lining up shots. But Marc apparently saw a photo "credit" opportunity and gave Ringo the credit for the photos."
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
, released on July 21, 1972. Produced by Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
, it was the band's second record released with their new glam rock style opposed to the band's previous folk oriented music.
Singles of "Telegram Sam
Telegram Sam
Telegram Sam was the third UK number one single for the British rock group T. Rex. The song also appeared on their 1972 album The Slider.Perhaps best known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture, it was number one for two weeks, before being knocked off the top by "Son of My Father"...
" and "Metal Guru
Metal Guru
"Metal Guru" is a song by the British rock band T.Rex, written by Marc Bolan. It was the band's fourth number one on the UK Singles Chart when it topped the chart for four weeks in May-June 1972. It was also included on the album The Slider in 1972.Despite coming only ten months after the success...
" were released to promote the album. The Slider peaked at number four on United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
charts and number seventeen on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart. The album received very high praise from critics, with an Allmusic review describing the album as "flawlessly executed, and every bit the classic that its predecessor is."
Production
On the recommendation of Elton JohnElton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, The Slider was recorded outside of Paris at Château d'Hérouville
Château d'Hérouville
The Château d'Hérouville is a French château of the 18th century located in the village of Hérouville, in the Oise valley near Paris. The castle was built in 1740 by Gaudot, an architect of the school of Rome. In the 19th century, it was used as courier relay station and stabled a hundred...
to avoid British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
taxing laws. Production started on March 1972 and the basic recordings were completed in Strawberry Studios in five days. One of the songs recorded at Chateau was "Metal Guru
Metal Guru
"Metal Guru" is a song by the British rock band T.Rex, written by Marc Bolan. It was the band's fourth number one on the UK Singles Chart when it topped the chart for four weeks in May-June 1972. It was also included on the album The Slider in 1972.Despite coming only ten months after the success...
". Bolan described the song as a "festival of life song" and that he related "Metal Guru" to "all gods around...someone special, a godhead. I thought how god would be, he'd be all alone without a telephone".
Further recording was done at the end of March in Rosenberg Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. The backing vocals by Flo & Eddie
Flo & Eddie
Flo & Eddie are a comedic musical duo.The two were the original founding members of the Top 40 rock group the Turtles. After the Turtles dissolved, Volman and Kaylan first joined the Mothers of Invention as "Phlorescent Leech & Eddie"...
were recorded in Elektra Studios in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in April.
Release
Two singles were released to promote The Slider. The first was "Telegram SamTelegram Sam
Telegram Sam was the third UK number one single for the British rock group T. Rex. The song also appeared on their 1972 album The Slider.Perhaps best known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture, it was number one for two weeks, before being knocked off the top by "Son of My Father"...
" which was released January 1972 and charted in the United Kingdom for 12 weeks and peaked at number one. "Telegram Sam" also charted in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and peaked at 67 on the Pop Singles chart. The second single was "Metal Guru
Metal Guru
"Metal Guru" is a song by the British rock band T.Rex, written by Marc Bolan. It was the band's fourth number one on the UK Singles Chart when it topped the chart for four weeks in May-June 1972. It was also included on the album The Slider in 1972.Despite coming only ten months after the success...
" which was released in May 1972 and charted in the United Kingdom for 14 weeks and peaked at number one. It didn't chart in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The Slider was one of T. Rex's best-selling releases. The Slider entered the United Kingdom charts on August 5, 1972 where it charted for 18 weeks, peaking at number four. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where the album was promoted upon release with a television commercial featuring the band miming to "Chariot Choogle," it peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Top LPs & Tapes
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart.
The Slider was remastered for CD by Edsel Records
Demon Music Group
Demon Records is a United Kingdom record label founded in 1980 by former United Artists A&R executive Andrew Lauder and Jake Riviera who had previously started Stiff Records...
in 1994 as part of their extensive T.Rex reissue campaign and a number of bonus tracks were added. A companion release, entitled Rabbit Fighter (The Alternate Slider), was released in 1995 which contained alternative versions and radio sessions of the main album and bonus tracks. A combined CD digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
of these releases was issued in 2002.
Also in 2002, further recordings from the Slider sessions were released by Thunderwing Productions Limited (TPL), the owners of several original ¼", 1" and 2" Master Tape recordings of Marc Bolan & T.Rex. These tracks were released as The Slider Recordings. In 2010, The Slider was remastered and reissued by Fat Possum Records. The remastering was done by Chicago Mastering.
Track listing
Personnel
- Marc BolanMarc BolanMarc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Steve CurrieSteve CurrieSteve Currie was born in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. He was best known as the bass player and long term member of the English glam rock band T.Rex....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mickey FinnMickey Finn (musician)Mickey Finn or occasionally Micky Finn , was the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band Tyrannosaurus Rex , and later, the 1970s glam rock group, T.Rex...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, vocals, hand percussionHand percussionHand percussion is a term used to indicate a percussion instrument of any type from any culture that is held in the hand. They can be made from wood, metal or plastic and are usually either shaken, scraped or tapped with fingers or a stick... - Tony ViscontiTony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
– string arrangements - Howard KaylanHoward KaylanHoward Kaylan is an American rock and roll musician, best known as a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s band, The Turtles, and "Eddie" of 1970's rock band Flo & Eddie.-Early days:...
– vocals, background vocalsBacking vocalistA backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists... - Bill LegendBill LegendBill Legend was the drummer for glam rock band T.Rex during their most successful period....
– drums - Mark VolmanMark VolmanMark Volman is an American rock and roll singer, best known as a founding member of the 1960s band The Turtles. At times during his career he has used the pseudonym "The Phlorescent Leech"...
– vocals, background vocals
Technical staff
- Mark Paytress – liner notesLiner notesLiner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
- Tony Visconti/Ringo StarrRingo StarrRichard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
– photographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film... - Micky Marmalade – roadie
- Mickey O'Halloran – roadie
- Dominique – engineer
- Chris WelchChris WelchChris Welch is a music journalist, reviewer and critic with Melody Maker, famous during the 1960s and 1970s for reporting on the rise of such bands as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, If, Cream and Jeff Beck. During that time he also reported on the UK jazz scene.- Career...
– liner notes - Tony ViscontiTony ViscontiAnthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
– producer - Freddy Hansson – engineer
- David KatzDavid KatzDavid Katz is an author, music journalist, photographer, A&R consultant, disc jockey and reggae historian, raised in the US but long resident in Britain....
– orchestra contractor
Album Cover
The album credits Ringo StarrRingo Starr
Richard Starkey, MBE better known by his stage name Ringo Starr, is an English musician and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for The Beatles. When the band formed in 1960, Starr was a member of another Liverpool band, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He became The Beatles' drummer in...
with the front and back cover photographs. The photograph was taken the same day that Ringo Starr was filming the T Rex documentary Born to Boogie
Born to Boogie
Born to Boogie is a 1972 concert film based around a concert at Wembley Empire Pool starring Marc Bolan and T. Rex. Directed by Ringo Starr, the movie was released on The Beatles' Apple Films label...
at John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
's estate, Ascot. Tony Visconti, however, disputes that Starr took the photograph. Instead, he said, "...In fact Marc handed me his motorized Nikon and asked me to fire off two rolls of black and white film while we were on the set of "Born To Boogie." Ringo, the director of the film, was busy all day lining up shots. But Marc apparently saw a photo "credit" opportunity and gave Ringo the credit for the photos."