Wiki
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Release Date
20 July 1972
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Length
13 tracks
Originally released in 1972, Slider is a classic Marc Bolan-T Rex album. Also, it was the band's best selling USA album in its run from 1968-1974. Not surprisingly, leveraging the funk and chunk of its "Get It On" and "Jeepster" hits in 1971.
While it was considered an innovator in the "glam rock" genre, that had more to do with the band's stage presence (e.g., Bolan's feminine flowing cape and see-through glitter tops). But, like the man said in "Telegram Sam": "I ain't no square in my corkscrew hair." Neither Bolan nor T Rex were "square", Daddy-O.
From "Metal Guru":
"Metal guru has it been
just like a silet-studded sabre-tooth dream
i'll be clean you know
in my killing machine"
And "Rock On":
"desolation angel
on the cover of my paper
loves everyone everyone"
From the title track:
"i could never understand
the wind at all
was like a ball of love
i could never never see
the cosmic sea
was like a bumblebee
and when i'm sad
i slide"
Finally, from "Telegram Sam":
"bobby's alright
bobby's alright
he's a natural born poet
he's just out a sight
jungle faced jake
jungle faced jake
i said make no mistake
about jungle faced jake"
While there's no question the lyrics are oblique and filled with inside jokes or references only known to Bolan's circle of friends (which could include all of the UK), the music carried the words with such force that whatever the lyrics, the song made its impression.
Whether it was machine-like (Telegram Sam), dreamy (Mystic Lady), or rock 'n roll given the Bolan treatment (Buick Mackane and Metal Guru), this is infectious music. It may sound like a dated period piece or a slice of Bowie and easily cast off. It shouldn't be.
Listen once. Listen loud. You will be hooked.
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