The Slider

2022年7月はT.レックスの最も有名なアルバム「ザ・スライダー」のリリース50周年。トニー・ヴィスコンティがプロデュースした「ザ・スライダー」は、今でもボラン・マニアの決定盤であり、おそらくグラム・ロックの華やかさの典型である「テレグラム・サム」と「メタル・グル」という2つのナンバー1シングルを収録している。
この特別な2CDセットでは、CD1にオリジナル・アルバム楽曲の他アルバム以外の3つのB面楽曲を収録。 CD2には「The Alternate Slider: Rabbit Fighter」が収録。これは魅力的な「作業中」バージョンとデモが収められたボーナス・ディスクで、(可能な限り)オリジナル・アルバムの演奏順を反映。CDは7インチのデラックス見開きパッケージで、歌詞を含む8ページのブックレットに加え、ボランの権威として認められ、決定版ボラン伝記の著者であるマーク・ペイトレスによる注釈と2022年の『"Glam!: When Superstars Rocked the World, 1970-74』が付属。

Buoyed by two U.K. number one singles in "Telegram Sam" and "Metal Guru," The Slider became T. Rex's most popular record on both sides of the Atlantic, despite the fact that it produced no hits in the U.S. The Slider essentially replicates all the virtues of Electric Warrior, crammed with effortless hooks and trashy fun. All of Bolan's signatures are here -- mystical folk-tinged ballads, overt sexual come-ons crooned over sleazy, bopping boogies, loopy nonsense poetry, and a mastery of the three-minute pop song form. The main difference is that the trippy mix of Electric Warrior is replaced by a fuller, more immediate-sounding production. Bolan's guitar has a harder bite, the backing choruses are more up-front, and the arrangements are thicker-sounding, even introducing a string section on some cuts (both ballads and rockers). Even with the beefier production, T. Rex still doesn't sound nearly as heavy as many of the bands it influenced (and even a few of its glam contemporaries), but that's partly intentional -- Bolan's love of a good groove takes precedence over fast tempos or high-volume crunch. Lyrically, Bolan's flair for the sublimely ridiculous is fully intact, but he has way too much style for The Slider to sound truly stupid, especially given the playful, knowing wink in his delivery. It's nearly impossible not to get caught up in the irresistible rush of melodies and cheery good times. Even if it treads largely the same ground as Electric Warrior, The Slider is flawlessly executed, and every bit the classic that its predecessor is. ~ Steve Huey