Why didn't I get this beauty in 72?
Well probably because it took me about 2 months to save for an album and I was busy buying everything Slade I could find. Hey I Still think they were great too..
I remember holding the 'Slider" sleeve and as I was about to take it to the counter having second thoughts (fool!)
All these years later I finally own the thing and guess what it's bloody marvellous.
The lyrics are pseudo intellectual meaningless twaddle in other words they work in rock n' roll! (Be-Bop A Lula, I was born in a cross fire hurricane even a few Dylan's, come on!)
These songs fill the breach between pop and rock wonderfully. The rock song are based on the best possible templates Chuck Berry, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran etc.. the ballads frame the boogie nicely. The production is HUGE take a bow Tony Visconti! (hey this IS glam after all).
So get this if you want a really exciting album that is heaps of fun yet really rocks and doesn't sound dated at all this is pretty hard to beat. And after that get 'Electric Warrior' and then...

I wont go in to the virtues of this T.Rex record, there are plenty of other reviews here for that. Suffice to say it is a great record. Instead I will discuss the remastering, and the tracks on the bonus disc, " Rabbit Fighter, The Alternate Slider".

First the sound quality of the remaster by Edsel. I must agree with one of the previous reviewers in that this remaster is certainly LOUD.However for this recording i dont think this is a bad thing entirely,this is a cd which sounds good at higher volumes. I have good equipment, and although the volume is high, distortion is at a minimum.Just remember to lower the volume before you start playing this disc as it is very loud. Separation is good, and the percussion in particular sounds much more open than on other Slider releases I have heard. Well worth a repurchase for the remaster alone if you own an older version of this on cd. On a scale of 1 to 10 I would give the Edsel remaster a 7.

The bonus disc is quite good, much better than the bulk of the bottom of the barrel stuff that is popping up left and right from T Rex these days. The first four songs sound pretty much like the original issue Slider versions, minus overdubs.There are then some above average ( for this type of thing) acoustic versions of some songs, the best of which by far is " Main Man" with mostly different lyrics, including a nod to Elton John. The best two tracks IMO are " Buick Mackane" which is a totally different song than the one on the official issue. This song is somewhat difficult to obtain elsewhere, and is excellent. Finally, closing the second disc is a very rocking version of " Sunken Rags", another gem.

This reissue is well worth purchasing for both newcomers to the Bolan sound, and Bolan fanatics alike.

I NEVER SET OUT TO BE A MARC BOLAN FAN, AND HE SLIPPED INTO MY SUBCONSCIOUS COMPLETELY AGAINST MY WILL....well perhaps that's a stretch, nonetheless, THE SLIDER is truly a defining moment in rock history, and nothing will ever take that away from Marc, may he rest in peace.This is the Be-Bop Elf at his peak, and this album is a total, absolute climax to the Nth degree!!!If you are familiar with his earlier material, this is a definite crescendo, and he is reveling in his fame, and believing that he is the greatest ever. The amazing thing is his confidence is rewarded by an album of complete stream of consciousness, nonsensical, whimsical, sexual frenzy-filled songs of utter delight(filled with other-worldly pop hooks to die for)! The actual lyrical content is more simple, than say even Electric Warrior, and earlier works are more wordy, and mystical, yet this is a powerful album.From the onset of 'Metal Guru'(the most perfect pop song ever) which leaves you shell shocked right from the start,then suddenly you are confronted with an utterly surrealistic love song called 'Mystic Lady' which is somewhat akin to 'Cosmic Dancer' (off the warrior album), but somehow sweeter,and though less introspective(that is I think he's talking about someone else!),just as poignant. Next we are refreshed with a basic rocker, accurately called 'Rock On' and a great rocker it is! Continuing on is 'The Slider' which has gotta be the coolest thing I have ever heard, even if I can't understand the basics of kissing a car....'Baby Boomerang' is that girl we all know who walks with her mouth and talks with her boots- fun rock and roll....'Spaceball Ricochet' is utter nonsense, but humbling, and makes sense on some level- great glam-rock tune....'Buick Mackane' is Zepplinesque' and heavvvy!Great riff....next is 'Telegram Sam'-what a gem-reminds me of 'Get it On' but more subtle and confusing....'Rabbit Fighter' is something off of the White Album ala 'Happiness is a warm gun' only the riff is the fattest guitar Marc has ever done to date.....'Baby Strange' is strangely simple and must have taken five minutes to come up with, yet what a hook!!!He pulled that out of nowhere, and one of my favorites! Oh my, finally we get to the best song on this mighty album....namely 'Ballrooms of Mars' Wow- it still blows me away after all these years and lost brain cells.....you've gotta get this album just for that song...anyway, we still have a couple more songs left-'Chariot Choogle' which is so powerful-it will stand the hair on the back of your neck right up!!It sounds like 'Kashmir' by Zeppelin- or should I say that three years later Led Zep would record a song called 'Kashmir" that sounds like 'Chariot Choogle'? Last but not least is the song 'Main Man' which is another nothing song, but it hides within it a weary, sad Bolan -tired with this fame, wishing to be back riding on that unicorn.The song is infective, and a good closer to this great moment in the mind of Marc.Also included in this extended 'Slider' album is 'Cadilac', 'Thunderwing', and 'Lady'. All three of these songs are great, and could have fit on this album nicely- especially 'Thunderwing'. By the way, 'Lady' has the best hook of all I think, and years later didn't a band called Aerosmith record a song that has an eerie resemblance musically to this song called 'Dude looks like a Lady'?I wonder.......one more thing- the second CD called 'Rabbit Fighter' is the BEST alterative take of any album ever!!!! thanks for reading this.

'The Slider' is my second favorite T. rex album and it might just be number 1 if I keep listening to it, as I have for the last couple days. The excellent producing and hard driving sound makes me wonder how the band managed not to attract the kind of attention Led Zepplin did in the U.S. Bolan's lyrics are strange and effective and have some interesting references hidden away - making the music sound deceptively simple.

THIS SPECIAL 2 DISC SET IS AWESOME! NOT ONLY DO YOU GET AN ALL TIME CLASSIC WITH "THE SLIDER", YOU ALSO GET "RABBIT FIGHTER" AN ALTERNATE VERSION OF THE SLIDER FEATURING DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF JUST ABOUT EVERY SONG ON THE SLIDER.