Slave to the Grind

Last updated

Slave to the Grind
Skidrow-slavecover.jpg
Cover art by David Bierk
Studio album by
Skid Row
ReleasedJune 11, 1991 (1991-06-11)
Recorded1990–1991
Studio
Genre
Length48:41
Label Atlantic
Producer Michael Wagener
Skid Row chronology
Skid Row
(1989)		Slave to the Grind
(1991)		 B-Side Ourselves
(1992)
Singles from Slave to the Grind
  1. "Monkey Business"
    Released: May 1991
  2. "Slave to the Grind"
    Released: September 1991 (UK) [1]
  3. "Wasted Time"
    Released: November 1991 [2]
  4. "In a Darkened Room"
    Released: November 1991 (Europe)
  5. "Quicksand Jesus"
    Released: May 1992 (Japan) [3]

Slave to the Grind is the second studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on June 11, 1991, [4] by Atlantic Records. The album displayed a harsher sound than its predecessor and lyrics that avoided hard rock cliches. Slave to the Grind is the first heavy metal album to chart at number one on the Billboard 200 in the Nielsen SoundScan era, selling 134,000 copies in its opening week. The album was certified 2× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1998 for shipping two million copies in the United States. It produced five singles: "Monkey Business", "Slave to the Grind", "Wasted Time", "In a Darkened Room" and "Quicksand Jesus". Skid Row promoted the album opening for Guns N' Roses in 1991 and as a headliner the following year.

Contents

Composition and recording

Skid Row wrote most of Slave to the Grind in a New Jersey studio and demoed the tracks with Michael Wagener, who produced their previous album. Recording began in late 1990 and took place at two studios: New River in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Scream in Studio City, California. Slave to the Grind marked the band's move toward a heavier sound, with the title track verging on speed metal, [5] but the album also includes power ballads [4] [6] and a few lighter tracks. Some sources still classified the album as glam metal, despite its heavier sound. [7] The lyrics were more complex, criticizing modern ways of life, authority, politics, drugs, and organized religion, among other topics. Wagener said the demoing and pre-production went well, and the title track was recorded and mixed in an hour, and was placed on the album without being remixed. [8]

During a February 2017 interview for the Backspin segment of Yahoo! Music, vocalist Sebastian Bach revealed that the version of the title track included in the finished album is actually the original demo the band recorded during pre-production with producer Michael Wagener. The band recorded a proper version during the album sessions, but were unable to match the intensity of the demo, and therefore opted to use the latter instead. [9]

Cover art

Sebastian Bach's father, David Bierk, painted the cover art, which is actually a long mural, continued inside the album's booklet. [10] Although it is set in the medieval era, it depicts people using modern technological gadgets. The cover was inspired by Caravaggio's Burial of St. Lucy from 1608 and shows John F. Kennedy in the crowd.

Release and promotion

When recording finished, Skid Row opened for Guns N' Roses on the 1991 North American leg of their Use Your Illusion Tour. [10] In 1992, Skid Row took Pantera and Soundgarden as supporting bands on its Slave to the Grind Tour. [11] Two different versions of the album were released: the original and a "clean" version, in which "Get the Fuck Out" is replaced with the less-offensive "Beggar's Day". [12] Music videos were produced for all five singles: "Monkey Business", "Slave to the Grind", "Wasted Time", "In a Darkened Room" and "Quicksand Jesus", all of which feature on the video album No Frills Video . Skid Row's label Atlantic Records was not supportive of the group's transformation when filming the video for the title track. The label wanted a bikini model to star in the video, but the idea was turned down by the band because the song was not about female sexuality. [12] A music video was also made for "Psycho Love" in 3D which featured on the video album Road Kill .

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [4]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [13]
Christgau's Consumer Guide Rating-Christgau-dud.svg [14]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal 9/10 [15]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [16]
Entertainment Weekly A− [17]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [19]

Slave to the Grind received generally positive reviews by music critics. Spin 's Daina Darzin said the album had integrity and passion, and reminded her of early Mötley Crüe and Judas Priest. [20] Martin Popoff called the album "a surprising and welcome jolt to the system", with Skid Row "proving their mettle, their self-worth, their guts" on songs taking the listener "to dark unsettling places where reflection collides with worry." [15] AllMusic's Steve Huey said Slave to the Grind was more aggressive than its predecessor and called it one of the best examples of mainstream hard rock and heavy metal. [4] Brenda Herrmann of the Chicago Tribune observed that Bolan and Sabo improved their songwriting and wrote positively about the group's attitude and humor. [13] Conversely, Rolling Stone's David Fricke thought Skid Row had not matured lyrically at all, rehashing the glam metal cliches. However, he complimented Wagener's production and the band's interplay and sound. [19] Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic and graded the album a "dud", indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought". [14] Janiss Garza of the Entertainment Weekly praised the ballads' lyrical depth and the fury of "Riot Act" and the title track, giving the album an A−. [17]

Slave to the Grind debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 134,000 copies in its first week. [21] The album was the first to debut atop the Billboard 200 in the Nielsen SoundScan era, since it was uncommon for albums to open at number one before SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991. [22] Previously, the only album to debut at number one had been Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy by Elton John in 1975.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Monkey Business" Dave Sabo, Rachel Bolan 4:20
2."Slave to the Grind"Sabo, Bolan, Sebastian Bach 3:31
3."The Threat"Sabo, Bolan3:52
4."Quicksand Jesus"Sabo, Bolan5:26
5."Psycho Love"Bolan3:58
6."Get the Fuck Out"Sabo, Bolan2:42
7."Livin' on a Chain Gang"Sabo, Bolan4:00
8."Creepshow"Bolan, Scotti Hill, Rob Affuso 3:59
9."In a Darkened Room"Sabo, Bolan, Bach [†] 3:57
10."Riot Act"Sabo, Bolan2:42
11."Mudkicker"Bolan, Hill, Bach3:56
12."Wasted Time"Sabo, Bolan, Bach5:50
Total length:48:41
Japanese edition bonus tracks [23]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Beggar's Day" (replaces "Get the Fuck Out" on the clean version)Sabo, Bolan, Bach4:05
14."Holidays in the Sun" (Sex Pistols cover) Johnny Rotten, Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Sid Vicious 3:38
15."Get the Fuck Out" (live at Wembley Stadium, 1991)Sabo, Bolan5:31
16."Delivering the Goods" (Judas Priest cover, live in Arizona, 1992) Glenn Tipton, K. K. Downing, Rob Halford 4:52
Total length:64:05

^ † Album liner notes incorrectly list the length as 4:57.

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes. [24]

Skid Row

Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [42] Gold35,000^
Canada (Music Canada) [43] Platinum100,000^
Japan (RIAJ) [44] Gold100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [45] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [46] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<i>Subhuman Race</i> 1995 studio album by Skid Row

Subhuman Race is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on March 28, 1995, by Atlantic Records. This is the last Skid Row album with singer Sebastian Bach and drummer Rob Affuso, and the last one to be released on Atlantic. Despite receiving positive reviews, Subhuman Race was not as successful as the band's first two albums. Certain tracks from the album were remixed for the band's compilation 40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row, given more tender, slightly cleaner mixes to fit better with the other tracks.

<i>Skid Row</i> (Skid Row album) 1989 studio album by Skid Row

Skid Row is the debut studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on January 24, 1989, by Atlantic Records. After signing with manager Doc McGhee, Skid Row signed with Atlantic and began recording its debut. The album was recorded in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin with producer Michael Wagener, and received mixed reviews upon its release. The band toured behind the album mainly as an opening act, supporting Bon Jovi and Aerosmith in 1989–1990. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and was certified 5× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1995 for shipping five million copies in the United States. It generated four singles: "Youth Gone Wild", "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Piece of Me", all of which were accompanied by music videos and received heavy rotation on MTV. The album's commercial and critical success made Skid Row a regular feature in rock magazines and brought the group nationwide popularity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Bach</span> Canadian-American singer

Sebastian Philip Bierk, known professionally as Sebastian Bach, is a Canadian-American singer who achieved mainstream success as the frontman of the hard rock band Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. He has acted on Broadway and has made appearances in film and television such as Trailer Park Boys, The Masked Singer and Gilmore Girls. He continues his music career as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skid Row (American band)</span> American rock band

Skid Row is an American rock band formed in 1986 in Toms River, New Jersey. Their current lineup comprises bassist Rachel Bolan, guitarists Dave Sabo and Scotti Hill and drummer Rob Hammersmith, with Halestorm singer Lzzy Hale currently filling in on vocals. The group achieved commercial success in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with its first two albums Skid Row (1989) and Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, the latter of which reached number one on the Billboard 200. Those two albums also produced some of Skid Row's most popular hits, both in and outside of the United States, including "18 and Life" and "I Remember You", which peaked in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, and other charting singles such as "Youth Gone Wild", "Monkey Business", "Slave to the Grind", "Wasted Time", and "In a Darkened Room". The band's third album Subhuman Race (1995) was also critically acclaimed, but failed to repeat the success of its predecessors. Those three albums featured the band's "classic" lineup, which consisted of Bolan, Sabo, Hill, drummer Rob Affuso and frontman Sebastian Bach. The band had sold 20 million albums worldwide by the end of 1996. Amid rising tensions, Bach was fired and Affuso left Skid Row towards the end of that year, after which the band entered a three-year hiatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Sabo</span> American guitarist

David Michael Sabo, nicknamed The Snake, is an American musician best known as one of the guitarists of heavy metal band Skid Row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fight (band)</span> British-American metal band

Fight was an American heavy metal band formed in Phoenix, Arizona by British vocalist Rob Halford following his departure from Judas Priest in 1992.

The Last Hard Men were an alternative music supergroup composed of former Skid Row vocalist Sebastian Bach, The Frogs guitarist Jimmy Flemion, The Breeders guitarist–vocalist Kelley Deal, and The Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Remember You (Skid Row song)</span> 1989 single by Skid Row

"I Remember You" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in November 1989 as the third single from their eponymous debut album. Composed as a power ballad, it was written by bandmates Rachel Bolan and Dave "the Snake" Sabo. It reached number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 23 on the Album Rock Tracks in early 1990. The song also charted at number two in New Zealand, number 12 in Ireland, number 14 in Canada, number 18 in Finland, and number 36 on the UK Singles Chart.

<i>40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row</i> 1998 compilation album by Skid Row

40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row is a compilation album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released in 1998. It includes the chart-topping singles "18 and Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild".

<i>B-Side Ourselves</i> 1992 EP by Skid Row

B-Side Ourselves is a studio EP by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on September 22, 1992. It consists of cover versions of songs originally recorded by artists who influenced Skid Row. As the title suggests, most of the tracks had previously featured as B-sides on the band's various singles — "Psycho Therapy" and "Delivering the Goods" appeared on the 1992 re-release of "Youth Gone Wild", "C'mon and Love Me" appeared on both "Slave to the Grind" and "In a Darkened Room", while "What You're Doing" appeared on "Wasted Time"; only the final track, a cover of "Little Wing", was previously unreleased. The EP charted at number 58 on the Billboard 200.

<i>Thickskin</i> 2003 studio album by Skid Row

Thickskin is the fourth studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on August 5, 2003. The come back album is the first to feature new vocalist Johnny Solinger who replaced original singer Sebastian Bach and the only album to feature former Saigon Kick drummer Phil Varone. The album featured a change to a more modern sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">18 and Life</span> 1989 single by Skid Row

"18 and Life" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in June 1989 as the second single from their self-titled debut album. The power ballad is the band's biggest hit, reaching No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 13, 1989, when it sold 500,000 copies. The song also charted at No. 12 on the UK Singles Chart, No. 6 in Canada, and No. 5 in Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wasted Time (Skid Row song)</span> 1991 single by Skid Row

"Wasted Time" is a song by Skid Row. It was their third single released from their second album, Slave to the Grind. The song was released in 1991 and written by bandmates Sebastian Bach, Rachel Bolan and Dave "the Snake" Sabo. It became the band's last song to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was promoted with a music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkey Business (Skid Row song)</span> 1991 single by Skid Row

"Monkey Business" is a song by American heavy metal band Skid Row. It was released in June 1991 as the lead single from their second album, Slave to the Grind (1991). It was written by bandmates Rachel Bolan and Dave "The Snake" Sabo.

<i>Revolutions per Minute</i> (Skid Row album) 2006 studio album by Skid Row

Revolutions per Minute is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on October 24, 2006. It is the band's only release with drummer Dave Gara and their last full album with vocalist Johnny Solinger.

<i>Bring Em Bach Alive!</i> 1999 live album with some studio recordings by Sebastian Bach

Bring 'Em Bach Alive! is the debut solo album by heavy metal singer Sebastian Bach, his first after his departure from Skid Row. It was released in November 1999. It is mainly a live album composed of Skid Row songs of Bach's era; however it also includes five new studio recordings which are the first five tracks on the album including the single "Superjerk, Superstar, Supertears" and the promo single "Rock 'N' Roll".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slave to the Grind (song)</span> 1991 single by Skid Row

"Slave to the Grind" is a song by American rock band Skid Row, written by bandmates Sebastian Bach, Rachel Bolan, and Dave "The Snake" Sabo. It is title track from their second album, Slave to the Grind (1991), and was released as the album's second single on September 2, 1991. The song reached number 43 on the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skid Row (American band) discography</span> American heavy metal band discography

The discography of Skid Row, an American heavy metal band, consists of six studio albums, four EPs, and one compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sebastian Bach discography</span>

The discography of Canadian heavy metal singer Sebastian Bach consists of three studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, one EP, eight singles, and various videos. This list include all solo material or side projects performed by Bach.

<i>The Gangs All Here</i> (Skid Row album) 2022 studio album by Skid Row

The Gang's All Here is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Skid Row, released on October 14, 2022. It is the band's only release with lead singer Erik Grönwall who replaced ZP Theart in March 2022, and is the band's first studio album in sixteen years since Revolutions per Minute in 2006.

References

  1. ↑ "Skid Row singles".
  2. ↑ "Skid Row singles".
  3. ↑ "Skid Row singles".
  4. 1 2 3 4 Huey, Steve. "Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". AllMusic . Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  5. ↑ Wiederhorn, Jon (June 11, 2015). "24 Years Ago: Skid Row Release 'Slave to the Grind'". Loudwire . Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Top 10 Power Ballads That Don't Suck". Loudwire. April 12, 2018.
  7. ↑ "7 hair metal records to bang your head to". Metal Edge Magazine. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Producer Michael Wagener Looks Back On M The Grind'". Blabbermouth.net . January 15, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Backspin: Sebastian Bach on 'Slave to the Grind'". Yahoo!. February 1, 2017. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  10. 1 2 Wild, David (September 19, 1991). "Skid Row: Pretty Bad Boys". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Sebastian Bach: Remembering Dimebag Darrell". Blabbermouth.net . December 30, 2004. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  12. 1 2 Rivadavia, Eduardo (June 11, 2016). "25 Years Ago: Skid Row Come Back Heavier With 'Slave to the Grind'". Ultimate Classic Rock . Retrieved July 11, 2016.
  13. 1 2 Herrmann, Brenda (July 11, 1991). "Skid Row – Slave to the Grind (Atlantic)". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved February 21, 2013.
  14. 1 2 Christgau, Robert. "CG: Skid Row" . Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 401–402. ISBN   978-1-894959-62-9.
  16. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2007). Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th ed.). Omnibus Press. p. 2899. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  17. 1 2 Garza, Janiss (June 21, 1991). "Slave To the Grind". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  18. ↑ Zell, Ray (June 8, 1991). "Rekordz". Kerrang! . No. 344. UK: EMAP. p. 18.
  19. 1 2 Fricke, David (August 22, 1991). "Skid Row: Slave To The Grind". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 2, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  20. ↑ Darzin, Daina (August 1991). "Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Spin : 99. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  21. ↑ Holden, Stephen (June 22, 1991). "Billboard's New Charts Roil the Record Industry". The New York Times . Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  22. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (March 24, 2016). "Billboard 200 Turns 60!". Billboard . Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  23. ↑ "Slave to the Grind - back cover". Discogs . Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  24. ↑ Slave to the Grind liner notes. Atlantic Records. 1991.
  25. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 1575". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  28. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  29. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 1991. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Skid Row Chart History". Oricon . Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Charts.nz – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  37. ↑ "Skid Row Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Skid Row Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  39. ↑ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  40. ↑ "Top 100 Album–Jahrescharts 1991" (in German). GfK Entertainment . Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  41. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  42. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 255.
  43. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Music Canada.
  44. ↑ "Japanese album certifications – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.Select 1992年3月 on the drop-down menu
  45. ↑ "British album certifications – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". British Phonographic Industry.
  46. ↑ "American album certifications – Skid Row – Slave to the Grind". Recording Industry Association of America.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.