Slug Line

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Slug Line
Hiatt Slug.jpg
Studio album by
John Hiatt
ReleasedApril 1979
RecordedJanuary–February 1979
Genre Rock [1]
Length38:22
Label MCA
Producer Denny Bruce
John Hiatt chronology
Overcoats
(1975)		Slug Line
(1979)		 Two Bit Monsters
(1980)
Singles from Slug Line
  1. "Radio Girl" / "Sharon's Got a Drug Store"
    Released: April 1979
  2. "Slug Line"
    Released: October 1979

Slug Line is singer-songwriter John Hiatt's third album, released in April 1979. It was the first of two albums with MCA Records. [2] It was his first charting album, reaching No. 202 on Billboard's album charts, and also the highest-charting album during his first 15 years as a recording artist.

Contents

Background and recording

Hiatt had spent the previous 4 years without a recording contract. After opening for musician Leo Kottke, he caught the attention of Kottke's manager and producer, Denny Bruce. Bruce put together a demo, which caught the attention of MCA Records who signed him. [3] [4]

Slug Line was recorded in January [5] and February 1979, [6] and produced by Denny Bruce. [7]

Release

Slug Line was released by MCA Records in April 1979. [4] [8] [9] The album peaked at number 202 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart. [10] Two singles were released from the album, "Radio Girl" in April 1979, [11] [12] [13] with "Sharon's Got a Drug Store" as the B-side, [14] [15] and "Slug Line" in October 1979. [16] [17]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [18]
Christgau's Record Guide B+ [19]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [20]
Smash Hits (favorable) [21]

The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that "Hiatt evinces a talent for disarmingly pretty ballads." [20] Record World called the album a collection of "reggae laced semi-rockers." [22] Billboard called the album an "appealing, uptempo rock 'n roll package," and that Hiatt "infuses various elements into his style, including calypso strains at times." [23] Cash Box said that the album "fuses crisp rock 'n' roll energy, infectious Dave Edmunds-like vocals, and of course, his highly distinctive, imaginative compositions." [7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by John Hiatt, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."You Used to Kiss the Girls" 2:36
2."The Negroes Were Dancing" 2:46
3."Slug Line" 3:02
4."Madonna Road"John Hiatt, Jim Wismar4:23
5."(No More) Dancin' in the Street" 2:22
6."Long Night" 5:18
Side two
No.TitleLength
1."The Night That Kenny Died"2:37
2."Radio Girl"2:57
3."You're My Love Interest"3:19
4."Take Off Your Uniform"4:08
5."Sharon's Got a Drugstore"2:12
6."Washable Ink"3:15
Total length:38:22

Personnel

Technical

References

  1. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "John Hiatt – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
  2. ↑ Graham, Samuel; Sutherland, Sam (June 2, 1979). "The Coast" (PDF). Record World . p. 14 – via World Radio History.
  3. ↑ "New Faces To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box . June 2, 1979. p. 10 – via World Radio History.
  4. 1 2 "MCA Signs Hiatt" (PDF). Record World . February 24, 1979. p. 39 – via World Radio History.
  5. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Slug Line Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic .
  6. ↑ "Points West" (PDF). Billboard . February 10, 1979. p. 44 – via World Radio History.
  7. 1 2 "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box . April 28, 1979. p. 19 – via World Radio History.
  8. ↑ "MCA Sets Release" (PDF). Record World . April 14, 1979. p. 88 – via World Radio History.
  9. ↑ "Signings" (PDF). Billboard . March 3, 1979. p. 106 – via World Radio History.
  10. ↑ "Bubbling Under The Top LPs" (PDF). Billboard . July 7, 1979. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
  11. ↑ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard . April 28, 1979. p. 95 – via World Radio History.
  12. ↑ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. April 28, 1979. p. 20 – via Record World.
  13. ↑ "Singles To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box . April 28, 1979. p. 17 – via World Radio History.
  14. ↑ "Music Week - August 4, 1979" (PDF). Music Week . August 4, 1979. p. 9 – via World Radio History.
  15. ↑ "Releases Index" (PDF). Music Week . July 21, 1979. p. 28 – via World Radio History.
  16. ↑ "Singles To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box . October 13, 1979 – via World Radio History.
  17. ↑ "Music Week - October 27, 1979" (PDF). Music Week . October 27, 1979. p. 21 – via World Radio History.
  18. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. Slug Line at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  19. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: H". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved February 26, 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  20. 1 2 The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 318.
  21. ↑ Hepworth, David. "Albums". Smash Hits . No. October 4–17, 1979. p. 29.
  22. ↑ "Record World Album Picks" (PDF). Record World . May 12, 1979. p. 31 – via World Radio History.
  23. ↑ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard . May 5, 1979. p. 78 – via World Radio History.


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