Mick Ronson CD: "Slaughter On 10th Avenue"

Sleeve and track listing

Snapper Music Label/Dead Quick Music SMMCD 503.

Review

Mick Ronson's first solo album was recorded at the end of 1973, and he toured the UK promoting it in February/March 1974. The attendant media hype and music biz pressures ensured this album wasn't all it could (or should) have been. Mainman (Tony DeFries) persuaded him he was a singer, a front-man, and that he could be the next David Cassidy. Which Mick went along with for a while, but the tour was less than a success, and he started thinking that being a front-man wasn't what he wanted to do. Maybe if he had been promoted as a guitarist (eg the next Jeff Beck) rather than a singer, things might have worked out differently.

Anyway, this is his first solo album. It was first released on CD as part of the Only After Dark 2-CD set, which is now deleted, so this CD is a welcome re-issue. This time it comes complete with the original artwork and the same bonus tracks as before, plus a new bonus track, Solo On 10th Avenue. This is effectively the guitar parts from the title track. Someone commented that you shouldn't play this if you are a guitarist - you will be completely humbled.

The sound quality on this set is excellent, as is the packaging.