Mick Ronson – Slaughter On 10th Avenue

Mick Ronson – Slaughter On 10th Avenue

Mick Ronson's Slaughter On 10th Avenue is the guitarist's acclaimed 1974 solo debut, released shortly after his celebrated work with David Bowie and the Spiders from Mars. Recorded in 1973 at Château d'Hérouville in France and Trident Studios in London, the album showcases Ronson stepping out from Bowie's shadow with a bold mixture of glam rock, hard rock, theatrical pop and sophisticated arrangements. The album was produced by Ronson himself and reached No. 9 in the UK Albums Chart.

Opening with a warm, dramatic interpretation of "Love Me Tender", Ronson quickly establishes that this is much more than a straightforward guitar showcase. "Growing Up And I'm Fine" was co-written with David Bowie, while "Only After Dark" brings a tougher, riff-heavy edge to the album. "Music Is Lethal", originally written by Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Battisti, features English lyrics by Bowie and demonstrates the more theatrical and melodic side of Ronson's songwriting and arrangements.

The album's personnel reads like a who's who of Ronson's musical world. Trevor Bolder, his former Spiders from Mars bandmate, plays bass alongside drummer Aynsley Dunbar, while Mike Garson contributes piano, electric piano and organ. David Hentschel provides ARP synthesizer on "Hey Ma Get Papa", with strings conducted by Ronson and played by Sidney Sax. Ronson himself handles guitar, keyboards, piano, vocals and arrangements, giving the record a remarkably personal sound.

One of the album's highlights is the ambitious "Pleasure Man / Hey Ma Get Papa", an almost nine-minute mini rock opera co-written by Ronson, Bowie and Scott Richardson. The track builds through dramatic changes, powerful guitar work and an extended ARP synthesizer passage, perfectly capturing the flamboyant spirit of early-1970s glam rock.

The closing title track, "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue", is Ronson's dramatic guitar-led interpretation of Richard Rodgers' composition, originally written for the 1936 Broadway musical On Your Toes. Ronson's version became one of the defining pieces of his solo career, bringing together the theatricality of glam rock with the expressive guitar style that had already made him such an important part of Bowie's classic 1970s sound.

For collectors of David Bowie, the Spiders from Mars, glam rock and classic 1970s guitar music, Slaughter On 10th Avenue is an essential Mick Ronson record. It captures one of British rock's great guitarists at a fascinating point between his work with Bowie and his later career, combining heavy riffs, melodic songwriting, theatrical arrangements and Ronson's unmistakable guitar sound. This is the original seven-track album sequence, without the bonus material added to later CD reissues.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Love Me Tender – 4:50
2. Growing Up And I'm Fine – 3:10
3. Only After Dark – 3:30
4. Music Is Lethal – 5:10

Side B

1. I'm The One – 5:03
2. Pleasure Man – 6:28
3. Hey Ma Get Papa – 2:27
4. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue – 4:41