T. Rex (October 4, 1972) – "The Slider" b/w "Rock On" Single: US
Released in the United States on October 4, 1972 through Reprise Records, "The Slider" was issued as a standalone single taken from T. Rex's acclaimed album The Slider. At a time when T. Rex were enjoying enormous success in the United Kingdom and Europe, Reprise Records continued efforts to establish Marc Bolan and the group in the American market. The title track from The Slider was selected as the A-side and paired with "Rock On", another track from the same album.
Although the single did not match the band's UK chart dominance, it remains one of the key American releases from the The Slider era and is notable for its exclusive US single presentation on Reprise Records.
Both tracks were written by Marc Bolan.
Recording took place at Rosenberg Studios in Copenhagen and Château d'Hérouville Studios in France during sessions for The Slider album.
Production was handled by Tony Visconti, whose collaborations with Marc Bolan helped define the classic T. Rex sound of the early 1970s.
STYLE & THEMES
"The Slider" combines driving glam-rock rhythms, layered production and Bolan's distinctive vocal style.
"Rock On" continues the energetic and melodic approach that characterised much of the The Slider album and serves as a strong companion piece to the A-side.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• The Slider (3:24) — The title track from T. Rex's landmark 1972 album and the featured side of the US single release.
• Rock On (3:26) — Album track selected as the B-side for the American issue.
RELEASE HISTORY
The single was issued in October 1972 by Reprise Records in the United States under catalogue number REP-1122.
Commercial stock copies were issued with brown Reprise labels, while a promotional edition was pressed for radio distribution.
The release was also issued in Canada using the same catalogue number and artwork configuration.
PRODUCTION
Recorded at: Rosenberg Studios, Copenhagen
Recorded at: Château d'Hérouville Studios, Paris
Produced by: Tony Visconti
Label: Reprise Records
Catalogue Number: REP-1122
NOTES
• Released in the United States on October 4, 1972.
• Issued to promote The Slider album in North America.
• Both "The Slider" and "Rock On" were written by Marc Bolan.
• Produced by Tony Visconti.
• Standard US stock copies were pressed with brown Reprise labels.
• Promotional copies were manufactured with dedicated DJ labels and alternate run-out inscriptions.
• The commercial release paired two tracks taken directly from The Slider album.
• The single was distributed by Reprise Records, T. Rex's American label during the band's peak years.
• Recording sessions took place at both Rosenberg Studios in Copenhagen and Château d'Hérouville Studios in France.
• Canadian editions were issued using the same REP-1122 catalogue number.
• Promo run-outs included "QAA-5447-D.J." and "QAA-5446-D.J." matrix inscriptions.
• Commercial copies included QAA-5447 and QAA-5446 matrix numbers with T1 stamping.
• The release is one of the principal US singles from the The Slider era and is popular among collectors of American T. Rex issues.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Catalogue | Date | Format |
T. Rex | The Slider | Reprise Records | USA | REP-1122 | October 4, 1972 | 7" Single |
T. Rex | The Slider | Reprise Records | USA | REP-1122 | 1972 | 7" Promo |
T. Rex | The Slider | Reprise Records | Canada | REP-1122 | 1972 | 7" Single |
TRACKLIST TABLE
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
7" Single | REP-1122 | Side 1: The Slider (3:24) Side 2: Rock On (3:26) |
7" Promo | REP-1122 | Side 1: The Slider (3:24) Side 2: Rock On (3:26) |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 Worlds, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Demon Records, Rockfiles, Official Marc Bolan archives, All album artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
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