T. Rex and Marc Bolan had the U.K. wrapped around their fingers from 1971 to 1973 as "Trextasy" was at its height. In 1971 the band released the seminal "Electric Warrior", which launched the band into stardom. Surprisingly, they raised the bar (and then some) once more with "The Slider".

Featuring two U.K. number one hit singles, -- the effervescent "Metal Guru" and the bluesy pop of "Telegram Sam -- "The Slider" is the band's best produced album and arguably the most accessible. The strings give the songs -- with their rough glam guitar -- more ground and a more lush setting, that pairs nicely with Bolan's earthly poetic lyrics. The title track is an esspecially great groove-filled song with an odd use of vocals as an instrument (other than singing).

The rough glam tracks like "Buick Mackane", "Chariot Choogle", and "Baby Boomerang" work well with slower ballads like "Main Man", "Mystic Lady", and the simplistic acoustic sound of "Spaceball Ricochet". The lyrical content still uses the same whimsical storytelling from his previous work, which is certainly a good thing. And the background vocals are used much in the same way as on "Electric Warrior", sometimes gratuitously, but usually effectively.

The remastering is done excellently, very much like the other re-releases done for the T. Rex catalogue. The crafty production of Tony Visconti (who was at his best at the time) and the mixing highlights the skill of Mickey Finn and Bolan's playing nicely. The bonus disc is a good treat as well, giving an alternative take of each track on the album, which are usually demos or acoustic sessions.

This album helps prove that Marc Bolan was one of the truly great prolific songwriters of his day, despite his steady decline in the mid-70's and his eventual tragic death. Thankfully, the songs still hold up today, showing the strength of his words and music.

I think this is the best album from T.Rex. This is the first album I bought from them and I collected the other ones afterwords but I think that this album defines their style the best. For anyone interested in listening to T.Rex, I'd say start with this one first and if you don't like it, chances are T.Rex aren't for you. I don't know how anyone could not like it though. Good music, great lyrics and an amazing voice is totally what they delivered here. Marc Bolan's genious is totally clear on this album.

I was in my early teens and The Slider was one of the first, if not the first, record I purchased. T Rex was my first concert I attended also - happened to be on my 14th Birthday. So will be bias in my review. But received the double CD in the mail yesterday, and enjoyed opening this CD immensely. Rhino has packaged the CD beautifully, including a nice booklet. I have listened to The Slider CD, and part way through the alternative mix CD, and the sound quality seems excellent. It is more than appreciated that a record company would take so much care and I suggest that any T Rex fan, young or old in years, or long term or a more recent devotee, should buy this CD. Electric Warrior may be my favourite T Rex album, but The Slider has many outstanding songs, including the title track, Ballrooms of Mars and Main Man, hit singles in Metal Guru and Telegram Sam, and the odd rocker in Buick Mackane. Although a pioneer in Glam Rock, I think both Electric Warrior and The Slider show Marc Bolan and T Rex had substance.

I enjoy the music on this CD. It is a lot of fun. The lyrics sound cool without making sense. From TELEGRAM SAM, "Automatic shoes / Automatic shoes / Give me three D vision / And the California Blues." Marc Bolan displays a broader variety of styles than on the previous album. The glam rock anthems METAL GURU, THE SLIDER, BUICK MACKANE, and especially TELEGRAM SAM mine that same vein of the shuffle beat which Bolan achieved legendary status with on BANG A GONG. I like these because of their silliness. I always smile when I hear the opening scream of METAL GURU, and the absurd lyrics just complete the looniness: "Metal Guru has it been / Just like a silver-studded sabre-tooth dream / I'll be clean you know / Pollution machine / Metal Guru is it you." I feel a sultry sensation from the slower numbers: MYSTIC LADY, THE SLIDER and most of all, from BALLROOMS OF MARS. In the early seventies, Paul McCartney acknowledged that he would not desire the popularity of Marc Bolan. Indeed, T. REX was the nazz. More impressive is the influence felt from his songs decades after they were penned, particularly from the post punk era. BLONDIE used BANG A GONG as an encore, and the legendary goth-rock band BAUHAUS released a single covering TELEGRAM SAM, as two prominent examples. The professionals involved with this effort are no slouches, either. Ringo Starr did the cover photographs and needs no introduction. Tony Visconti had already completed a series of albums for some of the biggest names in British Rock including, David Bowie, Strawbs, Badfinger, Gentle Giant, and would go on to the Wings' project, BAND ON THE RUN. What an exciting and fun piece of rock 'n roll history. If you are interested in glam rock of the early seventies or in music that is a looney romp, this CD will interest you.

People love to distinguish "classical" music from "popular" music. This distinction is meaningless. Music is music, and good music is simply good music, and THE SLIDER is one of the finest musical works, "classical" or "popular," I've ever heard. I would not rank it as the best T. Rex, however. In my opinion, the best of T. Rex is: T. REX (the self-titled LP), ELECTRIC WARRIOR, THE UNICORN, BEARD OF STARS, and the songs, "Hot Love," "Children of the Revolution," and "Raw Ramp." Nonetheless, you cannot go wrong with this now-overlooked gem.

This is, in my opinion, T. Rex's saddest work. It is subtly heartbreaking, covertly saddening. Happy, jumpy songs are interspersed with melancholy "ballads" (if that word applies) such as "Spaceball Richochet," "The Slider," "The Ballrooms of Mars," and "Main Man."

Incidentally, "The Ballrooms of Mars" is simply one of the greatest rock songs ever written. That song alone would legitimate the magisterial status of this album.

No more commentary is needed: just buy it and listen to it over and over again!

Let others listen to The Beatles and think that it is great music: this is music in the highest sense of the word, the music of thought.