Slug Line

Slug Line
Slug Line
Studio album by John Hiatt
Released	April 1979
Recorded	January–February 1979
Genre	Rock
Length	38:22
Label	MCA
Producer	Denny Bruce
John Hiatt chronology
Singles from Slug Line
	"Radio Girl" / "Sharon's Got a Drug Store"; Released: April 1979; "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.

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
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[18]
Christgau's Record Guide	B+^[19]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	^[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.	Title	Writer(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 Wismar	4:23
5.	"(No More) Dancin' in the Street"		2:22
6.	"Long Night"		5:18

Side two
No.	Title	Length
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

John Hiatt – guitar, vocals
Jon Paris – guitar, bass guitar
Doug Yankus – guitar
Veyler Hildebrand – bass
Etan McElroy – piano, background vocals on "Long Night"
B.J. Wilson – drums
Gerry Conway – drums
Bruce Gary – drums
Thom Mooney – drums
Todd Cochran – piano, organ

Technical

Denny Bruce – producer
Russ Gary – engineer
John Van Hamersveld – art direction
Nick Rozsa – cover photography

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "John Hiatt – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
^ Graham, Samuel; Sutherland, Sam (June 2, 1979). "The Coast" (PDF). Record World. p. 14 – via World Radio History.
^ "New Faces To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box. June 2, 1979. p. 10 – via World Radio History.
^ ^a ^b "MCA Signs Hiatt" (PDF). Record World. February 24, 1979. p. 39 – via World Radio History.
^ Ruhlmann, William. "Slug Line Review by William Ruhlmann". AllMusic.
^ "Points West" (PDF). Billboard. February 10, 1979. p. 44 – via World Radio History.
^ ^a ^b "Album Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. April 28, 1979. p. 19 – via World Radio History.
^ "MCA Sets Release" (PDF). Record World. April 14, 1979. p. 88 – via World Radio History.
^ "Signings" (PDF). Billboard. March 3, 1979. p. 106 – via World Radio History.
^ "Bubbling Under The Top LPs" (PDF). Billboard. July 7, 1979. p. 18 – via World Radio History.
^ "Billboard's Top Single Picks" (PDF). Billboard. April 28, 1979. p. 95 – via World Radio History.
^ "Record World Single Picks" (PDF). World Radio History. April 28, 1979. p. 20 – via Record World.
^ "Singles To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box. April 28, 1979. p. 17 – via World Radio History.
^ "Music Week - August 4, 1979" (PDF). Music Week. August 4, 1979. p. 9 – via World Radio History.
^ "Releases Index" (PDF). Music Week. July 21, 1979. p. 28 – via World Radio History.
^ "Singles To Watch" (PDF). Cash Box. October 13, 1979 – via World Radio History.
^ "Music Week - October 27, 1979" (PDF). Music Week. October 27, 1979. p. 21 – via World Radio History.
^ Ruhlmann, William. Slug Line at AllMusic. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 318.
^ Hepworth, David. "Albums". Smash Hits. No. October 4–17, 1979. p. 29.
^ "Record World Album Picks" (PDF). Record World. May 12, 1979. p. 31 – via World Radio History.
^ "Billboard's Top Album Picks" (PDF). Billboard. May 5, 1979. p. 78 – via World Radio History.

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[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.

[:0-4] "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.

[:1-7] "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.

[RS-20] 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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v t e John Hiatt
Studio albums	Hangin' Around the Observatory (1974) Overcoats (1975) Slug Line (1979) Two Bit Monsters (1980) All of a Sudden (1982) Riding with the King (1983) Warming Up to the Ice Age (1985) Bring the Family (1987) Slow Turning (1988) Stolen Moments (1990) Perfectly Good Guitar (1993) Walk On (1995) Little Head (1997) Crossing Muddy Waters (2000) The Tiki Bar Is Open (2001) Beneath This Gruff Exterior (2003) Master of Disaster (2005) Same Old Man (2008) The Open Road (2010) Dirty Jeans and Mudslide Hymns (2011) Mystic Pinball (2012) Terms of My Surrender (2014) The Eclipse Sessions (2018) Leftover Feelings (2021)
Live albums	Hiatt Comes Alive at Budokan? (1994) Live from Austin, TX (2005)
Compilation albums	Y'all Caught? The Ones That Got Away 1979–1985 (1989)
Songs	"Sure As I'm Sittin' Here" "Take Time to Know Her" "Have a Little Faith in Me" "Drive South" "Bring Back Your Love to Me"
Related	Discography Little Village

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