Slow Dazzle (album)
| Slow Dazzle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by John Cale | ||||
| Released | 25 March 1975 | |||
| Recorded | Sound Techniques, London | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 35:49 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Producer | John Cale | |||
| John Cale chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | (A-)[2] |
Slow Dazzle was the fifth album and the second for Island Records by former Velvet Underground member John Cale, released in 1975. The cover photography was by Keith Morris. It is also the second consecutive album to feature both Brian Eno and Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music.
Song information
"Mr. Wilson" is about the Beach Boys founding member, Brian Wilson. "Heartbreak Hotel" is a cover of the Elvis Presley song. "Guts" opens with the line, "The bugger in the short sleeves fucked my wife". This refers to Kevin Ayers sleeping with Cale's wife before the June 1, 1974 concert, as John Cale related in his autobiography, with Victor Bockris, What's Welsh for Zen (1998). "The Jeweler" is a spoken word piece, recalling, at least in its poetic/freeform structure, 'The Gift' from The Velvet Underground's White Light/White Heat. "Heartbreak Hotel" is still frequently cited as one of the best cover versions ever recorded.
Track #2 from the album "Taking It All Away", was misprinted on all Island Record CD releases of the album, as "Talking It All Away."
Track listing
All tracks composed by John Cale; except where indicated
Original 1975 release
Side A
- "Mr. Wilson" (3:17)
- "Taking It All Away" (2:59)
- "Dirty-Ass Rock 'N' Roll" (4:44)
- "Darling I Need You" (3:38)
- "Rollaroll" (3:59)
Side B
- "Heartbreak Hotel" (3:14) – Mae Boren Axton, Tommy Durden, Elvis Presley
- "Ski Patrol" (2:12)
- "I'm Not The Loving Kind" (3:12)
- "Guts" (3:27)
- "The Jeweller" (5:07)
Bonus tracks 1996 remaster
The album was remastered in 1996 as part of the 2CD release The Island Years, containing also Fear and Helen of Troy. It contained the following bonus tracks:
- "All I Want Is You" (2:55)
- "Bamboo Floor" (3:24)
However, the last track "The Jeweller" was shortened to 4:11 on The Island Years.
No singles were released off the album.
Personnel
- John Cale: piano, organ, clavinet, vocals, production, cover, writing
- Gerry Conway: drums
- Pat Donaldson: bass
- Timi Donald: drums
- Brian Eno: synthesizer
- Phil Manzanera: guitar
- Geoff Muldaur: harmony vocals on "Guts" and "Darling I Need You"
- Chris Spedding: guitar
- Chris Thomas: violin, electric piano
- John Wood: executive producer
- A. Secunda executive producer on "Heartbreak Hotel"