Slim Slow Slider
Encyclopedia
"Slim Slow Slider" is the closing track on the 1968 album Astral Weeks
by Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Van Morrison
.
with Lewis Merenstein
as producer. John Payne who played soprano saxophone
on this song says there was a long section at the end of this song that was cut off. "It was five to ten minutes of instrumental jamming, semi-baroque and jazz stuff."
In Morrison's words the subject of this song is "a person who is caught up in a big city like London
or maybe is on dope." Brian Hinton describes it as being an intrusion between the two poles of Belfast
and America
in the other songs. "The craziness of "Cyprus Avenue
" has come home, so that the streets of Notting Hill become 'some sandy beach', in the junkies eyes....We are back in the world of "T.B. Sheets
", and a twelve bar blues, and Van's chuckle is truly nasty. After all those rebirths, here is a song about winter, "white as snow", and death..." The song ends abruptly with Van slapping on the side of his guitar.
, recorded forty years after the classic album Astral Weeks
was first released. Morrison changed the song's placement on this album to the third song instead of the final song; adding also to the length and content and entitling the new addition: "I Start Breaking Down".
named his 1970 album, Slim Slo Slider and included two versions of the song. Tom McShane performed a live version of the song.
Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks is the second solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in November 1968 on Warner Bros. Records. It was Morrison's first album after Warner Bros. had been able to free him from his contract with Bang Records...
by Northern Irish singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
.
Recording and composition
As the final song on the album, "Slim Slow Slider" was also the last song recorded on the final session on October 15, 1968 at Century Sound Studios in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
with Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein
Lewis Merenstein is most famous as the record producer for the Van Morrison album, Astral Weeks, and as executive producer for Moondance, Morrison's 1970 album.Astral Weeks is listed as #19 on the Rolling Stone Magazine's The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time in 2003...
as producer. John Payne who played soprano saxophone
Soprano saxophone
The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
on this song says there was a long section at the end of this song that was cut off. "It was five to ten minutes of instrumental jamming, semi-baroque and jazz stuff."
In Morrison's words the subject of this song is "a person who is caught up in a big city like London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
or maybe is on dope." Brian Hinton describes it as being an intrusion between the two poles of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the other songs. "The craziness of "Cyprus Avenue
Cyprus Avenue
"Cyprus Avenue" is a song written by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison and included on his 1968 album Astral Weeks.In performance it was a concert highlight and closer for years to come and would end with Morrison's command, "It's too late to stop now!" as he stalked from the stage...
" has come home, so that the streets of Notting Hill become 'some sandy beach', in the junkies eyes....We are back in the world of "T.B. Sheets
T.B. Sheets
"T.B. Sheets" is a blues-influenced song written and recorded by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, recorded for the Bang Records label in 1967 and included on his first solo album, Blowin' Your Mind!. It later appeared on the Bang compilation, T.B. Sheets.-Recording:"T.B...
", and a twelve bar blues, and Van's chuckle is truly nasty. After all those rebirths, here is a song about winter, "white as snow", and death..." The song ends abruptly with Van slapping on the side of his guitar.
Other releases
"Slim Slow Slider" was also featured on Morrison's 2009 album Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood BowlAstral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl is the fifth live album recorded by Northern Irish singer/songwriter Van Morrison, and released in the US on February 24, 2009 and on February 9, 2009 in the UK...
, recorded forty years after the classic album Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks
Astral Weeks is the second solo album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison, released in November 1968 on Warner Bros. Records. It was Morrison's first album after Warner Bros. had been able to free him from his contract with Bang Records...
was first released. Morrison changed the song's placement on this album to the third song instead of the final song; adding also to the length and content and entitling the new addition: "I Start Breaking Down".
Personnel
- Van Morrison - rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together...
, vocals - Richard Davis - double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- John Payne - soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
- Warren Smith, Jr.Warren Smith (jazz musician)Warren Smith is an American jazz percussionist.Smith was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a musical family; his father played saxophone and clarinet with Noble Sissle and Jimmy Noone, and his mother was a harpist and pianist. He studied clarinet under his father from age four...
- percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Covers
Johnny RiversJohnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
named his 1970 album, Slim Slo Slider and included two versions of the song. Tom McShane performed a live version of the song.