Slug Line

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.{{Cite magazine |date=June 2, 1979 |title=New Faces To Watch |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-06-02.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=10 |via=World Radio History}}{{Cite magazine |date=February 24, 1979 |title=MCA Signs Hiatt |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/RW-1979-02-24.pdf |magazine=Record World |page=39 |via=World Radio History}}

Slug Line was recorded in January{{Cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=Slug Line Review by William Ruhlmann |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/slug-line-mw0000206899 |website=AllMusic}} and February 1979,{{Cite magazine |date=February 10, 1979 |title=Points West |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-02-10.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=44 |via=World Radio History}} and produced by Denny Bruce.{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 1979 |title=Album Reviews |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-04-28.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=19 |via=World Radio History}}

Slug Line was released by MCA Records in April 1979.{{Cite magazine |date=April 14, 1979 |title=MCA Sets Release |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-04-14.pdf |magazine=Record World |page=88 |via=World Radio History}}{{Cite magazine |date=March 3, 1979 |title=Signings |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-03-03.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=106 |via=World Radio History}} The album peaked at number 202 on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart.{{Cite magazine |date=July 7, 1979 |title=Bubbling Under The Top LPs |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-07-01.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=18 |via=World Radio History}} Two singles were released from the album, "Radio Girl" in April 1979,{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 1979 |title=Billboard's Top Single Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-04-28.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=95 |via=World Radio History}}{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 1979 |title=Record World Single Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-04-28.pdf |magazine=World Radio History |page=20 |via=Record World}}{{Cite magazine |date=April 28, 1979 |title=Singles To Watch |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-04-28.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |page=17 |via=World Radio History}} with "Sharon's Got a Drug Store" as the B-side,{{Cite magazine |date=August 4, 1979 |title=Music Week - August 4, 1979 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-08-04.pdf |magazine=Music Week |page=9 |via=World Radio History}}{{Cite magazine |date=July 21, 1979 |title=Releases Index |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-07-21.pdf |magazine=Music Week |page=28 |via=World Radio History}} and "Slug Line" in October 1979.{{Cite magazine |date=October 13, 1979 |title=Singles To Watch |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-10-13.pdf |magazine=Cash Box |via=World Radio History}}{{Cite magazine |date=October 27, 1979 |title=Music Week - October 27, 1979 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-10-27.pdf |magazine=Music Week |page=21 |via=World Radio History}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r9305|first=William|last=Ruhlmann|accessdate=August 12, 2011}}

| rev2 = Christgau's Record Guide

| rev2Score = B+{{cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|year=1981|title=Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies|publisher=Ticknor & Fields|isbn=089919026X|chapter=Consumer Guide '70s: H|chapter-url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_chap.php?k=H&bk=70|accessdate=February 26, 2019|via=robertchristgau.com}}

| rev3 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev3Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=318}}

| rev4 = Smash Hits

| rev4score = (favorable){{cite magazine|last=Hepworth|first=David|author-link=David Hepworth|title=Albums|magazine=Smash Hits|issue=October 4–17, 1979|page=29}}

}}

The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that "Hiatt evinces a talent for disarmingly pretty ballads." Record World called the album a collection of "reggae laced semi-rockers."{{Cite magazine |date=May 12, 1979 |title=Record World Album Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-05-12.pdf |magazine=Record World |page=31 |via=World Radio History}} 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."{{Cite magazine |date=May 5, 1979 |title=Billboard's Top Album Picks |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-05-05.pdf |magazine=Billboard |page=78 |via=World Radio History}} 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."

All tracks are written by John Hiatt, except where noted.

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| all_writing =

| title1 = You Used to Kiss the Girls

| length1 = 2:36

| title2 = The Negroes Were Dancing

| length2 = 2:46

| title3 = Slug Line

| length3 = 3:02

| title4 = Madonna Road

| length4 = 4:23

| writer4 = John Hiatt, Jim Wismar

| title5 = (No More) Dancin' in the Street

| length5 = 2:22

| title6 = Long Night

| length6 = 5:18

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| total_length = 38:22

| title1 = The Night That Kenny Died

| length1 = 2:37

| title2 = Radio Girl

| length2 = 2:57

| title3 = You're My Love Interest

| length3 = 3:19

| title4 = Take Off Your Uniform

| length4 = 4:08

| title5 = Sharon's Got a Drugstore

| length5 = 2:12

| title6 = Washable Ink

| length6 = 3:15

}}

• 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

{{Reflist}}

{{John Hiatt}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:John Hiatt albums

Category:1979 albums

Category:MCA Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Denny Bruce

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