Mick Ronson
Slaughter on 10th Avenue

What a fantastic year 1974 was, my dear friends...
While David Bowie's "Diamond Dogs," Queen's "Sheer Heart Attack," and Roxy Music's "Country Life" were being released, Mick Ronson made his solo debut with this gem, still within that colorful landscape that was Glam.

Mick Ronson, our Ronno, is best known for his very important contributions as a musician for Bowie, both in the studio and on the wonderful stages. Not just a guitarist, but also an arranger, often a pianist and backing vocalist, he's present on some of the White Duke's most important albums: "The Man Who Sold The World,” "Hunky Dory,” "Ziggy Stardust,” "Aladdin Sane,” and "Pin Ups.” We absolutely have to mention his role in Lou Reed's "Transformer,” as a musician and producer, again alongside Bowie.
In short, there's so much to say about his short but definitely intense life (he died at 46 in 1993 from liver cancer), which unfortunately is never remembered or not everyone is aware of.

"Slaughter On 10th Avenue" is an album that impressed me from the beginning, almost like Brian Eno's "Here Come The Warm Jets,” which I consider one of my favorite albums ever.
Only seven tracks, including some original pieces, some covers, and some personal interpretations, but 35 minutes of impeccable arrangements, melodies, and colorful flavors.

There's a lot of David Bowie and Annette Peacock's influence: Ronson offers "Growing Up And I'm Fine,” a track written by Bowie himself but for which no original version recordings exist, most likely from some outtake a few years earlier, around the "Ziggy Stardust" era. Ronno's voice often recalls the Duke's tone (and it won’t be the last time this similarity can be heard), but the performance is excellent.
As is the Peacock cover of "I'm The One,” the quirkiest of the entire tracklist, and his arrangement of a classic like "Love Me Tender,” resulting in a very troubled and emotional interpretation (with ecstatic piano and guitar solo).

The pure Glam Rock spirit oozes from "Only After Dark,” an original piece written with Scott Richardson, which with its boldness and brazenness paves the way for a track that will make all of us Italians smile... and I’m talking about "Music Is Lethal,” a cover of "Io vorrei... non vorrei... ma se vuoi...” by Battisti with English lyrics kindly provided by Bowie. What more can we add? Just stay silent and contemplate.
After smiling, however, it will truly be a feat to hold back tears upon hearing the weeping notes of this track, one of the most moving by Battisti/Mogol.

Then comes an original track by the distinguished Ronson/Bowie/Richardson team with "Pleasure Man/Hey Ma Get Papa,” two tracks combined in their diversity: the first is a strongly Blues-inspired piece, and the second is more Glam in nature, with a much cheerier mood.
The work concludes with the instrumental title track "Slaughter On 10th Avenue,” an interpretation of the titular ballet composed by Richard Rodgers, where Ronson can easily showcase his characteristics as a guitarist, with electric and acoustic rides and plenty of piano.

I apologize for the "track by track" but each song deserved at least a mention, given the total number of tracks.
Anyway, it truly deserves a listen, you won’t regret it if you are into that scene... otherwise, I take full responsibility.