Editing Slave to the Grind

{{For|the song|Slave to the Grind (song)}}
{{Redirect|Beggar's Day|Beggars Day|Crazy Horse (album)}}
{{Redirect|Get the Fuck Out|the song by Extreme|Get the Funk Out}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Slave to the Grind
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]]
| cover        = Skidrow-slavecover.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption      = Cover art by [[David Bierk]]
| released     = {{Start date|1991|6|11}}
| recorded     = 1990–1991
| studio       = {{plainlist|
* New River Studios ([[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]])
* Scream Studios ([[Studio City, Los Angeles]])
}}
| genre        = {{flatlist|<!-- sourced unter 'Critical reception' -->
* [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
* [[hard rock]]
* [[glam metal]]<!-- sourced unter 'Composition and recording' -->
}}
| length       = 48:41
| label        = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]
| producer     = [[Michael Wagener]]
| prev_title   = [[Skid Row (Skid Row album)|Skid Row]]
| prev_year    = 1989
| next_title   = [[B-Side Ourselves]]
| next_year    = 1992
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Slave to the Grind
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Monkey Business (Skid Row song)|Monkey Business]]
 | single1date = June 3, 1991
 | single2     = [[Slave to the Grind (song)|Slave to the Grind]]
 | single2date = September 2, 1991
 | single3     = [[Wasted Time (Skid Row song)|Wasted Time]]
 | single3date = November 11, 1991 
 | single4     = [[In a Darkened Room]]
 | single4date = November 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Skid+Row&titel=Quicksand+Jesus&cat=s|title=Skid Row singles}}</ref> 
 | single5     = Quicksand Jesus 
 | single5date = May 25, 1992 (Japan)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Skid+Row&titel=Quicksand+Jesus&cat=s|title=Skid Row singles}}</ref> 
}}
}}

'''''Slave to the Grind''''' is the second studio album by American [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Skid Row (American band)|Skid Row]], released on June 11, 1991,<ref name="AM" /> by [[Atlantic Records]]. The album displayed a harsher sound than its predecessor and lyrics that avoided hard rock cliches. ''Slave to the Grind'' is the first heavy metal album to chart at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] in the [[Nielsen SoundScan]] era, selling 134,000 copies in its opening week. The album was certified [[RIAA Certification|2× platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) in 1998 for shipping two million copies in the United States. It produced five singles: "[[Monkey Business (Skid Row song)|Monkey Business]]", "[[Slave to the Grind (song)|Slave to the Grind]]", "[[Wasted Time (Skid Row song)|Wasted Time]]", "[[In a Darkened Room]]" and "Quicksand Jesus". Skid Row promoted the album opening for [[Guns N' Roses]] in 1991 and as a headliner the following year.

==Composition and recording==
Skid Row wrote most of ''Slave to the Grind'' in a New Jersey studio and demoed the tracks with [[Michael Wagener]], who produced their previous album. Recording began in late 1990 and took place at two studios: New River in [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]] and Scream in [[Studio City, California]]. ''Slave to the Grind'' marked the band's move toward a heavier sound, with the title track verging on [[speed metal]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Wiederhorn|first=Jon|title=24 Years Ago: Skid Row Release 'Slave to the Grind'|url=http://loudwire.com/skid-row-slave-to-the-grind-album-anniversary/|work=[[Loudwire]]|date=June 11, 2015|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> but the album also includes [[power ballad]]s<ref name="AM" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/10-power-ballads-dont-suck/|title=Top 10 Power Ballads That Don't Suck|website=Loudwire|date=April 12, 2018 }}</ref> and a few lighter tracks. Some sources still classified the album as [[glam metal]], despite its heavier sound.<ref name="metaledge">{{Cite news|title=7 hair metal records to bang your head to|url=https://www.metaledgemag.com/lists/7-hair-metal-records-to-bang-your-head-to|access-date=2023-05-27|newspaper=Metal Edge Magazine|language=en}}</ref> The lyrics were more complex, criticizing modern ways of life, authority, politics, drugs, and organized religion, among other topics. Wagener said the demoing and pre-production went well, and the title track was recorded and mixed in an hour, and was placed on the album without being remixed.<ref>{{cite news|title=Producer Michael Wagener Looks Back On M The Grind'|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/producer-michael-wagener-looks-back-on-making-of-skid-rows-slave-to-the-grind/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=January 15, 2015|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref>

During a February 2017 interview for the ''Backspin'' segment of [[Yahoo! Music]], vocalist [[Sebastian Bach]] revealed that the version of the title track included in the finished album is actually the original demo the band recorded during pre-production with producer Michael Wagener. The band recorded a proper version during the album sessions, but were unable to match the intensity of the demo, and therefore opted to use the former instead.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBVl7RSSfys&t=124s |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/hBVl7RSSfys| archive-date=2021-12-11 |url-status=live|title=Backspin: Sebastian Bach on 'Slave to the Grind' |publisher=[[Yahoo!]] |date=February 1, 2017 |access-date=July 18, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Cover art==
Sebastian Bach's father, [[David Bierk]], painted the cover art, which is actually a long mural, continued inside the album's booklet.<ref name="Wild">{{cite magazine|last=Wild|first=David|title=Skid Row: Pretty Bad Boys|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/pretty-bad-boys-19910919?page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807193408/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/pretty-bad-boys-19910919?page=3|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 7, 2016|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=September 19, 1991|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref> Although it is set in the medieval era, it depicts people using modern technological gadgets. The cover was inspired by [[Caravaggio]]'s [[Burial of St. Lucy (Caravaggio)|Burial of St. Lucy]] from 1608 and shows [[John F. Kennedy]] in the crowd.

==Release and promotion==
When recording finished, Skid Row opened for [[Guns N' Roses]] on the 1991 North American leg of their [[Use Your Illusion Tour]].<ref name="Wild"/> In 1992, Skid Row took [[Pantera]] and [[Soundgarden]] as supporting bands on its Slave to the Grind Tour.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sebastian Bach: Remembering Dimebag Darrell|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/sebastian-bach-remembering-dimebag-darrell/|work=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=December 30, 2004|access-date=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Two different versions of the album were released: the original and a "clean" version, in which "Get the Fuck Out" is replaced with the less-offensive "Beggar's Day".<ref name="Rivadavia">{{cite web|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|title=25 Years Ago: Skid Row Come Back Heavier With 'Slave to the Grind'|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/skid-row-slave-to-the-grind/|publisher=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]|date=June 11, 2016|access-date=July 11, 2016}}</ref> Music videos were produced for all five singles: "[[Monkey Business (Skid Row song)|Monkey Business]]", "[[Slave to the Grind (song)|Slave to the Grind]]", "[[Wasted Time (Skid Row song)|Wasted Time]]", "[[In a Darkened Room]]" and "Quicksand Jesus", all of which feature on the video album ''[[No Frills Video]]''. Skid Row's label [[Atlantic Records]] was not supportive of the group's transformation when filming the video for the title track. The label wanted a bikini model to star in the video, but the idea was turned down by the band because the song was not about female sexuality.<ref name="Rivadavia"/> A music video was also made for "Psycho Love" in 3D which featured on the video album ''[[Road Kill (video)|Road Kill]]''.

==Critical reception==
{{music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|last=Huey|first=Steve|title=Skid Row – Slave to the Grind|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/slave-to-the-grind-mw0000264528|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3.5|4}}<ref name="Chicago">{{cite web|first=Brenda|last=Herrmann|title=Skid Row – Slave to the Grind (Atlantic)|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/11/skid-rowslave-to-the-grind-atlantic-starstarstar/|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 11, 1991|access-date=February 21, 2013}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Christgau's Consumer Guide]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating-Christgau|dud}}<ref name="CG">{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=skid+row|title=CG: Skid Row|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
| rev4Score = 9/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = August 1, 2007 | location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada | pages=401–402 |isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="Larkin">{{cite book|last=Larkin|first=Colin|author-link=Colin Larkin (writer)|year=2007|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|publisher=[[Omnibus Press]]|page=2899|isbn=978-0-85712-595-8|edition=5th}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev6score = A−<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine|last=Garza|first=Janiss|title=Slave To the Grind|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1991/06/21/slave-grind|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=June 21, 1991|access-date=February 19, 2013}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Kerrang!]]''
| rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Zell |first=Ray |date=June 8, 1991 |title=Rekordz |magazine=[[Kerrang!]] |location=UK |publisher=[[EMAP]] |issue=344 |page=18}}</ref>
| rev8 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev8score = 1/10<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hobbs |first1=Mary Anne |title=Skid Markers |journal=NME |date=June 15, 1991 |page=38}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|title=Skid Row: Slave To The Grind|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/skidrow/albums/album/208366/review/6068237/slave_to_the_grind|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=August 22, 1991|access-date=February 19, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002080051/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/skidrow/albums/album/208366/review/6068237/slave_to_the_grind|archive-date=October 2, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}

''Slave to the Grind'' received generally positive reviews by music critics. ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''{{'}}s Daina Darzin said the album had integrity and passion, and reminded her of early [[Mötley Crüe]] and [[Judas Priest]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Darzin|first=Daina|title=Skid Row – Slave to the Grind|journal=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date=August 1991|page=99|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OR4h_dORXcUC&q=skid+row+slave+to+the+grind+spin&pg=PA99|access-date=June 6, 2016}}</ref> [[Martin Popoff]] called the album "a surprising and welcome jolt to the system", with Skid Row "proving their mettle, their self-worth, their guts" on songs taking the listener "to dark unsettling places where reflection collides with worry."<ref name="martin" /> [[AllMusic]]'s Steve Huey said ''Slave to the Grind'' was more aggressive than its predecessor and called it one of the best examples of mainstream hard rock and heavy metal.<ref name="AM"/> Brenda Herrmann of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' observed that Bolan and Sabo improved their songwriting and wrote positively about the group's attitude and humor.<ref name="Chicago"/> Conversely, ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s [[David Fricke]] thought Skid Row had not matured lyrically at all, rehashing the [[glam metal]] cliches. However, he complimented Wagener's production and the band's interplay and sound.<ref name="RS"/> [[Robert Christgau]] was less enthusiastic and graded the album a "dud", indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought".<ref name="CG"/> Janiss Garza of the ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' praised the ballads' lyrical depth and the fury of "Riot Act" and the title track, giving the album an A−.<ref name="EW"/>

''Slave to the Grind'' debuted at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], selling 134,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holden|first=Stephen|title=Billboard's New Charts Roil the Record Industry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/22/arts/billboard-s-new-charts-roil-the-record-industry.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 22, 1991|access-date=June 8, 2016}}</ref> The album was the first to debut atop the ''Billboard'' 200 in the [[Nielsen SoundScan]] era, since it was uncommon for albums to open at number one before SoundScan began tracking sales in 1991.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|title=Billboard 200 Turns 60!|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7271910/happy-birthday-billboard-200-chart-album|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=June 8, 2016}}</ref> Previously, the only albums to debut at number one had been [[Elton John]]'s ''[[Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy]]'' in 1975 and [[Michael Jackson]]'s [[Bad (album)|''Bad'']] in 1987.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy / Elton John |url=https://elpee.jp/album/Captain%20Fantastic%20and%20The%20Brown%20Dirt%20Cowboy/Elton%20John/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=elpee.jp |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bad / Michael Jackson |url=https://elpee.jp/album/Bad/Michael%20Jackson/ |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=elpee.jp |language=en}}</ref>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| all_writing  = [[Dave Sabo]] and [[Rachel Bolan]], except where noted.
| title1       = [[Monkey Business (Skid Row song)|Monkey Business]]
| length1      = 4:20
| title2       = [[Slave to the Grind (song)|Slave to the Grind]]
| writer2      = {{hlist|Sabo|Bolan|[[Sebastian Bach]]}}
| length2      = 3:31
| title3       = The Threat
| length3      = 3:52
| title4       = Quicksand Jesus
| length4      = 5:26
| title5       = Psycho Love
| writer5      = Bolan
| length5      = 3:58
| title6       = Get the Fuck Out
| length6      = 2:42
| title7       = Livin' on a Chain Gang
| length7      = 4:00
| title8       = Creepshow
| writer8      = {{hlist|Bolan|[[Scotti Hill]]|[[Rob Affuso]]}}
| length8      = 3:59
| title9       = [[In a Darkened Room]]
| writer9      = {{hlist|Sabo|Bolan|Bach}}
| length9      = {{ref label|album number|†|}}3:57
| title10      = Riot Act
| length10     = 2:42
| title11      = Mudkicker
| writer11     = {{hlist|Bolan|Hill|Bach}}
| length11     = 3:56
| title12      = [[Wasted Time (Skid Row song)|Wasted Time]]
| writer12     = {{hlist|Sabo|Bolan|Bach}}
| length12     = 5:50
| total_length = 48:41
}}
{{Track listing
| headline     = Japanese edition bonus tracks<ref>{{Cite web|title=''Slave to the Grind'' - back cover|url=https://img.discogs.com/auwctOrQCqfB9pBgWLIfUIjaY_o=/fit-in/600x498/filters:strip_icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-8568550-1500502015-1170.jpeg.jpg|access-date=November 19, 2021|website=[[Discogs]]}}</ref>
| title13      = Beggar's Day
| note13       = replaces "Get the Fuck Out" on the clean version
| writer13     = {{hlist|Sabo|Bolan|Bach}}
| length13     = 4:05
| title14      = [[Holidays in the Sun (song)|Holidays in the Sun]]
| note14       = [[Sex Pistols]] cover
| writer14     = {{hlist|[[John Lydon|Johnny Rotten]]|[[Steve Jones (musician)|Steve Jones]]|[[Paul Cook]]|[[Sid Vicious]]}}
| length14     = 3:38
| title15      = Get the Fuck Out
| note15       = live at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], 1991
| length15     = 5:31
| title16      = Delivering the Goods
| note16       = [[Judas Priest]] cover, live in Arizona, 1992
| writer16     = {{hlist|[[Glenn Tipton]]|[[K. K. Downing]]|[[Rob Halford]]}}
| length16     = 4:52
| total_length = 64:05
}}
<small>{{note|album number}}† Album liner notes incorrectly list the length as 4:57.</small>

==Personnel==
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref name="booklet">{{cite book|title=Slave to the Grind ''liner notes''|year=1991|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]}}</ref>

===Skid Row===
*[[Sebastian Bach]] – lead vocals
*[[Dave Sabo]] – guitars, backing vocals
*[[Scotti Hill]] – guitars, backing vocals
*[[Rachel Bolan]] – bass, backing vocals
*[[Rob Affuso]] – drums, percussion

===Production===
*[[Michael Wagener]] – producer, mixing
*Riley J. Connell – assistant engineer
*Craig Doubet – assistant engineer
*[[George Marino]] – mastering
*Bob Defrin – art direction

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1991)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Australia|3|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Austria|16|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Canada|5|chartid=1575|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|accessdate=January 26, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | language= fi}}</ref>
| align="center"| 3
|-
{{album chart|Germany4|12|id=1252|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Hungary|32|year=1991|week=40|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
! scope="row"| Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Skid Row Chart History|url=http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/92521/products/release/|publisher=[[Oricon]]|access-date=January 26, 2024}}</ref>
| 3
|-
{{album chart|New Zealand|8|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Norway|12|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|9|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Switzerland|15|artist=Skid Row|album=Slave to the Grind|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|UK2|5|date=19910616|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|1|artist=Skid Row|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2020)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|BillboardTastemaker|23|artist=Skid Row|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|}

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2023)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|UKRock|22|date=20230915|rowheader=true|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
|}
{{col-2}}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (1991)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/album-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Album–Jahrescharts 1991|language=de|publisher=[[GfK Entertainment]]|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref>
| 92
|-
! scope="row"| US ''Billboard 200'' <ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1991/top-billboard-200-albums|title=Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1991|magazine=Billboard|date=January 2, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2021}}</ref>
| 54
|}
{{col-end}}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=album|award=Gold|title=Slave to the Grind|artist=Skid Row|certyear=1992|source=book|id=255}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=album|award=Platinum|title=Slave to the Grind|artist=Skid Row|relyear=1991}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=album|award=Gold|title=Slave to the Grind|artist=Skid Row|relyear=1991|certyear=1992|certmonth=3}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=album|award=Silver|title=Slave to the Grind |artist=Skid Row|relyear=1991|certyear=1991|id=5970-773-2}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=album|award=Platinum|number=2|title=Slave to the Grind|artist=Skid Row}}
{{certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Discogs master|type=album|94196|name=Slave to the Grind}}

{{Skid Row}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Skid Row (American band) albums]]
[[Category:1991 albums]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Michael Wagener]]