Slave to the Grind

Slave to the Grind
Studio album by Skid Row
Released	June 11, 1991
Recorded	1990–1991 at New River Studios in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Scream Studios in Studio City, California
Genre	Heavy metal, hard rock
Length	48:41 (Explicit) 50:01 (Clean)
Label	Atlantic
Producer	Michael Wagener, Dave Sabo
Skid Row chronology
Skid Row (1989) Slave to the Grind (1991) B-Side Ourselves (1992)

Slave to the Grind is Skid Row's second album, released on June 11, 1991. Slave to the Grind is notable for being the first heavy metal album to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200 during the SoundScan era.

Two different versions were released: the original version, and the "clean" (censored) version. The clean version replaced the song "Get the Fuck Out" with the less-offensive "Beggar's Day".

Slave to the Grind marked the band's move towards a heavier sound. The lyrics were more complex, criticizing modern ways of life, authority, politics, drugs, and organized religion, among other topics.

Sebastian Bach's father painted the cover art, which is actually a long mural, continued inside the album's booklet. It is set in the medieval era (remake of Caravaggio's Burial of St. Lucy(1608)), yet has people using modern technological gadgets. John F. Kennedy is in the crowd.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic

Allmusic gave 'Slave to the Grind a rating of four and a half out of five stars, and said the album was "one of the best—and heaviest—examples of mainstream hard rock/heavy metal".

Track listing

Original version

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Monkey Business"	Rachel Bolan, Dave Sabo	4:20
2.	"Slave to the Grind"	Sebastian Bach, Bolan, Sabo	3:31
3.	"The Threat"	Bolan, Sabo	3:52
4.	"Quicksand Jesus"	Bolan, Sabo	5:26
5.	"Psycho Love"	Bolan	3:58
6.	"Get the Fuck Out"	Bolan, Sabo	2:42
7.	"Livin' on a Chain Gang"	Bolan, Sabo	4:00
8.	"Creepshow"	Bolan, Rob Affuso, Scotti Hill	3:59
9.	"In a Darkened Room"	Bach, Bolan, Sabo	3:57
10.	"Riot Act"	Bolan, Sabo	2:42
11.	"Mudkicker"	Bach, Bolan, Sabo	3:56
12.	"Wasted Time"	Bach, Bolan, Sabo	5:50

Personnel

• Sebastian Bach – lead vocals
• Scotti Hill – guitars
• Dave "The Snake" Sabo – guitars, backing vocals, production
• Rachel Bolan – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Rob Affuso – drums and percussion

Other credits

• Riley J. Connell – assistant engineer
• George Marino – mastering
• Michael Wagener – producer, mixing
• Bob Defrin – art direction
• Craig Doubet – assistant engineer

Certifications

Region	Certification	Sales/shipments
United Kingdom (BPI)	Silver	60,000^
United States (RIAA)	2× Platinum	2,000,000^
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Chart performance

Chart	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	3
Austria Albums Chart	16
Canada Albums Chart	8
Japan Albums Chart	3
Norway Albums Chart	12
Swedish Albums Chart	9
Swiss Albums Chart	15
UK Albums Chart	5
U.S. Billboard 200	1

Singles

Year	Single	Chart	Position
1991	"Monkey Business"	Mainstream Rock Tracks	13
		UK Singles Chart	19
	"Slave to the Grind"	UK Singles Chart	43
	"Wasted Time"	Billboard Hot 100	88
		Mainstream Rock Tracks	30
		UK Singles Chart	20
	"In a Darkened Room"	Switzerland	27

Outtakes

The following songs were written and demoed for the album, not included.

• "Fire in the Hole" (released on 40 Seasons: The Best of Skid Row)
• "Burned" ~ (better you than me)

References

Preceded by Niggaz4Life by N.W.A.

Billboard 200 number-one album June 29 - July 5, 1991

Succeeded by For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge by Van Halen