The Slits (Rough) Cut Record Store Day 2023 Edition

For RSD 2023 it’s a first outing on vinyl for pioneering producer Dennis Bovell’s ‘Rough Mixes’* of the album, previously unearthed as part of the research for 2009’s anniversary CD Deluxe Edition of the album. As a standalone vinyl piece ‘Rough Cut’, then, presents an entire alternative version of ‘Cut’, plus the addition of the band’s startling cover of ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’. For this incarnation of ‘Cut’ Slits guitarist Viv Albertine advised on a new alternate treatment for the sleeve and, for the inner bang’s sleeve notes, has donated a new Q&A essay reflecting on the album’s recording, The Slits’ uncompromising musical ethos, and their place in history as post-punk’s premiere female musical revolutionaries. ‘Rough Cut’ makes for both a fascinating listen and a fascinating read. *Note: as no Rough Mix of ‘Spend, Spend, Spend’ exists in the Island Records archive, ‘Rough Cut’ instead places the band’s original 8-track demo instead.