Oh yes – the mighty T. Rex have all eight of their 1970s albums issued in a box set with a lyric booklet. Essential stuff indeed.
In 1970, after their four albums as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Marc Bolan abbreviated the band’s name to T. Rex and commenced with a magical run of eight albums taking them to the very top of the glam rock tree.
We all know the hit singles don’t we? Much more to T. Rex than the strutting, stomping glam rock chart toppers though. As shown on all eight of their albums.
In this sturdy box are two folders containing four CDs each plus the lyric booklet.
The first self-titled album sets them up for what would follow. The songs are short, concise sort of mystical electric folk with a punch. Bar The Wizard which is around eight minutes of astoundingness. It’s all so good.
Next up came Electric Warrior in 1971. Such a stunning album. Arguably their best. It set the template sure enough. Heavy, trippy, tight, economical, stripped back yet so immediate and irresistible.
It went to number one – as did the first single from it – Get it On. The follow-up – Jeepster went to number two. The entire album is faultless. Mambo Sun, Cosmic Dancer and the phenomenal Rip Off in particular.
Here’s Jeepster:
How could Bolan and T. Rex follow up Electric Warrior? Easy. With The Slider in 1972. Another thundering slab of hard rocking with the hints of bluesy boogie. And it spawned more hit singles with Telegram Sam going to number one as did the opener, Metal Guru.
Tanx came next in 1973. Another stone cold winner. Bolan was never shy of trying new stuff as shown on Tanx with the style shift to encompass more symphonics, sprinklings of funk and even gospel-like backing vocals.
But it’s brilliant. Tenement Lady, Broken Hearted Blues, Shock Rock and Born to Boogie giving the glam rock and songs such as the sweeping Left Hand Luke and the Beggar Boys a glorious closer.
The three bonus tracks here will all be instantly recognisable if you know your old T. Rex: Children of the Revolution, Solid Gold Easy Action and 20th Century Boy.
Keeping themselves busy, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow was released in 1974. This album was a big departure from the glam rock style which gave the band so much success.
It was generally heavier and with Bolan, unusually, playing rambling solos in most songs. And the gospel style backing vocals became more widespread and (in my opinion) overpowering in parts.
The fans were not expecting such a change from what had gone before and Zinc Alloy sold poorly. It was hammered by the critics also. In my opinion it is a solid album and stands up well today. I like it plenty still.
That said, it marked the end of the glory years for T. Rex.
Bolan’s Zip Gun appeared in 1975. This one tried to get back to basics so to speak without managing it. There’s more funk creeping in and the whole album has a feel of going through the motions and it being phoned it. Quite lack-lustre though it does have its moments such as Zip Gun Boogie, which is a throwback to the Electric Warrior years showing that Bolan could still hit the target.
Album number seven would be Futuristic Dragon in 1976. It didn’t get much love at the time, however it is a bold album and very much a return to form and has some of the heaviest stuff T. Rex ever did.
Jupiter Liar and Chrome Guitar come in hot. New York City was a single released prior to the album and a minor hit. Had it been a few years earlier it’d have been a monster hit. So catchy.
Sensation Boulevard harks back to the stomping glam rock of Electric Warrior and Calling All Destroyers is one of the heaviest songs in the T. Rex catalogue. Have a listen:
A couple of songs on Futuristic Dragon bring in the funk/soul influences Bolan experimented with – for example All Alone and Dawn Storm though overall, the album is what I’d call “proper” T. Rex.
The final album would be Dandy in the Underworld, released in March 1977. It continued the post Bolan’s Zip Gun return to form for T. Rex being a strong album with much more solid rock content dropping most of the soul/funk influences.
It was solid seller reaching the top 30 in the UK albums chart.
For example Teen Riot Structure is indeed riotous. And the album included the monster hit I Love to Booigie which was released as a stand alone single the previous year.
Sadly though Dandy would be the final offering from T. Rex as Marc Bolan was killed in a car crash in September 1977 aged just 29 years old.
Having all eight albums together in this box set is so good. Whether you were with them during the glory years as a youngster as I was at the time or not, it’s essential stuff by Bolan – a musician who was well ahead of his time.
Good value too. At time of posting, the 8xCD set is around £65. There’s also a vinyl version with the albums pressed on half black and half coloured vinyl. That’s more expensive though at around £170.
>> T. REX STUDIO ALBUMS 1970-1977 BOX SET ON AMAZON <<
Please support the site and buy me a coffee.
https://buymeacoffee.com/nwobhm
As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.