T. Rex (album): Difference between revisions
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| released = {{start date|1970|12|18|df=yes}} |
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| recorded = |
| recorded = 14 May – 31 August 1970 |
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| studio = [[Trident Studios|Trident]], London |
| studio = [[Trident Studios|Trident]], London |
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| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]] |
| genre = *[[Rock music|Rock]] |
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*[[folk rock]] |
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'''''T. Rex''''' is a 1970 album by [[Marc Bolan]]'s band [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]], the fifth since [[My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows|their debut]] as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968 |
'''''T. Rex''''' is a 1970 album by [[Marc Bolan]]'s band [[T. Rex (band)|T. Rex]], the first under that name and the fifth since [[My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows|their debut]] as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968. It was released on 18 December by record labels [[Fly Records|Fly]] and [[Reprise Records|Reprise]]. The album continued the shift begun by [[A Beard Of Stars|its predecessor]] from the band's previous [[Folk music|folk]] style to a minimal rock sound,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/t-rex-mn0000005882/biography | title=T. Rex biography | website=[[AllMusic]] | access-date=2 February 2016 | author=Deming, Mark}}</ref> with an even balance of electric and acoustic material.<ref name=Paytress /> |
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==Background== |
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The duo's previous album ''[[A Beard of Stars]]'' had charted moderately well at number 21, selling around the same amount of copies as previous Tyrannosaurus Rex records, but frontman [[Marc Bolan]] felt frustrated at not being able to break out of cult status.<ref name=Paytress/> The new lineup with Finn toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe during 1970, acquainting audiences with their new electric sound while recording an album meant to capture it on tape. At the same time, Bolan's company signed with a new label, [[Fly Records]]. Just as a new single, "[[Ride a White Swan]]" was to see release in October 1970, Bolan decided to shorten the group's name to T. Rex, reflecting the change in style (as well as making it easier for people to pronounce).<ref name=Paytress/> |
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| ⚫ | Although the album was credited to T. Rex, all the recordings (as well as the cover shot) were done when they still |
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| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | The album continued in the vein of the duo's previous |
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| ⚫ | Although the album was credited to T. Rex, all the recordings (as well as the cover shot) were done when they were still known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, with the two-man lineup of singer/songwriter/guitarist [[Marc Bolan]] and percussionist [[Mickey Finn (musician)|Mickey Finn]], while producer [[Tony Visconti]] played bass and recorder on a couple of tracks. Bolan had considered calling the album ''The Wizard'' or ''The Children of Rarn'', before opting for a self-titled album.<ref name=Paytress>Paytress, Mark. ''Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar''. Omnibus Press. 2003</ref> |
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[[AllMusic]] wrote that "The tone of the album is a bit more pastoral" than on the previous album but electric guitars are integrated in tracks in "Beltrane Walk"," "Is It Love", and "Diamond Meadows", predating the style of the follow-up. Lyrics were inspired in part by [[Tolkien]].<ref name="Deming" /> It is poetry about wizards, Druids, and a "Liquid Poetess in a buckskin dress". Journalist Tom Everett observed that Bolan was "clearly infatuated with mysticism, as well as the pure sounds of the English language".<ref name=stone /> |
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| ⚫ | The album continued in the vein of the duo's previous effort ''[[A Beard of Stars]]'', with an even further emphasis on an electric rock sound as well as the addition of strings, scored by Visconti, on several tracks.<ref>"... in December, he released the ''T.Rex'' album which also became a smash hit. Strings added by producer Tony Visconti had given an extra dimension to T.Rex's music ..." ''Bolan - Born To Boogie'', [[Chris Welch]], [[Simon Napier Bell]], [[Plexus Publishing]] 2008 edition p. 77</ref> Certain tracks like "The Time of Love is Now", "Suneye" and "Root of Star" were stylistically closer to the folk music of Tyrannosaurus Rex<ref name=Paytress/> but electric guitars and bass are fully integrated in tracks like "Jewel", "Childe", "Beltane Walk", "Diamond Meadows", "Is It Love", and "One Inch Rock", foreshadowing the style of the follow-up. As on previous albums, the lyrics were inspired in part by [[Tolkien]],<ref name="Deming" /> including poetry about wizards, Druids, and a "Liquid Poetess in a buckskin dress". Journalist Tom Everett observed that Bolan was "clearly infatuated with mysticism, as well as the pure sounds of the English language",<ref name=stone /> although it would be the final time this subject matter would dominate his work. Elsewhere, "The Visit" details a UFO abduction while "Diamond Meadows" and "Suneye" are more conventional love songs that presage future ballads. |
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| ⚫ | The album contained electric reworkings of two old Tyrannosaurus Rex songs, one of which, "The Wizard", was originally recorded as the A side of Bolan's (solo) first single |
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| ⚫ | The album contained electric reworkings of two old Tyrannosaurus Rex songs, one of which, "The Wizard", was originally recorded as the A side of Bolan's (solo) first single in 1965.<ref name=Paytress /> The second was an electric version of the second Tyrannosaurus Rex single, "One Inch Rock", with an intro of scat-singing by Bolan and Finn, which the duo had been incorporating into live acoustic versions for some months prior to the album sessions. The remaining songs, however, were new material. "The Children Of Rarn" and its reprise, which opened and closed the UK album, were an incursion into symphonic rock which Bolan had wanted to develop into a full concept album which he was never able to complete; a 16-minute demo suite of its songs was taped in 1971. The B-side, a cover of "[[Summertime Blues]]", plus the intricate guitar instrumental outtake "Deep Summer" were also recorded during the sessions.<ref name="Cliff"/> |
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[[Howard Kaylan]] and [[Mark Volman]], aka "[[Flo and Eddie]]", sang backup vocals for the first time on a T. Rex song, "Seagull Woman".<ref name=stone /> They would go on to sing on most of the group's subsequent string of hits. |
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Recording sessions began at Trident on May 14, 1970 with the rockers "Jewel" and "Is It Love", "Jewel" having already been premiered in concert;<ref name="Cliff">{{cite book |last=McLenahan |first=Cliff|title=Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 A Chronology|year=2019 |publisher=Helter Skelter Books}}</ref> this session set the stage for an electric pop/rock album. On Jun 1 the more tranquil "Diamond Meadows" and "The Visit" were taped along with "Ride A White Swan" (some sources list Jul 1 as the date for "Swan"). On June 16, the instrumental outtake "Deep Summer" was attempted but left unreleased. On June 24, [[Howard Kaylan]] of the duo [[Flo and Eddie]] attended the session for "Seagull Woman" to sing backup vocals for the first time on a T. Rex song (although his partner [[Mark Volman]] was also credited on the sleeve, session documentation does not confirm this).<ref name="Cliff"/> The duo would go on to sing on many of the group's subsequent string of hits. "Summer Deep" and "The Time of Love Is Now" were recorded on June 26, while "Beltane Walk" and an early version of the "Hot Love" B-side "King of the Mountain Cometh" were attempted on Jul 1. Remakes of two older songs, "One Inch Rock" and "The Wizard" were recorded July 6 along with "The Children of Rarn". The final sessions on Aug 5 and 31 saw "Root of Star" committed to tape. Session notes for the recording of "Childe" and "Suneye" appear to be lost.<ref name="Cliff"/> |
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==Album cover== |
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The sleeve design was unusual, requiring a sideways look to unfold the full cover, or to have the artwork sideways to remove the LP. The cover pic was taken that summer by [[Peter Sanders (photographer)|Pete Sanders]] at his parents' home in Selbridge. White pancake face makeup was worn by Marc and Mickey, while Bolan clutched his electric guitar to suit the new electric image he was trying to create.<ref name=Paytress/> A preface to the printed lyrics states "Dedicated To All Who Are And Will Be Forevermore." |
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== Release == |
== Release == |
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''T. Rex'' was released on 18 December 1970 by Fly and Reprise. The US pressing of the LP concluded with "Ride a White Swan" rather than "The Children of Rarn (Reprise)". |
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The album broke T. Rex in the UK, following the surprise success of the then-recent single "[[Ride a White Swan]]", which reached No. 2 in the [[UK Singles Chart]], and before its No. 1 follow-up "[[Hot Love (T. Rex song)|Hot Love]]". The album is today listed by the [[Official Charts Company]]'s website as having eventually reached a chart peak of No. 7 and accumulated several runs on the charts totaling 25 weeks.<ref name=official>{{cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/t.%20rex/ |title=T. Rex <nowiki>| Artist |</nowiki> Official Charts |website=[[Official Charts Company|Officialcharts.com]] |access-date=8 February 2015}}</ref> This peak however took place during the [[1971 United Kingdom postal workers strike]], during which no album chart was issued and therefore the site recognises the ''[[Melody Maker]]'' chart for February–April 1971.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/who-we-are/seventies/ |title=Who We Are - History of the Official Charts - the Seventies |website=[[Official Charts Company|Officialcharts.com]] |access-date=25 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925220004/http://www.officialcharts.com/who-we-are/seventies/ |archive-date=25 September 2018 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The ''[[Guinness Book of British Hit Albums]]'' which did not recognise any album chart for the missing weeks, listed the album as having peaked at No. 13.<ref name=guinness>''Guinness Book of British Hit Albums'', Guinness Books, 1977-2006 editions</ref> |
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In 2004, the album was remastered and reissued by [[A&M Records]] with 9 bonus tracks. In 2014, a two-disc deluxe edition was released by A&M in Europe with the first disc containing the remastered album along with non-LP tracks and a BBC radio session on disc one, with a plethora of demos and studio outtakes on disc two. |
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The US pressing of the LP concluded with "Ride a White Swan", rather than "The Children of Rarn (Reprise)". |
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== Reception and legacy== |
== Reception and legacy== |
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{{ |
{{music ratings |
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| rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]] |
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| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Deming">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/t-rex-mw0000479361 |title=''T-Rex'' – T. Rex |last=Deming |first=Mark |website=[[AllMusic]] | |
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Deming">{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/t-rex-mw0000479361 |title=''T-Rex'' – T. Rex |last=Deming |first=Mark |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=8 February 2015}}</ref> |
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| rev2 = ''[[ |
| rev2 = ''[[The Guardian]]'' |
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| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Alexis"/> |
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| ⚫ | |||
| rev3 = ''[[New Musical Express]]'' |
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| rev3score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Morley |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Morley |date=20 September 1980 |title=Marc Bolan Discography 1965~70 |magazine=[[New Musical Express]] |page=22}}</ref> |
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| rev4 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' |
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| ⚫ | |||
| rev5 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' |
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| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Roberts |first=Chris |date=November 2003 |title=Raiders of the lost Marc |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |page=82 |issue=20}}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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Upon release, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' published a glowing review saying, "It's difficult to isolate any one or two songs as being special favorites". Reviewer Todd Everett praised the band for "their ability to intermix vocal and instrumental sounds — the voices often go into a feedback guitar imitation. It's not the kind of trick every group should try".<ref name=stone /> |
Upon release, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' published a glowing review saying, "It's difficult to isolate any one or two songs as being special favorites". Reviewer Todd Everett praised the band for "their ability to intermix vocal and instrumental sounds — the voices often go into a feedback guitar imitation. It's not the kind of trick every group should try".<ref name=stone /> In the UK reception was also highly positive, with Ray Hollingworth of ''[[Melody Maker]]'' describing it as "energy-packed rock, basted with Bolan's poetic and imaginative vocals",<ref>{{cite web |last= Hollingworth |first=Roy |date=26 December 1970 |title=''T. Rex'' review |website=[[Melody Maker]] through Rocksbackpages.com|url=https://www.rocksbackpages.com/Library/Article/t-rex-it-rexi-fly |access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> while Nick Logan of ''[[New Musical Express]]'' opined it was "immensely enjoyable...electricity has had a dual effect of strengthening the rhythmic and melodic qualities of Bolan's compositions and after five albums, it must be a source of satisfaction to pull out such good songs".<ref name="Cliff"/> ''[[Disc (magazine)|Disc & Music Echo]]'' also called it superb, claiming "sweeping strings and lush backings suit this duo far better than one might have expected" while Penny Valentine at ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' noted "people may argue that T. Rex's sound is no longer mystic and pure, but I for one am thankful it's not...Marc, while still retaining a lot of typical Bolanesque, now has much more rhythmic appeal and firm attraction".<ref name="Cliff"/> |
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In his retrospective review, Mark Deming of [[AllMusic]] wrote, "''T. Rex'' is the quiet before the storm of ''[[Electric Warrior]]'', and it retains a loopy energy and easy charm that makes it one of Bolan's watershed works".<ref name="Deming"/> Writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'', Alexis Petridis noted that the album "allowed Bolan's instincts to the fore: more electric guitar; sharper, simpler rhythms; vocals doused in the old-fashioned slapback echo found on "Heartbreak Hotel"; strings accentuating a penchant for what Julian Cope would later characterize as the “Glam Descend”, chord sequences lurching in downward patterns that sound simultaneously melancholy and triumphant".<ref name="Alexis">{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=T. Rex: The Vinyl Collection review: proof that Bolan's genius went beyond the hits |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/dec/11/t-rex-the-complete-studio-albums-review |website=The Guardian |access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref> Likewise, a review in ''Ultimate Classic Rock'' calls it an instant classic, noting that the album is filled with songs like "Childe", "Beltane Walk", and "One Inch Rock" that are "50's rockers dressed up in early 70's flair...Bolan, along with Finn and producer Tony Visconti, mined a sound that, with just a bit of tweaking, would catapult T. Rex onto the pop charts with a string of massive hits in their native U.K."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swanson |first1=Dave |title=Why Marc Bolan went electric with 'T. Rex' |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/t-rex-1970-album/ |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |access-date=July 30, 2024}}</ref> |
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In his retrospective review, Mark Deming of [[AllMusic]] wrote, "''T. Rex'' is the quiet before the storm of ''[[Electric Warrior]]'', and it retains a loopy energy and easy charm that makes it one of Bolan's watershed works".<ref name="Deming"/> |
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[[Richard Barone]] of [[the Bongos]] covered "The Visit" on his first solo album, ''Cool Blue Halo'' (1987).<ref>Ned Raggett https://www.allmusic.com/album/cool-blue-halo-mw0000193027 "Richard Barone ''Cool Blue Halo''"]. AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2020.</ref> [[Siouxsie Sioux]] covered "Jewel" in 1999 with her second band [[the Creatures]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzZHggDoXCE "Siouxsie / the Creatures 'Jewel' (T. Rex cover) live in Oxford, Zodiac 1999"]. |
[[Richard Barone]] of [[the Bongos]] covered "The Visit" on his first solo album, ''Cool Blue Halo'' (1987).<ref>Ned Raggett [https://www.allmusic.com/album/cool-blue-halo-mw0000193027 "Richard Barone ''Cool Blue Halo''"]. ''AllMusic''. Retrieved 2 February 2020.</ref> [[Siouxsie Sioux]] covered "Jewel" in 1999 with her second band [[the Creatures]].<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzZHggDoXCE "Siouxsie / the Creatures 'Jewel' (T. Rex cover) live in Oxford, Zodiac 1999"]. YouTube. February 1999. Retrieved 2 June 2018</ref> |
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== Track listing == |
== Track listing == |
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| title4 = Childe |
| title4 = Childe |
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| length4 = 1:41 |
| length4 = 1:41 |
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| title5 = The Time of Love |
| title5 = The Time of Love Is Now |
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| length5 = 2:42 |
| length5 = 2:42 |
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| title6 = Diamond Meadows |
| title6 = Diamond Meadows |
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| Line 97: | Line 109: | ||
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{{track listing |
{{track listing |
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| collapsed = yes |
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| headline = 2004 Expanded Edition bonus tracks |
| headline = 2004 Expanded Edition bonus tracks |
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| title16 = [[Ride a White Swan]] |
| title16 = [[Ride a White Swan]] |
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| note16=[[Single (music)|Single]] [[A-side & B-side|A-side]] |
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| length16 = 2:30 |
| length16 = 2:30 |
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| title17 = [[Summertime Blues]] |
| title17 = [[Summertime Blues]] |
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| note17=Single B-side |
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| writer17 = [[Eddie Cochran]], [[Jerry Capehart]] |
| writer17 = [[Eddie Cochran]], [[Jerry Capehart]] |
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| length17 = 2:42 |
| length17 = 2:42 |
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| title18 = Poem |
| title18 = Poem |
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| length18 = 0:34 |
| length18 = 0:34 |
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| title19 = The Visit |
| title19 = The Visit |
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| note19=Take 4 |
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| length19 = 1:57 |
| length19 = 1:57 |
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| title20 = Diamond Meadows |
| title20 = Diamond Meadows |
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| note20=Take 6 |
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| length20 = 1:56 |
| length20 = 1:56 |
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| title21 = One Inch Rock |
| title21 = One Inch Rock |
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== Personnel == |
== Personnel == |
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;T.Rex |
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* [[Marc Bolan]] – vocals, guitar, bass, organ |
* [[Marc Bolan]] – vocals, guitar, bass, organ |
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* [[Mickey Finn (musician)|Mickey Finn]] – drums, bass, Pixiphone, vocals |
* [[Mickey Finn (musician)|Mickey Finn]] – drums, bass, Pixiphone, vocals |
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with: |
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* [[Tony Visconti]] – bass, piano, recorder, string arrangements, [[record producer|production]] |
* [[Tony Visconti]] – bass, piano, recorder, string arrangements, [[record producer|production]] |
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* [[Howard Kaylan]] – |
* [[Howard Kaylan]] – backing vocals |
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* [[Mark Volman]] – |
* [[Mark Volman]] – backing vocals |
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* [[Roy Thomas Baker]] – [[audio engineering|engineering]] |
* [[Roy Thomas Baker]] – [[audio engineering|engineering]] |
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== External links == |
== External links == |
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* {{Discogs master|72465|T. Rex}} |
* {{Discogs master|72465|T. Rex}} |
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Latest revision as of 18:35, 26 December 2024
| T. Rex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 18 December 1970 | |||
| Recorded | 14 May – 31 August 1970 | |||
| Studio | Trident, London | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 37:41 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Tony Visconti | |||
| T. Rex chronology | ||||
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T. Rex is a 1970 album by Marc Bolan's band T. Rex, the first under that name and the fifth since their debut as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968. It was released on 18 December by record labels Fly and Reprise. The album continued the shift begun by its predecessor from the band's previous folk style to a minimal rock sound,[1] with an even balance of electric and acoustic material.[2]
Background
[edit]The duo's previous album A Beard of Stars had charted moderately well at number 21, selling around the same amount of copies as previous Tyrannosaurus Rex records, but frontman Marc Bolan felt frustrated at not being able to break out of cult status.[2] The new lineup with Finn toured extensively throughout the UK and Europe during 1970, acquainting audiences with their new electric sound while recording an album meant to capture it on tape. At the same time, Bolan's company signed with a new label, Fly Records. Just as a new single, "Ride a White Swan" was to see release in October 1970, Bolan decided to shorten the group's name to T. Rex, reflecting the change in style (as well as making it easier for people to pronounce).[2]
Songs and recording
[edit]Although the album was credited to T. Rex, all the recordings (as well as the cover shot) were done when they were still known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, with the two-man lineup of singer/songwriter/guitarist Marc Bolan and percussionist Mickey Finn, while producer Tony Visconti played bass and recorder on a couple of tracks. Bolan had considered calling the album The Wizard or The Children of Rarn, before opting for a self-titled album.[2]
The album continued in the vein of the duo's previous effort A Beard of Stars, with an even further emphasis on an electric rock sound as well as the addition of strings, scored by Visconti, on several tracks.[3] Certain tracks like "The Time of Love is Now", "Suneye" and "Root of Star" were stylistically closer to the folk music of Tyrannosaurus Rex[2] but electric guitars and bass are fully integrated in tracks like "Jewel", "Childe", "Beltane Walk", "Diamond Meadows", "Is It Love", and "One Inch Rock", foreshadowing the style of the follow-up. As on previous albums, the lyrics were inspired in part by Tolkien,[4] including poetry about wizards, Druids, and a "Liquid Poetess in a buckskin dress". Journalist Tom Everett observed that Bolan was "clearly infatuated with mysticism, as well as the pure sounds of the English language",[5] although it would be the final time this subject matter would dominate his work. Elsewhere, "The Visit" details a UFO abduction while "Diamond Meadows" and "Suneye" are more conventional love songs that presage future ballads.
The album contained electric reworkings of two old Tyrannosaurus Rex songs, one of which, "The Wizard", was originally recorded as the A side of Bolan's (solo) first single in 1965.[2] The second was an electric version of the second Tyrannosaurus Rex single, "One Inch Rock", with an intro of scat-singing by Bolan and Finn, which the duo had been incorporating into live acoustic versions for some months prior to the album sessions. The remaining songs, however, were new material. "The Children Of Rarn" and its reprise, which opened and closed the UK album, were an incursion into symphonic rock which Bolan had wanted to develop into a full concept album which he was never able to complete; a 16-minute demo suite of its songs was taped in 1971. The B-side, a cover of "Summertime Blues", plus the intricate guitar instrumental outtake "Deep Summer" were also recorded during the sessions.[6]
Recording sessions began at Trident on May 14, 1970 with the rockers "Jewel" and "Is It Love", "Jewel" having already been premiered in concert;[6] this session set the stage for an electric pop/rock album. On Jun 1 the more tranquil "Diamond Meadows" and "The Visit" were taped along with "Ride A White Swan" (some sources list Jul 1 as the date for "Swan"). On June 16, the instrumental outtake "Deep Summer" was attempted but left unreleased. On June 24, Howard Kaylan of the duo Flo and Eddie attended the session for "Seagull Woman" to sing backup vocals for the first time on a T. Rex song (although his partner Mark Volman was also credited on the sleeve, session documentation does not confirm this).[6] The duo would go on to sing on many of the group's subsequent string of hits. "Summer Deep" and "The Time of Love Is Now" were recorded on June 26, while "Beltane Walk" and an early version of the "Hot Love" B-side "King of the Mountain Cometh" were attempted on Jul 1. Remakes of two older songs, "One Inch Rock" and "The Wizard" were recorded July 6 along with "The Children of Rarn". The final sessions on Aug 5 and 31 saw "Root of Star" committed to tape. Session notes for the recording of "Childe" and "Suneye" appear to be lost.[6]
Album cover
[edit]The sleeve design was unusual, requiring a sideways look to unfold the full cover, or to have the artwork sideways to remove the LP. The cover pic was taken that summer by Pete Sanders at his parents' home in Selbridge. White pancake face makeup was worn by Marc and Mickey, while Bolan clutched his electric guitar to suit the new electric image he was trying to create.[2] A preface to the printed lyrics states "Dedicated To All Who Are And Will Be Forevermore."
Release
[edit]T. Rex was released on 18 December 1970 by Fly and Reprise. The US pressing of the LP concluded with "Ride a White Swan" rather than "The Children of Rarn (Reprise)".
The album broke T. Rex in the UK, following the surprise success of the then-recent single "Ride a White Swan", which reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart, and before its No. 1 follow-up "Hot Love". The album is today listed by the Official Charts Company's website as having eventually reached a chart peak of No. 7 and accumulated several runs on the charts totaling 25 weeks.[7] This peak however took place during the 1971 United Kingdom postal workers strike, during which no album chart was issued and therefore the site recognises the Melody Maker chart for February–April 1971.[8] The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums which did not recognise any album chart for the missing weeks, listed the album as having peaked at No. 13.[9]
In 2004, the album was remastered and reissued by A&M Records with 9 bonus tracks. In 2014, a two-disc deluxe edition was released by A&M in Europe with the first disc containing the remastered album along with non-LP tracks and a BBC radio session on disc one, with a plethora of demos and studio outtakes on disc two.
Reception and legacy
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [4] |
| The Guardian | [10] |
| New Musical Express |  [11] |
| Rolling Stone | very favourable[5] |
| Uncut | [12] |
Upon release, Rolling Stone published a glowing review saying, "It's difficult to isolate any one or two songs as being special favorites". Reviewer Todd Everett praised the band for "their ability to intermix vocal and instrumental sounds — the voices often go into a feedback guitar imitation. It's not the kind of trick every group should try".[5] In the UK reception was also highly positive, with Ray Hollingworth of Melody Maker describing it as "energy-packed rock, basted with Bolan's poetic and imaginative vocals",[13] while Nick Logan of New Musical Express opined it was "immensely enjoyable...electricity has had a dual effect of strengthening the rhythmic and melodic qualities of Bolan's compositions and after five albums, it must be a source of satisfaction to pull out such good songs".[6] Disc & Music Echo also called it superb, claiming "sweeping strings and lush backings suit this duo far better than one might have expected" while Penny Valentine at Sounds noted "people may argue that T. Rex's sound is no longer mystic and pure, but I for one am thankful it's not...Marc, while still retaining a lot of typical Bolanesque, now has much more rhythmic appeal and firm attraction".[6]
In his retrospective review, Mark Deming of AllMusic wrote, "T. Rex is the quiet before the storm of Electric Warrior, and it retains a loopy energy and easy charm that makes it one of Bolan's watershed works".[4] Writing for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis noted that the album "allowed Bolan's instincts to the fore: more electric guitar; sharper, simpler rhythms; vocals doused in the old-fashioned slapback echo found on "Heartbreak Hotel"; strings accentuating a penchant for what Julian Cope would later characterize as the “Glam Descend”, chord sequences lurching in downward patterns that sound simultaneously melancholy and triumphant".[10] Likewise, a review in Ultimate Classic Rock calls it an instant classic, noting that the album is filled with songs like "Childe", "Beltane Walk", and "One Inch Rock" that are "50's rockers dressed up in early 70's flair...Bolan, along with Finn and producer Tony Visconti, mined a sound that, with just a bit of tweaking, would catapult T. Rex onto the pop charts with a string of massive hits in their native U.K."[14]
Richard Barone of the Bongos covered "The Visit" on his first solo album, Cool Blue Halo (1987).[15] Siouxsie Sioux covered "Jewel" in 1999 with her second band the Creatures.[16]
Track listing
[edit]All tracks are written by Marc Bolan, except where noted
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Children of Rarn" | 0:53 |
| 2. | "Jewel" | 2:46 |
| 3. | "The Visit" | 1:55 |
| 4. | "Childe" | 1:41 |
| 5. | "The Time of Love Is Now" | 2:42 |
| 6. | "Diamond Meadows" | 1:58 |
| 7. | "Root of Star" | 2:31 |
| 8. | "Beltane Walk" | 2:38 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Is It Love?" | 2:34 |
| 2. | "One Inch Rock" | 2:28 |
| 3. | "Summer Deep" | 1:43 |
| 4. | "Seagull Woman" | 2:18 |
| 5. | "Suneye" | 2:06 |
| 6. | "The Wizard" | 8:50 |
| 7. | "The Children of Rarn (Reprise)" (the U.S. version features "Ride a White Swan" in place of this track) | 0:36 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16. | "Ride a White Swan" (Single A-side) | 2:30 | |
| 17. | "Summertime Blues" (Single B-side) | Eddie Cochran, Jerry Capehart | 2:42 |
| 18. | "Poem" | 0:34 | |
| 19. | "The Visit" (Take 4) | 1:57 | |
| 20. | "Diamond Meadows" (Take 6) | 1:56 | |
| 21. | "One Inch Rock" | 2:26 | |
| 22. | "Seagull Woman" | 2:19 | |
| 23. | "The Wizard" | 8:33 | |
| 24. | "The Children of Rarn" | 0:42 |
Personnel
[edit]- T.Rex
- Marc Bolan – vocals, guitar, bass, organ
- Mickey Finn – drums, bass, Pixiphone, vocals
with:
- Tony Visconti – bass, piano, recorder, string arrangements, production
- Howard Kaylan – backing vocals
- Mark Volman – backing vocals
- Roy Thomas Baker – engineering
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1970/71) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[17] | 37 |
| UK Albums Chart | 7 (Official Charts website)[7] 13 (Guinness Book of British Hit Albums)[9] |
References
[edit]- ^ Deming, Mark. "T. Rex biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g Paytress, Mark. Bolan: The Rise and Fall of a 20th Century Superstar. Omnibus Press. 2003
- ^ "... in December, he released the T.Rex album which also became a smash hit. Strings added by producer Tony Visconti had given an extra dimension to T.Rex's music ..." Bolan - Born To Boogie, Chris Welch, Simon Napier Bell, Plexus Publishing 2008 edition p. 77
- ^ a b c Deming, Mark. "T-Rex – T. Rex". AllMusic. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b c Everett, Todd (22 July 1971). "T. Rex review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f McLenahan, Cliff (2019). Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 A Chronology. Helter Skelter Books.
- ^ a b "T. Rex | Artist | Official Charts". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
- ^ "Who We Are - History of the Official Charts - the Seventies". Officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ^ a b Guinness Book of British Hit Albums, Guinness Books, 1977-2006 editions
- ^ a b Petridis, Alexis. "T. Rex: The Vinyl Collection review: proof that Bolan's genius went beyond the hits". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Morley, Paul (20 September 1980). "Marc Bolan Discography 1965~70". New Musical Express. p. 22.
- ^ Roberts, Chris (November 2003). "Raiders of the lost Marc". Uncut. No. 20. p. 82.
- ^ Hollingworth, Roy (26 December 1970). "T. Rex review". Melody Maker through Rocksbackpages.com. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Swanson, Dave. "Why Marc Bolan went electric with 'T. Rex'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 30 July 2024.
- ^ Ned Raggett "Richard Barone Cool Blue Halo". AllMusic. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
- ^ "Siouxsie / the Creatures 'Jewel' (T. Rex cover) live in Oxford, Zodiac 1999". YouTube. February 1999. Retrieved 2 June 2018
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 302. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
