T. Rex: Electric Warrior [REPRISE]

Why you'll love it

Kevin Gray cut this 180g Rhino Rocktober pressing at Cohearant Audio from the original analog master, in a faithfully replicated tip-on gatefold jacket. Electric Warrior went to No. 1 in the UK, and "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" reached the US top ten.

This edition

• 180g vinyl
• Cut by Kevin Gray from the original analog master
• Tip-on gatefold jacket
• Limited edition
• Etched runouts

About the album

One appearance on Top of the Pops in March 1971, a silver satin suit and a little glitter under Marc Bolan's eyes, and glam rock was off and running. T. Rex were riding high on "Hot Love" when they started this album, and they recorded much of it on the road during their first American tour.

Bolan had swapped Tolkien imagery for cars, girls and boogie, and he said he was finally writing about himself. Tony Visconti piled on the studio magic: flanging, backwards guitars and a guitar plugged straight into the desk. Rick Wakeman plays piano on "Bang A Gong (Get It On)," King Crimson's Ian McDonald blows sax on "Rip Off," and Flo & Eddie add those swooning backing vocals. "Mambo Sun," "Jeepster," "Cosmic Dancer" and "Life's A Gas" are all here.

Half the bands of the 70s and 80s seem to have learned to strut from this record. Bolan made it look easy, which, judging by the outfits, it was not.

Also at Kops: more T. Rex on vinyl · browse Rock

Tracklist

Listen

On Reprise / Rhino (cat# R1 6466), a reissue of the 1971 album.