ELECTRIC WARRIOR

Includes liner notes by Nikki Sudden, Cliff McLenehen & Bill Legend. Includes liner notes by Nikki Sudden, Cliff McLenehan and Bill Legend. T. Rex: Marc Bolan, Mickey Finn . Personnel: Marc Bolan (vocals, guitar); Mickey Finn (vocals, percussion); Ian McDonald (saxophone); Burt Collins (flugelhorn); Will Legend (drums); Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman (background vocals). Additional personnel: Steve Currie (bass instrument); Howard Kaylan, Ian McDonald , Mark Volman, Burt Collins, Will Legend. Audio Remasterers: Daniel Hersch; Bill Inglot. Liner Note Authors: S?amus Egan; Bill Inglot. Photographers: Ed Caraeff; Kieron "Spud" Murphy. Unknown Contributor Role: Dann Davis. Prior to ELECTRIC WARRIOR's release, T. Rex (or, as it had mostly been known, Tyrannosaurus Rex) was a folk-rock duo that played acoustic guitar and bongos augmented by the occasional electric and full drum kit. While some of the hippie-prophet philosophy that dominated Tyrannosaurus Rex's music can still be heard here (especially on the dreamy geneology of "Cosmic Dancer"), ELECTRIC WARRIOR, for the most part, represents a revolution in attitude and approach. Singer/songwriter/guitarist Marc Bolan expanded the band here for a full rock sound, and focused on lean, hook-heavy pop songs that relied on slinky grooves and the riveting energy of early rock & roll. Married to Bolan's cheeky sexuality and theatrical flair, the results were undeniable. From the mid-tempo thump of "Mambo Sun" to the crashing yowl of "Rip Off," ELECTRIC WARRIOR is fuzzy, nasty, and immediately appealing. Songs like "Jeepster" and "Bang A Gong" pump straight from the elemental heart of rock & roll, yet the songs are fleshed out beautifully with strings, handclaps, backup vocals, and Tony Visconti's expansive production. Bolan's glitzy, sexy aesthetic directly sparked the glam movement (he was a huge influence on David Bowie and the creation of his Ziggy Stardust persona), while his punchy, back-to-basics approach also presaged the stripped-down, three-minute song attack of the Ramones and the punk movement in the later '70s. As a result, ELECTRIC WARRIOR can be seen as one of the most enduring and quietly influential records in the rock canon.

• Genre: Pop
• RSD Date: n/a
• Format: CD
• Released: 2/25/2003