Release date: 18.12.1970
Label: Fly Records
Production: Tony Visconti
Length: 37:41
Genre: psychedelic folk / glam rock
Rating: 8.5/10
Sure, »T. Rex« from 1970, which rode the hit single »Ride a White Swan« to mark the birth of the glam rock era, was the fourth album from the band led by legendary singer/guitarist Marc Bolan, previously known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, but it was also the first real album of the new lineup, which from then on went by T. Rex. In many ways it was still a transitional record between the psychedelic folk and glam rock phases, but it was already clear where Bolan and his buddies were headed – into a world of glamour and glitter.
Before recording »T. Rex«, Bolan realized he had to ‘electrify’ his guitar sound, polish up the vocal harmonies and show up on stage in glitter if he wanted to leave his sonically pretty obscure, ‘flower-power’ past behind. He started building T. Rex around himself, percussionist/drummer Mickey Finn and cult producer Tony Visconti, who on top of producing also contributed piano and symphonic arrangements to the album. Backing harmonies on »T. Rex« came from two former members of The Turtles, Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, known under the stage name Flo & Eddie, who around the same time also started working with the legendary Frank Zappa.
After a short, melancholic intro called »The Children of Rarn«, Bolan, who besides guitar also played organ and bass, serves up a proto-glam rock approach on »Jewel«, where some acoustic instruments are still around, but his electric guitar, topped with a few wah-wah effects, already takes center stage. On »The Visit« you can clearly hear that Bolan’s singing style got more serious, with no more room for the occasional psychedelic ‘bleating’ that marked the earlier albums. Finn’s drumming contribution was a bit more noticeable on proto-glam tracks like »Childe«, which already came pretty close to the classic T. Rex sound that defined the key achievements of Bolan’s career. Otherwise, Finn, who also contributed a few bass lines, mostly kept sticking to percussion.
On the more ‘old-school’ psychedelic folk ballad »The Time Is Low«, marked by superb vocal harmonies, the songwriting progress is even more obvious, while »Diamond Meadows« caught us off guard with gorgeous, baroque-flavored symphonic arrangements. Bolan, Finn and Visconti take a similar approach on »Beltane Walk«, which is already almost entirely in the classic T. Rex glam rock style, while »Is It Love« was already flirting with the boogie that would become more and more important in their music over the years. With »Suneye«, Bolan created one of his best folk ballads. The songs »One Inch Love« and the longer experiment »The Wizard«, one of Bolan’s last ‘Tolkienesque’ experiments, which at times even flirted with early prog rock, were both written back before Tyrannosaurus Rex even existed, when Marc played in John’s Children.
With »T. Rex«, one of the more important achievements of his prematurely ended musical career, Bolan was reborn, going from a reclusive psychedelic dreamer to a showman of a glam rock guru. As he gradually molted into an electric guitarist, he also grew into a better songwriter, while his lyrics finally started to make ‘head and tail’ of things, which you could hear on most »T. Rex« records. Too bad the classic »Ride a Wild Swan« only came out on the American version of the album, because adding it to the other versions would have boosted its value and importance big time. From the huge commercial breakthrough and a spot among the eternal rock icons, when Bolan also became known as the ‘electric warrior’, it was only one step, and for that they needed to find a proper bassist and a better drummer, while Finn stayed on in the band as a percussionist.
Review by: Peter Podbrežnik
Tracklist:
1. The Children of Rarn
2. Jewel
3. The Visit
4. Childe
5. The Time of Love is Now
6. Diamond Meadows
7. Root of Star
8. Beltane Walk
9. Is It Love?
10. One Inch Rock
11. Summer Deep
12. Seagull Woman
13. Suneye
14. The Wizard
15. The Children of Rarn (Reprise) (the American version has “Ride a White Swan” instead of this track)
T. Rex:
Marc Bolan – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, organ
Mickey Finn – drums, bass guitar, backing vocals
Guest musicians:
Tony Visconti – bass guitar, piano, string arrangements, production
Howard Kaylan – backing vocals
Mark Volman – backing vocals
