Tuesday, September 30, 2014
MARCAt some point in '83 or '84 Pat Wilson came home with a copy of The Slider. It pretty much changed everything. Within a short amount of time I owned the trilogy that marked the zenith of T. Rex/Marc Bolan: Electric Warrior, The Slider, Tanx.
Electric Warrior is probably the more well known, containing the hits 'Get It On (Bang A Gong)', and 'Jeepster', and it is well worth owning. As with most great records, the hits drag you in, but it is other songs that keep you coming back, and Electric Warrior is no exception containing such timeless tracks as 'Girl', 'Cosmic Dancer', 'Mambo Sun', 'Planet Queen', and 'Life's A Gas'.
My favorite will always be The Slider. The title track, 'Ballrooms of Mars', 'Spaceball Ricochet', 'Rabbit Fighter', and the oft covered 'Telegram Sam' combine to make this record a must have, and a constant companion.
Tanx comes off as a sign of the decline that followed, but don't be discouraged, it pleases well enough with a killer pace starting with the lead-off track 'Tenemant Lady', straight through to the closer 'Left Hand Luke'. 'Life Is Strange', 'Rapids', 'Electric Slim and the Factory Hen' fill out an enormously pleasing record.
Today would have been Marc's 67th birthday, so bang a gong and get your T. Rex on.
