T. Rex: Bolan's Zip Gun (Rhino Deluxe Edition) - Disc 1 of 2 CD Track Listing

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T. Rex Bolan's Zip Gun (Rhino Deluxe Edition) - Disc 1 of 2 (1975)
Bolan's Zip Gun (Rhino Deluxe Edition) - Disc 1 of 2\n2006 Rhino Records, Inc.\n\nOriginally Released January 1, 1975 \nRemastered CD Edition Released March 18, 1997\nEdsel 2CD Expanded Edition Released September 17, 2002\nRhino 2CD Expanded Edition Released January 24, 2006\n\nAMG EXPERT REVIEW: Having reinvented himself as a bionic soulboy across the course of 1974's Zinc Alloy, Zip Gun was less a reiteration of Marc Bolan's new direction, than a confirmation of it. Much of the album returns to the understated romp he had always excelled at: The delightful knockabout "Precious Star," the unrepentant boogie of "Till Dawn," and the pounding title track all echo with the effortless lightheartedness which was Bolan at his most carelessly buoyant, while "Token of My Love" is equally incandescent, a playful blues that swiftly became a major in-concert favorite. But the essence of Zip Gun remains firmly in the funky pastures which characterized Zinc Alloy, with the only significant difference lying in the presentation. Out went the plush production which so diluted the earlier set, to be replaced by a sparser sound that emphasized the rhythms, heightened the backing vocals, and left rock convention far behind. "Light of Love," "Golden Belt," and the heavyweight ballad "I Really Love You Babe" may not be Stax-sized attractions, but they have an earthy authenticity nevertheless, while bonus tracks on the Edsel remaster include single-only stabs at "Dock of the Bay" and "Do You Wanna Dance," further indications of just how seriously Bolan was taking his new role -- and how far he'd moved from the bopping elf of three years earlier. \n\nThe difference was, in 1972, Marc Bolan was a god. By 1975, he was barely even a minor deity. It was, of course, the old, old story. When he made records that sounded like the old ones, the kids all complained he'd stagnated and lost it. When he made records that didn't sound like them, then they moaned even louder that things just weren't the same. So he made ones that fell smack between the two poles, and that wasn't right either. And yet, played back to back alongside the "classics," there ain't much wrong with any of them. Whatever was the fuss all about, then? Decades on, each of Bolan's latter-day albums retain a hint of their original controversy, but hindsight lends them an impact (and, for what it's worth, a credibility) which contemporary listeners could never have imagined. And Zip Gun, an album which scored the worst reviews of all, hits as hard as any of them. [In 2002, T. Rex's catalog was reissued, and this disc was given extra special treatment. Including the previously mentioned bonus tracks "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Dock of the Bay," the album also offered a second bonus disc that featured alternate takes of every track from the album featured in the same order, alternate takes of the two bonus tracks mentioned above, and extra outtakes of "Solid Baby," "Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit," the original version of "Golden Belt" (called "Dishing Fish Wop"), and three more versions of "Till Dawn." These were often looser and less structured versions, but also quite fun and effective because of it.] -- Dave Thompson\n\nAmazon.com Product Description\nThe phenomenally popular and influential T.Rex spearheaded the glam-rock movement, a genre owing everything to its quintessential superstar, Marc Bolan. Rivaled only by Bowie, whose own glam period followed in their flamboyant footsteps, Bolan and T.Rex created an incredible vibe and sound whose legacy lives. Driven by primal grooves, effortless hooks, trippy vocals, and deliciously fat guitar riffs, their music was both infused with hippie spirituality and raw sexuality-a rich, ripe, sonic delight both primitive and evolved. While their music defined an era, their irresistible grooves are timeless, and Bolan's later, more experimental tracks, marrying pop genius with creative expansion and proto-punk power, underscore his groundbreaking artistry.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot For the Uninitiated, March 3, 2006\nReviewer: James Choma (Brecksville, OH United States)\n \nI love just about everything Marc Bolan recorded in his all-too-short career. But even with as big a fan as I am, I have to admit that "Bolan's Zip Gun" is not a very good album, nor is it very good T. Rex. \n\nAt the time this album was released (1975), Bolan's star was on the wane. Fans did not know what to make of this album's predecessor, 1974's "Zinc Alloy & the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow." However, it did manage to spawn at least one hit single, "Teenage Dream." And as confused and disjointed as that album was it still had excellent production values. Long-time Producer Tony Visconti had always been a key ingredient of the T. Rex sound, and the bombastic treatment he created for "Zinc" made it the album we T. Rex fans know and love. But Visconti, no longer willing to put up with Bolan's ego and erratic behavior, decided to call it a day, and signed off in late 1974. This left Bolan, rapidly getting pickled in cocaine and alcohol, in total creative control. \n\nLet's get the bad stuff out of the way. One of the first things you notice about "Bolan's Zip Gun" is how weak it sounds compared to the albums that came before it. Gone was the T. Rex sound -- the special ingredients (a lush combination of strings, brass, and woodwinds) were discarded in favor of what Bolan described as "Space-age Funk." Sadly, this new direction didn't pay off, often sounding tinny and hollow. \n\n"Light of Love" starts off the album with a whimper: "La, la, la, la, la, la,la,la, laaaa -- the Light of Love..." -- a horrible choice for one of the album's singles. Interestingly enough, when American company Casablanca Records picked up Bolan in 1974, this song became the album's title. Not a good selling point. Although the "Light of Love" album boasts one of my favorite LP covers! \n\nThe other poorly chosen single was "Zip Gun Boogie," a sloppy, uninspired mess of a song that Bolan featured on his '74 tour -- sadly, his last-ever tour of the USA. However, it did chart in the UK, proving at the time that something with the Bolan name could still occasionally sell. \n\nWhat did the music buying public think? Not too much. To Bolan's chagrin the album was yet another miss -- a sign that the UK had put the phenomena of T.Rexstasy behind them. \n\nOther misfires on the album are the unlistenable "Golden Belt" and "I Really Love You Babe." Even the worst Tyrannosaurus Rex song shines brightly compared to either of these two cold turkey burgers. These should have stayed in the demo stage, replaced by "Do You Want to Dance" and Gloria Jones's great version of "Dock of the Bay." \n\nAlso of note was the change in Bolan's appearance. Once known as "the Bopping Elf" by the British music press a few years earlier, he had now become the "Porky Pixie." His midsection had indeed grown in size, and his face appeared bloated and swollen -similar to that of a late-70's Elvis Presley. The drugs and booze were definitely taking a toll on his once defined, chiseled features. \n\nNow the good stuff. One hold-over from the "Zinc Alloy" sessions was "Till Dawn," the only song that retains some of the signature T. Rex sound. Visconti received no credit -- however, his fingerprints are all over it. This should have been the first single. You have great Bolan-esque lyrics and full orchestral backing -- cascading violins, cellos, and violas! Wonderful! \n\n"Precious Star" and "Token of My Love" sound like 50's-inspired tracks, the lyrics of which find Bolan occasionally stumbling ("Will you love me, like you said in your let-ter...), but they still come off as enjoyable -- songs that still have that infectious quality to stay in your head long after you've heard them. \n\nIn lieu of the backing orchestration, Bolan seems to have concentrated on bits and pieces rather than putting it all together. For instance, he moved the percussion front and center. Drummer Bill Legend (the first to defect from the T. Rex camp in 'late '73/early '74) was replaced by Davy Lutton, who really comes through in tracks like "Solid Baby" and "Think Zinc." 1983 actually saw "Think Zinc" re-released as a 12-inch single. "Think Zinc" is truly one of the highlights of the album. He also overdubbed saxophones on several of these tracks -- "Solid Baby," "Space Boss," "Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit," and the aforementioned "Think Zinc." \n\nAs for bonus tracks, you'll get a great re-make of "Dock of the Bay" sung by Bolan's girlfriend Gloria Jones. There's also a decent version of "Do You Want to Dance." Disc 2 has the demo versions of all of these songs -- providing you with different takes, and occasionally alternate lyrics. \n\nAs a T. Rex album, I'd give this two-and-a-half, maybe three stars. On its own, I'd only give it one star. \n\nAgain, probably my least favorite T. Rex CD, but it still has its bright points ("Think Zinc," "Till Dawn," "Space Boss,"). If you're curious about T. Rex -- this would definitely not be the place to start. I'd go with "Electric Warrior," "The Slider," or their self-titled album, "T.Rex".\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nUnderrated, December 6, 2003\nReviewer: (KKC) M. S. Artaxerxes Dionysus (Denmark)\nProbably the worst T Rex album ever made, Bolan's Zip Gun still has its strong points in 'Solid Baby', 'Think Zinc', 'Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit', 'I Really Love You Babe' and 'Zip Gun Boogie' as well as the great coverversion of 'Dock of the Bay', rivalling then original. \n\nNo song on Bolans Zipgun are bad. Many are just not so good as Futuristic Dragon or the fisrt half of Zinc Alloy, to compare it with its nearest relatives. The album itself is equal to Zinc Alloy in its way of appearing totally against what anybody would espect from a musician, with a noisy chaos, which somehow still sounds just WONDRFULL. My favourite track is the joyous madness of 'Think Zinc' (people passing through / all through the night / using my number / in strange ways), while the furious glam-rock of 'Solid Baby' is nothing sort of excellent. 'Light Of Love' is a great, catchy pop-item, unlike anything Bolan had ever written before, while the last tracks employ a very weird kind of music, that blends glam rock with disco with something indecipherable, but so much Bolan, and yet not... \n\n3 stars, so Zinc can get 4 and Dragon 5.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nOne Of Bolan's Best, January 17, 2006\nReviewer: Kevin M. Vaillant (Rockville, MD USA)\nI got into Bolan around 1973 when "TANX" had just come out. I love most all of Bolan's stuff- this CD kicks major butt- if you like glam rock mixed with a bit of soul, this is the best. I agree "Electric Warrior" is his best but if you like that you won't go wrong here. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nOne of Bolan's best. , August 6, 2005\nReviewer: Stephen Sincoskie (Cream Ridge, NJ United States)\nI bought this cd thinking it would have a few decent songs after reading the reviews, I was wrong. I love this whole cd. It's like Bolan doing old time rock. Far superior to Bowies Young Americans garbage. At times it hints at John Lennon-Rock n Roll and The Kinks Muswell Hillbillys. Buy it, you'll love it. I just listened to it 3 times in a row!\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn underrated and misunderstood gem, April 3, 2005\nReviewer: Josh Z. Bonder "a sound painter" (Toronto)\nI've read many reviews for this album, though only one other is posted here. It seems to be consistantly judged very harshly, possibly due to the fact that it negates most expectations of a t.rex album. In fact, this might be my favourite t.rex album, and I have all the official releases. It has a very unique sound and production value, and an overall sort of surreal romanticism which permeates most songs. The simplicity of some of the songs is disarming at first, and this may also be what triggers bad reviews; this album has a characteristic sound and feel all its own within the t.rex catalogue, and to me, it stands out as one of the most unique and pleasurable albums upon repeated listening. There is a very upbeat, dancehall quality to much of the material, and a sort of sublime, deja vu tinge which pervades the rest. I believe this album was years ahead of its time, and it's still my favourite t.rex album to listen to. Bolan's most unique offering.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot Bolan's Best - But it Has Its Moments, March 10, 2000\nReviewer: James Choma (Brecksville, OH United States)\nMarc Bolan was a musical genius. Marc Bolan plus Tony Visconti was pure magic. This is Marc's first album after parting ways with Tony as Producer in 1974. The result is mixed, often disappointing. The only glimmer of the former T. Rex sound shows up in "Till Dawn" and "Think Zinc". The production is very weak and suffers throughout. Songs such as "I Really Love You Babe" and "Golden Belt" are utterly unlistenable in my opinion. On the other hand - "Space Boss" and "Token of My Love" are great! Even the extras cover versions are good. Gloria Jones' version of "Dock of the Bay" is surprisingly good.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nAn Overlooked Classic, July 24, 2004\nReviewer: M. Filipowicz (Kansas City)\nBolan's popularity was certainly at a low point when this album was released. He was overweight and fame, drugs and a massive ego had certainly messed up his head, but his talent remained intact. \nFirst and foremost, you have to give Bolan an awfully lot of credit for being able to capture the T-Rex sound without Tony Visconti. (Bolan's Zip Gun was the first T-Rex album that Visconti did not produce.) \nThis album is just a blast! Critics have said that Bolan failed in his attempt to incorporate American soul music into his sound; they also said that Gloria Jones had no place in T-Rex. They were sorely mistaken on both counts. Not only did Bolan know exactly what he was doing, but Gloria Jones' voice was an invaluable addition to this new music he was making. \nBolan's Zip Gun isn't as strange as Zinc Alloy (it's more structured), but it has a similar sound. The first two tracks are pretty fun and certainly distinct; they do a nice job of peaking your interest. But the album really picks up with the third track, 'Precious Star', and then it never loses momentum. This is a dynamic, unpredictable ride. After the soulful 'Precious Star' and 'Token of Your Love' (two songs that definitely belong together), we are hit with four of the coolest entries in the Bolan songbook. 'Space Boss' is catchy as all get out and wonderfully cocky. 'Think Zinc' is a veritable anthem and 'Till Dawn' is simply one of the best ballads Bolan ever wrote. I defy anyone to listen to 'Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit' and claim that Bolan's experiment with American soul music was unsuccessful. 'I Really Love You Babe' is more glorious soul and then along comes the charming 'Golden Belt', an odd number that doesn't resemble any other song that comes to mind. 'Zip Gun Boogie' is one of the best songs Bolan has ever closed an album with; it perfectly commingles Bolan's playful pop and hard rock. \nIf all you have listened to is Electric Warrior, then Bolan's Zip Gun is going to be quite the adjustment. But give it some time, and I promise it will pay off. It's just a shame that so many others didn't give it a fair chance. \n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nreleased from visconti, September 25, 2003\nReviewer: Shmuel (Jerusalem Israel)\nThis is one of my favourite TRex albums. I hesitated to by it at first because of the poor reviews it had picked up over the years. Its interesting how rock history is written. It seems people didn't want to attribute too much accolade to Bolan so they gave it to Visconti instead ergo Visconti leaves and Bolan falls. This idea continued to such an extent that the production of the comeback Dandy in the Underworld album was ascribed to Visconti who in fact had no dealings with Bolan after Zinc Alloy. Bolan was supposed to be short of ideas when he made this album. In fact he recorded two albums in this year (1974) this one and Futuristic Dragon and the previous year if he had included all the single A+B sides and unreleased material on Zinc Alloy it would have been a double album, hardly the output of someone short of ideas.\nThis album is Bolan's most varied and at the same time most commercial. Bolan resisted the path to heavy rock which was the commercial music of the early 70's. He parted company with Steve Took over this and after he parted company with Visconti he put out what could be termed an anti heavy rock album. I'll just run through the styles to wet your appetite.\nLight of Love - pop , Solid Baby - rock , Precious Star - soul , Token of My Love - The sea of love a la Bolan , Space Boss - two drum rock , Think Zinc - glam a la glitter band , Till Dawn (my favourite) - sweet soul , Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit - glam a la Bolan , I really love you Babe - Bolan does Dylan , Golden Belt - funk , Zip Gun Boogie - boogie (of course).\n\nLooking back it seems that it was Visconti who was in fact stuck for ideas, he went on to produce Thin Lizzy, not a bad band but not in Bolan's class. Bolan got married, cleaned up his life and broadened his musical horizons.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nMusic from an Intergalactic Roller-Skating Rink, July 14, 2003\nReviewer: A music fan\nWhen an extraordinary work of art has been forgotten or neglected, it's even more pleasurable to rediscover it. Such was my experience of BOLAN'S ZIP GUN, an album so delightful that it defies description. It's like music from an intergalactic roller-skating rink. The best songs are easily "Solid Baby" and "Zip Gun Boogie": the latter is restrained but still rocks, the former will make you want to dance or strip or both. Let the public listen to the Rolling Stones, the Doors, or the Beatles and deceive themselves into thinking that it is great music. They can have TV; we have T. Rex.\n\nAMAZON.COM CUSTOMER REVIEW\nNot a disaster, but not up with the best, July 9, 1999\nReviewer: A music fan\nIt's a hard album to listen to Zip Gun, designed for the american market with an American sound it seems short on that manic Bolan energy. There are some excellent songs, Think Zinc, Till Dawn, Solid Baby, but some songs sound like ideas that should never have been taken beyond the imagination. The last four songs sound like Bolan really has reached a point when he is tired and wants a break. Even as a die hard Bolan fan i can't say this is a must buy, but if you have other Bolan albums and you don't mind its limitations then Zip Gun is worth buying for the songs I have mentioned. Songs like Precious Star and Token of My Love are also worth listening to. So to sum up, worth having for four or five songs, but as a casual listener this perhaps wouldn't be a wise choice as a first buy, there are better overall albums, some classic songs but not a classic album.\n\nHalf.com Details \nProducer: Marc Bolan & T. Rex \n\nAlbum Notes\nThe 1997 reissue of BOLAN'S ZIP GUN features 2 additional tracks that did not appear on the original release; "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Dock Of The Bay."\nMarc Bolan/T. Rex: Marc Bolan (vocals, guitar); Gloria Jones (vocals, Clavinet); Dino Dines (keyboards); Steve Currie (bass); Paul Fenton, Davey Lutton (drums); Mickey Finn (hand percussion).\n\nIncludes liner notes by Mark Paytress.\nAll tracks have been digitally remastered.\n\nMarc Bolan & T. Rex: Marc Bolan (vocals, guitar); Gloria Jones (vocals, Clavinet); Dino Dines (keyboards); Steve Currie (bass guitar); Davey Lutton (drums); Mickey Finn (percussion).\n\nAdditional personnel: Paul Fenton (drums).\n\nReleased in early 1975, BOLAN'S ZIP GUN appeared after T. Rex had been out of the limelight for a period of time. Rumors abounded about the supposed ill health of Marc Bolan, but beyond the rumors was the undeniable fact that T. Rex was no longer the sensation it had been in its early-'70s heyday.\n\nNever content to rest on his laurels, Bolan was willing to rework the band's sound, and the songs on ZIP GUN show a bright, slick production that contrasts with classic T. Rex. Bolan still shows a penchant for the feel of early rock & roll, but he pumps up the sound with a chorus of three female back-up singers, handclaps, synthesizer and other sonic embellishments not normally associated with T. Rex. Songs like "Till Dawn" and "Light of Love" sound like classic '50s songs transformed into rock & roll epics, with Bolan's insinuating singing adding the necessary dirty-sweet touch to the mix. Although it fell short of the Top 40, the stomping "Zip Gun Boogie" grooves with classic Bolan swagger.
This rock cd contains 13 tracks and runs 38min 27sec.
Freedb: b009010d
Buy: from Amazon.com

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