Bolan's Zip Gun Album: 1975
- T.Rex
- Feb 7, 1975
- 2 min read
Marc Bolan's Funk-Soul Stripped Return
February 7, 1975 - T.REX Released Bolan's Zip Gun. Eight of the eleven tracks on the album were previously released in the US the year before on the Light of Love album by Casablanca Records.
Zip Gun was essentially a repackage with three additional tracks. However, it was the only T. Rex album that did not chart in the UK.
Marc's aimed to pursue the funk and soul direction recently seen in Tanx and particularly Zinc Alloy. However, the production of the new album showcased more stark, stripped-down arrangements, possibly as a response to the backlash against the heavily orchestrated Zinc Alloy. The lyrics were simple and direct, often repeating just three or four lines. Several songs, such as "Space Boss," "Think Zinc," and "Golden Belt," had a futuristic feel, reflecting Bolan's love for science fiction. The album also included a twin-drum sound on some tracks, notably "Solid Baby," featuring Davy Lutton and Paul Fenton.
Track Listing
Side A
Light Of Love
Solid Baby
Precious Star
Token Of My Love
Space Boss
Think Zinc
Side B
Till Dawn
Girl In The Thunderbolt Suit
I Really Love You Babe
Golden Belt
Zip Gun Boogie
Production
Original UK release in fully-laminated die-cut cover, on dark blue T·Rex labels.
Printed cardboard inner sleeve with straight corners.
First catalogue number on cover, inner sleeve and labels, 2nd (EMI international cat.#) boxed on cover rear top right.
The cover spine text "Bolan's Zip Gun - T. Rex" & "BLNA 7752" appears on top edge as well.
Labels: Rimtext starts with 'The Gramophone Co Ltd ...'; ('EMI Records ...' on subsequent editions.)
No 'Bolan' logo above 'Stereo', as on repress Bolan's Zip Gun.
Engineered By Gary Ulmer At Music Recorders Inc., Hollywood
℗ 1974 Wizard Artists Ltd, ℗ 1975 - B3, B4.
File under POPULAR : Pop Groups
Photo by courtesy of Warner Brothers
Made and printed in Great Britain.
Made In Gt Britain
UK Variants
LP, Album, Stereo – T. Rex BLNA 7752, T. Rex 0C 064 ○ 96222 – UK – 1975
LP, Album, Repress, Stereo – T. REX BLNA 7752, T. REX 0C 064 ◦ 96222 – UK – 1975
LP, Album, White Label, Stereo, Stamped – T. REX BLNA 7752 – UK – 1975
Cassette, Album – EMI TC-BLNA7752, EMI OC 244 96222 – UK – 1975
Did you have Bolan's Zip Gun in your collection? Ready for the funk-soul stripped sound?
Sources
Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts
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