T. Rex - Electric Warrior (1971)

“Electric Warrior” by T. Rex (1971)

Release Date: September 24, 1971
Produced by Tony Visconti
Genre: Glam Rock, Rock and Roll
Label: Reprise (US), Fly (UK)

Chart Positions: #1 (UK), #12 (Norway), #14 (Germany), #32 (US), #46 (Japan), #166 (France)
Certifications: Silver (UK)

Singles: “Get It On (Bang A Gong)” #1 (UK, Ireland, France), #3 (Switzerland, Germany), #6 (Belgium, Norway), #8 (Canada), #10 (US), #11 (Australia), #13 (Netherlands), #16 (Japan), #32 (Poland), #2 (UK, Ireland), #3 (Germany), #4 (France), #9 (Belgium), #27 (Netherlands), #29 (Australia), #73 (Canada), #79 (Japan)
Singles Certifications: N/A
Other Charting Tracks: N/A
Best Tracks: “Jeepster,” “Bang A Gong (Get It On),” “Life’s A Gas”

“Electric Warrior” by T. Rex (Click Here) 

Electric Warrior is the sixth studio album by English glam rock act T. Rex. It is the group's second album released under the name "T. Rex", with the first four billed as "Tyrannosaurus Rex". It was released on 24 September 1971 by record label Fly in the UK and Reprise in the US. The album marks a turning point in the band's sound, dispensing with the folk-oriented music of the group's previous albums and pioneering a new, "glammier" style of rock known as glam rock. The album also drew attention to the band in the United States with the top 10 hit "Bang A Gong (Get It On)". This would prove to be the band's only successful single in America, deeming the band a "one-hit wonder" there. Two singles were released from the album: "Get It On" and "Jeepster". "Get It On" was T. Rex's biggest selling single, and became the band's only top-ten US hit. In the United States, "Get It On”'s title was originally changed to "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" to distinguish it from Chase's song "Get It On", which was also released in late 1971. The printing of the song title "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" on the back cover of original Reprise Records North American pressings of Electric Warrior is in a different typeface from the surrounding text, with the song's original title retained on the lyric sheet.

Bolan claimed to have written “Get It On” out of his desire to record Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", and said that the riff is taken from the Berry song. In fact, a line (And meanwhile, I'm still thinking) of "Little Queenie" is said at the fade of "Get It On".

Progressive Rock musician, Rick Wakeman performed keyboards on "Bang A Gong (Get it On)." Wakeman is best known for his work with the Prog band Yes. He has been a member with the band since 1971. Wakeman also performed the mellotron on David Bowie's "Space Oddity."

“Jeepster” was controversial in that Fly Records released the song without singer Marc Bolan's prior permission, Bolan having just left Fly for EMI, which had given him control of his own label T. Rex Wax Co. Records. The music and rhythm for “Jeepster” are similar to that of the Howlin' Wolf song "You'll Be Mine", written by Willie Dixon. In interviews, Marc Bolan has acknowledged that he "lifted it from a Howlin' Wolf song".

Jeepster (1971)

The album's sense of campy playfulness and non-sensical wordplay combined with Bolan's warm and fuzzy guitar work and irresistible hooks have given the album a unique fusion of style and roots that have held the test of time. "Electric Warrior" is considered a classic with several publications and critics listing it as one of the great albums of all-time.

The following review was featured in the October 23, 1971 issue of Billboard Magazine:
"T. Rex is now the hottest group in England (consistent number one singles). With the group and the company taking great promotional interest in this album, it won't be long before America also starts bopping to Marc Bolan's uniquely entertaining cosmic visions. Freakiest Cut: "Jeepster," Prettiest: "Life's A Gas, Funniest: "Rip-Off."

T. Rex (1971)

Link to “Electric Warrior” (Click Here) 

T. Rex

David Bowie - Heroes (1977)

“Heroes” by David Bowie (1977)

Release Date: October 14, 1977
Produced by David Bowie and Tony Visconti
Genre: Art-Rock, Rock, Experimental Rock, Ambient
Label: RCA
Chart Positions: #35 (US), #3 UK, Netherlands), #6 (Australia), #13 (Norway, Sweden), #15 (New Zealand), #19 (Austria, France), #34 (Switzerland), #38 (Italy), #44 (Canada, Germany), #57 (Japan)
Certifications: Platinum Gold (UK, Canada)

Singles: “Heroes” #24 (UK), #8 (Holland, Ireland), #9 (France, Netherlands), #11 (Australia), #14 (Austria), #17 (Belgium, Italy), #19 (Germany, Denmark), #20 (Spain), #34 (New Zealand), #37 (Sweden), “Beauty and the Beast” #7 (France), #30 (Belgium), #39 (UK)

+++ 70s Music: Album by Album certifies David Bowie's "Heroes" as one of the great albums of all-time. +++

“Heroes” was David Bowie’s 12th studio album and his third installment of the Berlin Trilogy, which also includes 1977’s “Low” and 1979’s “Lodger.”

“Heroes” by David Bowie (Click Here)

The album was recorded with Brian Eno and Tony Visconti, "Heroes" continued the ambient experiments of Bowie's previous album Low (released earlier that year) and featured the contributions of guitarist Robert Fripp. Of the three albums, it was the only one wholly recorded in Berlin.

Upon its release, it was met with positive critical reception and was named NME Album of the Year. The title track remains one of Bowie's best known and acclaimed songs. David Bowie composed all the lyrics and music with the exception of “Heroes,” “Moss Garden” and “Neuköln” were co-written with Brain Eno and “The Secret Life of the Arabia” co-written by Brian Eno and Puerto Rican guitarist Carlos Alomar.

Every track on the album was a first take. According to producer Brian Eno, the first take of every song ultimately need up being the best one.

Two singles were released from the album; “Heroes” which was a hit throughout the world and though it is considered a classic in the US the song never made it on to the US singles charts. Written by written by Bowie and Brian Eno, “Heroes” was inspired by the sight of Bowie's manager Tony Visconti embracing his girlfriend by the Berlin Wall, the song tells the story of two lovers, one from East and one from West Berlin. Visconti can be heard in the song banging on a metal ashtray that was found in the studio. The song was also released in German and French. The German version is called "Helden" and the French is called "Heros."

"Heroes"

The second single “Beauty and the Beast” was a minor hit in select countries in Europe.

One of the album's most popular tracks "V-2 Scneider" was written as a tribute to Florian Scnieder, a co-founder of the German electronic band Kraftwerk. Bowie has said Kraftwerk influenced him heavily in producing his Berlin albums.

David Bowie (1977)

Dvid Bowie (Heroes Tour 1978)

Link to “Heroes” (Click Here)

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DAVID BOWIE