In 1965 Mark Feld went into a studio and recorded Bob Dylan's 'Blowin' in the Wind' under the name Toby Tyler. Wearing a corduroy cap to copy Dylan's look, it helped reinforce one version of the origin of Mark's ultimate stage name, Marc Bolan. The story goes that he took Bolan from an abbreviation of BObdyLAN, although he once said that Decca Records chose the name for him.
Speed through a career in a modelling agency, then musically with John's Children, Tyrannosaurus Rex (with the magically named Steve Peregrine Took), T.Rex and some solo work, Marc crammed a lot into his too short life. He died just 2 weeks before his 30th birthday when the Mini he was a passenger in hit a fence post then crashed into a tree.
Along the way he was a major force in the development and popularity of glam rock.
The first album I bought was 'Bolan Boogie' a 1972 compilation with some of their hits to date .. 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)', 'Ride a White Swan', 'Jeepster' and 'Hot Love' amongst others.
Then I got this one. "Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow - A Creamed Cage In August"
I don't really expect anyone reading this to have heard of this album, much less know any of the tracks off it. If you do, please let me know in the comments. It was panned by the critics, disliked by the fans and started a decline in popularity for Marc and T.Rex as a whole.
I love it !!
In parts it's so bad it's brilliant. It is glam, orchestral, it has background singers (The Cosmic Choir), it's theatrical and it has amazingly silly song titles ..
'Painless Persuasion v. The Meathawk Immaculate'
'The Leopards Featuring Gardenia & The Mighty Slug'
'You've Got To Jive To Stay Alive - Spanish Midnight'
Only one low charting single came from the album, 'Teenage Dream', after the previous few years full of Top Ten and Top Five hits and four number 1's.
In 2000 T.Rex got a new audience when 5 of their songs were included in the movie and soundtrack of "Billy Elliot". 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)', 'I Love To Boogie', 'Children of the Revolution', Ride a White Swan' and 'Cosmic Dancer' were brought to life in unforgettable movie moments.
Find yourself a 'Greatest Hits' album and soak in the joy of the music.
Every May 1st, make sure to play 'Ride a White Swan' in honour of Beltane, the Druid May Day Festival, and sing Marc's words ..
"Wear a tall hat like a druid in the old days
Wear a tall hat and a tattooed gown
Ride a white swan like the people of the Beltane
Wear your hair long, babe you can't go wrong"
I've attached a link to a 1971 Top of the Pops performance - look for a young Elton John on piano !!
No comments:
Post a Comment