Limited editions of T-Rex's classic album 'Electric Warrior' to be released

Album releasesBox setsReissues
Written By Chris Singleton

Limited edition album releases: T-Rex, Electric Warrior
Release date: 23 April 2012 (with 7" single box set being released on 21 April)
Label: Universal 

Universal Music is pleased to announce a deluxe, super-deluxe, a special vinyl and digital exclusive editions of T. Rex’s monumental Electric Warrior album on April 23 2012. It will be preceded by a box set of singles produced especially for Record Store Day 2012 (April 21 2012). 

These new editions are crammed with previously unreleased demos and out-takes - the centrepiece of which is original producer Tony Visconti’s re-mastered version of Electric Warrior.

This year is the 40th anniversary of Glam Rock, or the "Glamiversary" as some have christened it. Electric Warrior was T. Rex’s second album, released in September 1971. It was T. Rex’s No. 1 single Hot Love which sparked a movement that gathered pace throughout 1971 to become a fully-fledged phenomenon in 1972. 1971 was the year Marc Bolan broke big, and thanks to a touch of glitter under his eye when performing "Hot Love" on the March 10 edition of Top Of The Pops, he was to herald a new pop era, Glam or Glitter Rock. By the end of 1971 Bolan and Rexmania was as close as anyone had come to Beatlemania since 1963.

Electric Warrior topped the UK album charts twice, from December 18 1971 to January 29 1972 and again from February 5 to February 19 1972.

About the new editions

The centrepiece is original producer Tony Visconti’s re-mastered version of Electric Warrior, which is presented with four bonus tracks - the non-album single, Hot Love (No. 1 in February 1971) plus the B-sides There Was A Time / Raw Ramp, King Of The Mountain Cometh and Woodland Rock.

The second disc in the deluxe and super-deluxe editions opens with Marc Bolan reciting a previously unreleased poem called The Electric Warrior which was recorded for a US Radio promo that is featured in full at the end of the album.

This is followed by an alternative version of the album comprised from previously unreleased demos and out-takes. In addition there are unreleased demos recorded in London and New York of a recently discovered untitled instrumental from the Hot Love sessions and a T. Rex cover of Carl Perkins’ rockabilly classic Honey Don’t.

The limited edition super deluxe edition of Electric Warrior will be housed in a lavish box set which is foil-blocked and de-bossed. It will contain the two CDs plus a DVD of rare and unreleased TV performances and promos by the group, and a wealth of additional items - alongside a 32-page hardback book featuring a brand new essay from Bolan biographer Mark Paytress (this includes new interviews with those who were close to Marc).  The box also includes reproductions of rare photos and memorabilia: a poster including a timeline, three photographs, a coaster and a vintage press release.

The DVD includes the only two surviving Top of the Pops performances from the BBC archive of T Rex’s Electric Warrior-era hits – Hot Love and Get It On, the latter featuring Elton John. The DVD also includes the previously unseen Blue Screen versions of Jeepster and Life’s A Gas from Germany’s Beat Club plus the actual broadcast versions of Jeepster and Life’s A Gas. The rarely seen official promo videos for Get It On and Jeepster are also included, plus live performances of Girl and Cosmic Dancer which were recorded at the performance of T. Rex’s historic Wembley Empire Pool concerts on March 18 1972.  These were not included in the concert film Born To Boogie (which used none of the matinée concert footage).

Tony Visconti’s re-mastered version of the album will be released on vinyl for the very first time as a double LP.

Universal Music Group will also be releasing a very limited edition boxset on Record Store Day 2012 (Saturday April 21) containing four 7” singles pressed on heavy weight vinyl and featuring unique sleeves.

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Chris Singleton
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