Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
Encyclopedia
Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow – A Creamed Cage in August is the ninth studio album by Marc Bolan & T. Rex
, released in February 1974. When originally released the initial pressings were a multi-layered triple gatefold sleeve, a latticework image of the current cover featuring singer Marc Bolan's face in a pale gold surround. Japanese manufacturer Teichiku reinstated this as an elaborate limited edition paper sleeve in 2001.
At the time, Marc Bolan
's success in the UK was beginning to slip, as a result of two factors: his constant desire to "crack" the US market (which resulted in a lessened effort on the UK charts) and his desire to expand T. Rex
's sound. This can be seen on 1973's Tanx
, which included new guitar effects, chord changes, string arrangements and other studio "tricks" Bolan had not employed before.
He had been listening to a sizable amount of US soul
and R&B, no doubt influenced by his new affair with a backup singer and clavinet
player he had hired for his 1973 US tour - Gloria Jones
. These new sounds, in retrospect, were a year and a half before David Bowie
's pioneering "Young Americans
" album, often credited with making the most successful transition from UK glam rock
(which was losing popularity) to radio-friendly, soul-influenced pop/rock.
However, as successful as Bolan was in combining his new influences, the boogie/rockabilly
sound at the core of the classic T. Rex
sound can still be heard in the guitar work and the harmonies, in particular on the track "Nameless Wildness".
The songs reflect a darker mood than on Bolan's earlier releases, with lead track "Venus Loon" having quite grotesque subject matter. This was surely refective of Bolan's inner uncertainty about his status in the rock world now that he was no longer a teen idol. Other songs such as "Galaxy" and "Change" contain similar forebodings and dark imagery. The music, too, is ambitious and complex, containing some of Marc's most inventive extended guitar solos.
The album divided fans and critics into the two camps - a schizophrenic critical reaction that would remain with him until his death - some derided him as a washed-up teen idol, and others believed he would eventually make a resurgence in popularity.
At that moment, however, Zinc Alloy marked a downturn in his fortunes - the contemporaneous album single, "Teenage Dream
", made it only to #13 in the UK charts. While that would be a success for most groups, Bolan had spent all of 1971-1973 enjoying constant Top Ten and Top Five UK hits, including four #1's.
T. Rex
would not enjoy another Top 20 UK hit until "New York City", in the summer of 1975.
in 1994 as part of their extensive T. Rex reissue campaign. A number of bonus tracks were added (see below). Unfortunately, however, they chose to tag a new ending onto classic single Teenage Dream, a segment of a jam session. Only japanese pressings of the album contain the original album and single version as it originally appeared. A companion release, entitled Change (The Alternate Zinc Alloy), was released in 1996 which contained alternative versions, studio rough mixes and demos of the main album and bonus tracks. A second remastered combined album digipak
(MEDCD717) was released by Edsel in 2002.
1994 CD reissue (Edsel EDCD392)
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
, released in February 1974. When originally released the initial pressings were a multi-layered triple gatefold sleeve, a latticework image of the current cover featuring singer Marc Bolan's face in a pale gold surround. Japanese manufacturer Teichiku reinstated this as an elaborate limited edition paper sleeve in 2001.
At the time, Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
's success in the UK was beginning to slip, as a result of two factors: his constant desire to "crack" the US market (which resulted in a lessened effort on the UK charts) and his desire to expand T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
's sound. This can be seen on 1973's Tanx
Tanx
Tanx is the eighth album by British rock band T. Rex, released in 1973. Tanx was a hit in UK and Europe but it failed to emulate the success of The Slider in the U.S., reaching only #102 in the album charts...
, which included new guitar effects, chord changes, string arrangements and other studio "tricks" Bolan had not employed before.
He had been listening to a sizable amount of US soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
and R&B, no doubt influenced by his new affair with a backup singer and clavinet
Clavinet
A Clavinet is an electrically amplified keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. It is essentially an electronically amplified clavichord, analogous to an electric guitar. Its distinctive bright staccato sound has appeared particularly in funk, disco, rock, and reggae songs.Various...
player he had hired for his 1973 US tour - Gloria Jones
Gloria Jones
Gloria Richetta Jones is an American singer and songwriter from Los Angeles, California. She recorded the 1964 northern soul song, "Tainted Love", later a hit for the British synth-pop duo, Soft Cell. She was the girlfriend of glam rock artist Marc Bolan of the band T...
. These new sounds, in retrospect, were a year and a half before David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's pioneering "Young Americans
Young Americans (album)
Young Americans, released in 1975, shows off David Bowie’s 1970’s shift to his “obsession” with soul music . For this album, Bowie let go of the influences he had drawn from in the past, replacing them with sounds from “local dance halls”, which, at the time, were blaring with “…lush strings,...
" album, often credited with making the most successful transition from UK glam rock
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
(which was losing popularity) to radio-friendly, soul-influenced pop/rock.
However, as successful as Bolan was in combining his new influences, the boogie/rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
sound at the core of the classic T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
sound can still be heard in the guitar work and the harmonies, in particular on the track "Nameless Wildness".
The songs reflect a darker mood than on Bolan's earlier releases, with lead track "Venus Loon" having quite grotesque subject matter. This was surely refective of Bolan's inner uncertainty about his status in the rock world now that he was no longer a teen idol. Other songs such as "Galaxy" and "Change" contain similar forebodings and dark imagery. The music, too, is ambitious and complex, containing some of Marc's most inventive extended guitar solos.
The album divided fans and critics into the two camps - a schizophrenic critical reaction that would remain with him until his death - some derided him as a washed-up teen idol, and others believed he would eventually make a resurgence in popularity.
At that moment, however, Zinc Alloy marked a downturn in his fortunes - the contemporaneous album single, "Teenage Dream
Teenage Dream (Marc Bolan song)
"Teenage Dream" is a 1974 single by Marc Bolan and T. Rex, taken from the album Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow.-Background and recording:...
", made it only to #13 in the UK charts. While that would be a success for most groups, Bolan had spent all of 1971-1973 enjoying constant Top Ten and Top Five UK hits, including four #1's.
T. Rex
T. Rex (band)
T. Rex were a British rock band, formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter and guitarist Marc Bolan. The band formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, releasing four folk albums under the name...
would not enjoy another Top 20 UK hit until "New York City", in the summer of 1975.
Reissues
Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow was remastered for CD by Edsel RecordsDemon Music Group
Demon Records is a United Kingdom record label founded in 1980 by former United Artists A&R executive Andrew Lauder and Jake Riviera who had previously started Stiff Records...
in 1994 as part of their extensive T. Rex reissue campaign. A number of bonus tracks were added (see below). Unfortunately, however, they chose to tag a new ending onto classic single Teenage Dream, a segment of a jam session. Only japanese pressings of the album contain the original album and single version as it originally appeared. A companion release, entitled Change (The Alternate Zinc Alloy), was released in 1996 which contained alternative versions, studio rough mixes and demos of the main album and bonus tracks. A second remastered combined album digipak
Digipak
Digipak is a patented style of CD, DVD or BD packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI World Ltd., an Atlas Holdings company.-Features:...
(MEDCD717) was released by Edsel in 2002.
Track listing
All tracks composed by Marc Bolan.- "Venus Loon" – 3:01
- "Sound Pit" – 2:50
- "Explosive Mouth" – 2:26
- "Galaxy" – 1:48
- "Change" – 2:47
- "Nameless Wildness" – 3:06
- "Teenage DreamTeenage Dream (Marc Bolan song)"Teenage Dream" is a 1974 single by Marc Bolan and T. Rex, taken from the album Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow.-Background and recording:...
" – 5:45 - "Liquid Gang" – 3:17
- "Carsmile Smith & the Old One" – 3:16
- "You've Got to Jive to Stay Alive – Spanish Midnight" – 2:35
- "Interstellar Soul" – 3:26
- "Painless Persuasion v. the Meathawk Immaculate" – 3:26
- "The Avengers (Superbad)" – 4:28
- "The Leopards Featuring Gardenia and the Mighty Slug" – 3:36
1994 CD reissue (Edsel EDCD392)
- "The Groover" – 3:24
- "Midnight" – 2:49
- "Truck On (Tyke)" – 3:09
- "Sitting Here" – 2:21
- "Satisfaction Pony" – 2:49
Change (The Alternate Zinc Alloy) (Edsel EDCD 440)
- "Venus Loon" – 3:05
- "Sound Pit" (Parts 1 & 2) – 3:01
- "Explosive Mouth" – 2:33
- "Galaxy" – 1:03
- "Change" (Signs) – 1:54
- "Nameless Wildness" – 5:19
- "Teenage Dream" – 5:57
- "Liquid Gang" – 2:56
- "Carsmile Smith & the Old One" – 2:34
- "Spanish Midnight" – 0:37
- "Insterstellar Soul" – 1:55
- "Painless Persuasion v. the Meathawk Immaculate" – 3:29
- "The Avengers (Superbad)" – 3:27
- "The Leopards Featuring Gardenia & the Mighty Slug" – 2:28
- "The Groover" – 2:50
- "Midnight" – 2:48
- "Truck On (Tyke)" – 1:40
- "Sitting There" (Sitting Here) – 2:01
- "Satisfaction Pony" – 3:27
- "Nameless Wildness" (Acoustic Demo) – 1:47
- "Carsmile Smith & the Old One" (Solo / Acoustic Demo) – 1:45
- "Carsmile Smith & the Old One" (Acoustic Demo with organ) – 1:17
- "The Avengers (Superbad)" (Acoustic Demo) – 2:50
- "The Leopards Featuring Geraldine & the Mighty Slug" (Acoustic Demo) – 1:08