Electric Warrior Songs Ranked
Electric Warrior is the second studio album by the English rock band T. Rex, their sixth since their debut as Tyrannosaurus Rex in 1968. The album marked a turning point in the band’s sound, moving away from the folk-oriented music of the group’s previous albums and pioneering a flamboyant, pop-friendly take on electric rock & roll known as glam rock. The album reached number 1 on the UK charts and became the best selling album of 1971. The single “Get It On” reached the top ten in the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. Retitled “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” by the US record company, it also became the band’s only hit in North America. Electric Warrior has since received acclaim as a pivotal release of the glam rock movement. It had a profound influence on later musicians of different genres. Here are all of Electric Warrior songs ranked.
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11. Rip Off
“The record closes with “Rip Off”. In some ways, this almost seems to pre-date rap. When I say that I am referring only to the vocal phrasing, but this tune turns on the glam with its saxophone fills and orchestrated sound.”
10. The Motivator
“”The Motivator”. Great tune. This one bounces and features some great backing vocals (primarily Bolan’s) and complements “Girl” in terms of its sparseness. It is not as orchestrated / produced as some of the other tracks on this record, but I think (for me anyway) it is what makes this tune ‘work’. I also like how the congas carry the rhythm of this track.”
9. Planet Queen
“Planet Queen” is very much like “Mambo Sun”, though played in a slightly slower meter…and yes…Bolan’s bizarre lyrics abound. Planet Queen is a psychedelic track that pours out of the previous track and is littered with falsetto harmonies and great backing vocals that blend with Bolan’s cosmic ranting – ‘flying saucer take me away’.”
See more: T-Rex Albums Ranked
8. Lean Woman Blues
“This brings us to “Lean Woman Blues”, which is probably my favorite track on the record. Yes, “Get It On” is every bit the classic, but I just love the slow, sloppy feel to this – right on down to the guitar parts.”
7. Jeepster
“Jeepster”. From the soft, melodic structure of ” ‘Dancer” we jump right back into a simple (about as simple as you can get) 12-bar blues-based tune, with (yet again) bizarre lyrics…and yet once again, some great guitar work; Bolan does a nice job of syncopating parts of this track via anotehr distorted guitar riff; the use of slap-back echo also seems to suit this piece.”
6. Mambo Sun
“We open with “Mambo Sun”, a driving bass and drum-led rocker that has a sort of laid back yet always moving rhythm; it remains one of my favorite rock tunes from this era. Some really nice guitar work here with at least one part (lead) being played through a distortion pedal – but played well…a really nice use of effects…”
5. Cosmic Dancer
“This brings us to “Cosmic Dancer”. Again, a very melodic tune / structure from which Bowie ‘borrowed’ heavily for TRAFOZSATSFM (on more than one tune) with some utterly bizarre lyrics – just look ’em up sometime and you’ll see what I mean. Yet, there’s a really nice string arrangement that seems to work really well in this track…which takes us right up to…”
See more: T Rex Songs Ranked
4. Monolith
“Monolith” has much in common with ” ‘Dancer”, especially musically…right down to the backing vocals and pseudo-stereo effects. Musically though, it’s a nice slowly rocking piece…and yes…again…some obtuse lyrics.”
3. Bang a Gong (Get It On)
“Bang A Gong (Get It On)”. I really, really love how this track begins – just a sparse bit of bass and guitar…maybe two bars’ worth, and then the main riff starts. the mellotron featurtes heavily on this track as well (starting right around the 0:38 mark). I see this as the classic, quintessential glam rock track – and due to it’s massive airplay world-wide, one of the more influential songs that pushed glam to the fore (albeit briefly).”
2. Girl
“Then we have “Girl”. This is probably the most ‘sparse’ track on the record (the reverb on Bolan’s vocals notwithstanding). This is pretty much driven by acoustic guitar, a distorted lead / fill guitar, and what sounds like a french horn. There are no drums or bass on this track, and given Bolan’s sensibilities, this tune becomes a bizarre but very listenable track.”
1. Life’s a Gas
“Life Is A Gas is perhaps the strongest of the songs on Electric Warrior AND its only fitting that it’s release was on the heels of the Beatles’ break up and the deaths of Joplin, Hendrix and Morrison.”
