Futuristic Dragon

Infobox Album
Name = Futuristic Dragon
Type = Album
Artist = T. Rex


Released = January 30, 1976
Recorded = MRI Studios, Hollywood; Paragon Studios, Chicago; Scorpio Sound, London
Genre = Hard rock, glam rock, rock and roll
Length = 40:22
Label = EMI / T.Rex Wax Co (UK)
Producer = Marc Bolan
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:ct5m961o3ep7 link] |
Chronology = T. Rex
Last album = "Bolan's Zip Gun" (1975)
This album = "Futuristic Dragon" (1976)
Next album = "Dandy in the Underworld" (1977)

"Futuristic Dragon" is a 1976 album by T. Rex. Preceded by two UK Top 40 hits, "New York City" (#15) and "Dreamy Lady" (#30), "Futuristic Dragon" was released in January, reaching #50. It was T. Rex's first album to register charts since "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow" in 1974. Live recordings of the successful tour T.Rex undertook that year in the UK (the first since the birth of his son Rolan Bolan, with Gloria Jones) show him to be returning to form from the cocaine addiction, (alleged) Napoleon complex, and weight gain which had plagued him since late 1973, when his star began to fall. In many of these (bootleg) recordings, often done by members of the audience, Bolan thanks the audience for coming, and admits that he did not know if they would. He was heartened by the response received on the two aforementioned hit singles, and set to work on a new album immediately.

One factor which also sparked Bolan's renewed interest in music was the emergence of punk. Photos from early 1977 show Bolan at a pub/restaurant with members of The Ramones. He toured in spring 1977 with The Damned, and on the Granada TV show "Marc", which he hosted, guests of his included the Boomtown Rats, the Jam, and Generation X.

Track listing

All songs were written by Marc Bolan.

#"Futuristic Dragon (Introduction)" – 1:52
#"Jupitar Liar" – 3:43
#"Chrome Sitar" – 3:14
#"All Alone" – 2:50
#"New York City" – 3:58
#"My Little Baby" – 3:09
#"Calling All Destroyers" – 3:53
#"Theme for a Dragon" – 2:01
#"Sensation Boulevard" – 3:43
#"Ride My Wheels" – 2:28
#"Dreamy Lady" – 2:53
#"Dawn Storm" – 3:42
#"Casual Agent" – 2:52

1997 Re-release CD with bonus tracks

#"Futuristic Dragon (Introduction)"
#"Jupiter Liar"
#"Chrome Sitar"
#"All Alone"
#"New York City"
#"My Little Baby"
#"Calling All Destroyers"
#"Theme For A Dragon"
#"Sensation Boulevard"
#"Ride My Wheels"
#"Dreamy Lady"
#"Dawn Storm"
#"Casual Agent"
#"London Boys"
#"Laser Love"
#"Life's An Elevator"

Personnel

* Marc Bolan: vocals, guitars, moog
* Gloria Jones: backing vocals, clavinet
* Steve Currie: bass guitar
* Davy Lutton: drums
* Jimmy Haskell: string instruments