Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow

Infobox Album
Name = Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow - A Creamed Cage in August
Type = Album
Artist = Marc Bolan & T.Rex


Released = February 1 1974
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length =
Label = EMI / T.Rex Wax Co (UK)
Producer = Tony Visconti
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:anfqxqlgldhe]
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Chronology = T. Rex
Last album = "Tanx"
(1973)
This album = "Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow - A Creamed Cage in August"
(1974)
Next album = "Light Of Love"
(1974)

"Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow - A Creamed Cage in August" is a studio album released by Marc Bolan & T.Rex in February 1974.

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 with his old, the boogie/rockabilly sound at the core of the classic T.Rex sound can still be heard in the guitar work and the harmonies. One track, "Nameless Wildness", is built completely around a riff using guitar effects akin to Bo Diddley's, and his signature beat, as well.

The album divided fans and critics into the two camps that would remain with him until his death - those that derided him as a washed-up teen idol, and those who believed he would eventually make a resurgence in popularity.For the moment, however, this album marked a downturn in his fortunes - the contemporaneous album single, "Whatever Happened To The Teenage Dream?", made it only to #14 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.

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 Dream" - 5:45
#"Liquid Gang" - 3:17
#""Carlisle 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
1997 Re-release CD with bonus tracks

#"Venus Loon""
#"Sound Pit (Parts 1 & 2)"
#"Explosive Mouth"
#"Galaxy"
#"Change (Signs)"
#"Nameless Wildness"
#"Teenage Dream"
#"Liquid Gang"
#"Carsmile Smith and The Old One"
#"Spanish Midnight"
#"Painless Persuasion V. The Meathawk Immaculate"
#"The Avengers (Superbad)"
#"The Leopards Featuring Gardenia & the Mighty Slug"
#"The Groover"
#"Midnight"
#"Truck On (Tyke)"
#"Sitting Here (Sitting There)"
#"Satisfaction Pony"
#"Nameless Wildness"
#"Carsmile Smith and The Old One" - (solo)
#"Carsmile Smith and The Old One" - (with organ)
#"Painless Persuasion V. The Meathawk Immaculate"
#"The Avengers (Superbad)"
#"The Leopards Featuring Gardenia & the Mighty Slug"