Light of Love
Encyclopedia
Light of Love is a US-only album released by British
rock
band T. Rex
in 1974. It is composed of tracks previously released in the UK on the album Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
, together with songs recorded in the Spring of 1974 at Music Recorders Inc. Studios in Hollywood. The album was engineered by Gary Ulmer and, in the absence of Tony Visconti
(who had left T. Rex production duties) was produced by Marc Bolan
himself. The album marked the first time that a T. Rex album had been produced without Tony Visconti and also marked Bolans's debut in this role.
The newly recorded songs were licensed by Neil Bogart
who had just set up his Casablanca Records
label, together with "Teenage Dream
", "Explosive Mouth" and "Venus Loon" from the Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow album. Despite considerable publicity and a US tour, Light of Love did not chart in the US. The reasons are disputed, but it permanently ended Bolan's attempts to gain stardom in the United States' pop market. After its failure he concentrated on the UK again (where his career was to experience a resurgence), the new tracks being re-used for the next UK album Bolan's Zip Gun
. Ironically, UK import sales of the Light of Love album may well have impacted the subsequent relative lack of success of Bolans Zip Gun.
Light of Love was eventually released on CD in the UK in 1995 as part of Edsel Records
extensive T. Rex reissue campaign (EDCD 413). Live tracks from the US tour, recorded at the Agora Club in Cleveland, Ohio
on 11 November 1974, were released as the bonus disc of the Live 1977 compilation album.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band 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...
in 1974. It is composed of tracks previously released in the UK on the album Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
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...
, together with songs recorded in the Spring of 1974 at Music Recorders Inc. Studios in Hollywood. The album was engineered by Gary Ulmer and, in the absence of Tony Visconti
Tony Visconti
Anthony Edward Visconti is an American record producer and sometimes a musician or singer.Since the late 1960s, he has worked with an array of performers; his lengthiest involvement with any artist is with David Bowie: intermittently from Bowie's 1969 album Space Oddity to 2003's Reality, Visconti...
(who had left T. Rex production duties) was produced by 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...
himself. The album marked the first time that a T. Rex album had been produced without Tony Visconti and also marked Bolans's debut in this role.
The newly recorded songs were licensed by Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart
Neil Bogart was an American record executive. He is perhaps best known as the founder of Casablanca Records, with Peter Guber....
who had just set up his Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records
Casablanca Records was an American record label started by Neil Bogart, who partnered with Cecil Holmes, Larry Harris, and Buck Reingold in 1973, and based in Los Angeles. The label was formed after all of them had left Buddah Records and secured financing by Warner Bros. Records to start the venture...
label, together with "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:...
", "Explosive Mouth" and "Venus Loon" from the Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow album. Despite considerable publicity and a US tour, Light of Love did not chart in the US. The reasons are disputed, but it permanently ended Bolan's attempts to gain stardom in the United States' pop market. After its failure he concentrated on the UK again (where his career was to experience a resurgence), the new tracks being re-used for the next UK album Bolan's Zip Gun
Bolan's Zip Gun
Bolan's Zip Gun is the tenth studio album by T. Rex, released in 1975. It did not chart in the United Kingdom, and Marc Bolan would not chart again successfully until 1976's Futuristic Dragon...
. Ironically, UK import sales of the Light of Love album may well have impacted the subsequent relative lack of success of Bolans Zip Gun.
Light of Love was eventually released on CD in the UK in 1995 as part of Edsel Records
Demon 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...
extensive T. Rex reissue campaign (EDCD 413). Live tracks from the US tour, recorded at the Agora Club in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
on 11 November 1974, were released as the bonus disc of the Live 1977 compilation album.
Track listing
- "Light of Love" - 3:16
- "Solid Baby" - 2:37
- "Precious Star" - 2:51
- "Token of My Love" - 3:39
- "Space Boss" - 2:47
- "Think Zinc" - 3:21
- "Till Dawn" - 3:01
- "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:...
" - 4:58 - "Girl in the Thunderbolt Suit" - 2:19
- "Explosive Mouth" - 2:25
- "Venus Loon" - 3:02
Personnel
- Marc BolanMarc BolanMarc 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...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, composerComposerA composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Steve CurrieSteve CurrieSteve Currie was born in Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England. He was best known as the bass player and long term member of the English glam rock band T.Rex....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mickey FinnMickey Finn (musician)Mickey Finn or occasionally Micky Finn , was the percussionist and sideman to Marc Bolan in his band Tyrannosaurus Rex , and later, the 1970s glam rock group, T.Rex...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
, congaCongaThe conga, or more properly the tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed Cuban drum with African antecedents. It is thought to be derived from the Makuta drums or similar drums associated with Afro-Cubans of Central African descent. A person who plays conga is called a conguero...
, vocals, hand percussionHand percussionHand percussion is a term used to indicate a percussion instrument of any type from any culture that is held in the hand. They can be made from wood, metal or plastic and are usually either shaken, scraped or tapped with fingers or a stick... - Gloria JonesGloria JonesGloria 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...
- clavinetClavinetA 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...
, backing vocals - Davey Lutton - drums
- Paul Fenton - Additional drums on "Solid Baby"