Bolan's Zip Gun (50th Anniversary) (National Album Day 2025)

To commemorate this year’s Rock-themed National Album Day, Demon Records are delighted to announce this 50^th anniversary limited edition vinyl reissue of ‘Bolan’s Zip Gun’. 

Landing smack-bang in the middle of the ‘70s – the decade, lest we forget,  Marc Bolan and T. Rex had helped officially kick off in 1970 with ‘Ride A White Swan’ – the album, with its mix of space-age soul and hypnotic rock ‘n’ roll repetition originally confused some critics but has since come to be regarded as something of a hidden gem. As usual, Marc knew which way the wind was blowing and ‘Bolan’s Zip Gun’ both pays tribute to the glorious American R&B and funk that so dominated the era and anticipates Britain’s punk revolution just around the corner. Not for nothing did Siouxsie Sioux once nominate the frenetic ‘Think Zinc’ as one of her favourite records.

An album highlight, ‘Think Zinc’ became a single in Germany only but ‘Bolan’s Zip Gun’ did produce two further classic T. Rex singles in ‘Light Of Love’ and ‘Zip Gun Boogie’. With Dino Dines added to the band’s line up on keyboards, and Marc’s soul singer girlfriend Gloria Jones now a permanent member on backing vocals and clavinet, the album represented a huge leap forward in the T. Rex sound.

The sleeve artwork was credited to famed graphics wizard John Kosh, who created a distinctive peek-a-boo die-cut design. For the first time as a vinyl reissue, this has been replicated. It also comes in “Bug Glasses Baby Blue” vinyl to reflect the distinctive glasses Bolan wears on the reverse of the sleeve.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Light Of Love
2. Solid Baby
3. Precious Star
4. Token Of My Love
5. Space Boss
6. Think Zinc 

Side B 

1. Till Dawn
2. Girl In The Thunderbolt Suit
3. I Really Love You Babe
4. Golden Belt
5. Zip Gun Boogie