T. Rex – Futuristic Dragon

T. Rex – Futuristic Dragon

Originally released in 1976 on EMI Records, Futuristic Dragon is the eleventh studio album by T. Rex, and one of the more adventurous records from the later career of Marc Bolan. Released on 30 January 1976, the album captures Bolan continuing to reshape the T. Rex sound as the original glam-rock boom began to fade, bringing in elements of American soul, funk, disco and spacey psychedelic rock alongside the familiar guitar-led rock'n'roll swagger.

The album opens with the brief “Futuristic Dragon (Introduction)” before launching into the spacey “Jupiter Liar” and the unusual “Chrome Sitar”. Bolan's fascination with unconventional textures is particularly evident on “Chrome Sitar” and “Calling All Destroyers”, while “All Alone”, “Ride My Wheels” and “Dawn Storm” bring a stronger soul influence into the T. Rex sound. Contemporary Record Mirror coverage also picked out the album's futuristic and sci-fi atmosphere, highlighting “Jupiter Liar”, “Calling All Destroyers”, “Dawn Storm” and “Casual Agent”.

Two of the album's most recognisable tracks had already appeared as singles in 1975. “New York City” became a UK Top 20 hit, while “Dreamy Lady”, issued under the name T. Rex Disco Party, took Bolan into distinctly disco-influenced territory and reached the UK Top 30. The latter is an especially revealing example of his willingness to experiment, combining the glam-rock identity of T. Rex with the emerging sounds of mid-1970s dance music.

Other highlights include the atmospheric “Theme For A Dragon”, the theatrical “Sensation Boulevard”, “My Little Baby” and the closing pairing of “Dawn Storm” and “Casual Agent”. Although Futuristic Dragon reached only No. 50 in the UK Albums Chart on its original release, it has subsequently attracted greater appreciation as an important document of Bolan's later musical development.

For collectors of T. Rex, Marc Bolan, glam rock and 1970s British rock, Futuristic Dragon offers a fascinating glimpse of an artist refusing to simply repeat the formula of Electric Warrior and The Slider. With its mixture of glam, soul, disco, psychedelic textures and futuristic songwriting, it stands as one of the most distinctive albums from the final years of Bolan's career.

Side A

1. Futuristic Dragon (Introduction)
2. Jupiter Liar
3. Chrome Sitar
4. All Alone
5. New York City
6. My Little Baby
7. Calling All Destroyers

Side B

1. Theme For A Dragon (Instrumental)
2. Sensation Boulevard
3. Ride My Wheels
4. Dreamy Lady
5. Dawn Storm
6. Casual Agent