King of the Rumbling Spires

Last updated
"King of the Rumbling Spires"
Single by Tyrannosaurus Rex
B-side "Do you Remember"
ReleasedJuly 1969
Genre Rock
Length2:07
Label Regal Zonophone
Songwriter(s) Marc Bolan
Producer(s) Tony Visconti
Tyrannosaurus Rex singles chronology
"Pewter Suitor"
(1969)		"King of the Rumbling Spires"
(1969)		"By the Light of a Magical Moon"
(1970)

"King of the Rumbling Spires" is a single by Tyrannosaurus Rex, released in July 1969. It featured the duo of Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrine Took and was written by Bolan. [1] It was a minor chart hit, the first by the group to contain electric guitar instead of acoustic, and was Took's last appearance with the duo on record.

Contents

Background

The track was significantly different from the earlier folk rock material and featured multiple electric guitars from Bolan (played on a Fender Stratocaster) and a toy drum kit from Took. Producer Tony Visconti played bass guitar and electric organ on the track. [2] [3] Bolan had become influenced by the emerging late 60s rock scene featuring bands such as Led Zeppelin, Jehtro Tull and Humble Pie, [1] and wanted to record some experimental guitar work in the style he had used in his earlier stint with John's Children. [2] However, the switch to harsh electric guitar was atypical of the duo's acoustic-based sound, and wouldn't be a regular feature for a few years. [4]

A review in Melody Maker called it "Bolan's most commercial production to date" and called the song "electrified teenybopper". Several reviews hoped it would be a significant hit, and move Tyrannosaurus Rex away from their cult underground image. [1] [3] In the event, it had a single week's appearance on the charts, at number 44, [2] and was the last hit before Bolan regrouped the band as T. Rex to wider commercial success. [5] It was also the last single to feature Took, who quit the duo shortly afterwards after wanting to record his own songs as well as Bolan's, and creative and lifestyle differences between the pair. [6]

Originally issued as a stand-alone single, it was later included as a bonus track on reissues of the earlier album Unicorn . [7]

Personnel

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Paytress 2009, p. 183.
  2. 1 2 3 Julian Cope (September 2004). "King of the Rumbling Spires / Do You Remember". Head Heritage. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  3. 1 2 Burrows 2022, p. 333.
  4. ↑ Paytress 2009, p. 209.
  5. ↑ Paytress 2009, p. 461.
  6. ↑ Burrows 2022, p. 367.
  7. ↑ "Tyrannosaurus Rex / deluxe editions". Super Deluxe Edition. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 25 September 2023.

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