''Dandy in the Underworld'' is the twelfth and final studio album by

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rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band T. Rex. It was released on 11 March 1977 by record label

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. It reached No. 26 in the UK charts, the band's highest-charting album since 1974's ''

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''. The leading single "

I Love to Boogie "I Love to Boogie" is a song by English rock band T. Rex. It was recorded in May 1976 and released as a single in June by record label EMI. It later appeared on T. Rex's final studio album, 1977's ''Dandy in the Underworld''. Its B-side, "Baby ...

" had been a hit single in the UK the previous year, peaking at number 13 in the singles chart. ''Dandy in the Underworld'' was regarded by critics as a comeback for the band. It was praised for the strength of the songwriting and Bolan's vocal performances. However, it would prove to be the band's final album, as

Marc Bolan Marc Bolan ( ; born Mark Feld; 30 September 1947 – 16 September 1977) was an English guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a pioneer of the glam rock movement in the early 1970s with his band T. Rex. Bolan was posthumously inducted int ...

died in a car crash in September 1977 at age 29. In 2006, an album of alternate versions and unreleased tracks called ''Final Cuts'' was released.

Background and recording

At the time of the album's release,

and T. Rex were on a UK tour, supported by The Damned. The album and tour were notable for marking a return to form for the band. The sessions had started in May 1976 at Decibel Studios London, with the recording of "I Love to Boogie'", with Steve Currie (bass), Davey Lutton (drums) and Dino Dines (piano). Later recordings took place at MRI Studios,

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, United States and continued at Decibel Studios,

AIR Studios Associated Independent Recording (AIR) is an independent recording company founded in London in 1965 by record producer Sir George Martin and his business partner John Burgess, after their departure from Parlophone. The studio complex was founded ...

and

Trident Studios Trident Studios was a British recording facility, located at 17 St Anne's Court in London's Soho district between 1968 and 1981. It was constructed in 1967 by Norman Sheffield, drummer of the 1960s group the Hunters, and his brother Barry. ...

in London, England. The track "Visions of Domino" was a re-recording of an unreleased song, "Funky London Childhood" with completely rewritten lyrics.

Music

Biographer Mark Paytress noted that the "plastic soul" style of the band's previous works was no more. Bolan had reacquainted himself with the rock rhythms of his youth on the album. Bolan's production was more direct. Most of the material had been recorded in 1976.

Release

''Dandy in the Underworld'' was released on 11 March 1977. It was launched at London's leading punk rock venue

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. The

title track A title track is a song that has the same name as the album or film in which it appears. In the Korean music industry, the term is used to describe a promoted song on an album, akin to a single, regardless of the song's title. Title track may al ...

was released as a single in a remixed and re-recorded version with the offending lyrics "Exalted companion of

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nights" being changed to "T. Rex nights". "Crimson Moon" was also released as a single the same year, as well as the non-album track "

Celebrate Summer "Celebrate Summer" is a song by English rock band T. Rex, which was released in 1977 as a non-album single. The song was written and produced by Marc Bolan. "Celebrate Summer" was the last T. Rex release before Bolan's death in a car crash on 16 ...

" in August. ''Dandy in the Underworld'' was remastered for CD by Edsel Records in 1994 as part of their extensive T. Rex reissue campaign. A number of bonus tracks were added (see below). A companion release, entitled ''Prince of Players (The Alternate Dandy in the Underworld)'' was released in 1998 and contained alternative versions and studio rough mixes of the main album and bonus tracks. A combined album

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was released in 2002. An album of unreleased tracks and alternate versions of songs from the sessions that produced the album was released in 2006 called "Final Cuts". Most of these tracks were recorded at AIR Studios Oxford Street, with the addition of four tracks recorded at Decibel Studios in Stamford Hill in April 1977 after the release of ''Dandy in the Underworld'' . Seven of the twelve songs on "Final Cuts" were not released during Bolan's lifetime. It includes an alternate cut of the final T.Rex single 'Celebrate Summer' as well as 'Mellow Love', 'Write Me A Song', 'Hot George', 'Shy Boy', 'Foxy Boy', 'Love Drunk' and '20th Century Baby'.

Reception and legacy

''Dandy in the Underworld'' gathered the most consistently positive reviews for any T. Rex album in five years. Having fallen from critical and commercial favour, the band had endured some fiercely hostile press, but ''

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'', which had been amongst the most negative, noted of the album: "very listenable, well arranged ndimmaculately played." In a positive retrospective review,

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

stated that the album contained "packed solid with powerful pop".. The reviewer noted the "revitalized energy" and claimed it was "the greatest record" Bolan had released in years.

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praised the album saying, that it "finds a reinvigorated Bolan crafting some of his best hooks and calibrating his catchiest grooves in years". Reviewer Stephen M. Deusner said the tracks were well balanced: "The cosmic "Crimson Moon", the infectious "I'm a Fool for You Girl", and the album's centerpiece, "Jason B. Sad", alternate between carefree and cautious, conjuring a gravity that counterbalances the upbeat, stripped-down rhythms." The title track was prominently used in

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TV series ''

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'', in the episode one of the first season which was broadcast in 2021.

Track listing

All tracks written by

, except where noted.

Personnel

– vocals, guitar, bass guitar, percussion,

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tambourine The tambourine is a musical instrument in the percussion family consisting of a frame, often of wood or plastic, with pairs of small metal jingles, called "zills". Classically the term tambourine denotes an instrument with a drumhead, though ...

Steve Harley Steve Harley (born Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice; 27 February 1951) is an English singer and songwriter, best known as frontman of the rock group Cockney Rebel, with whom he still tours, albeit with frequent and significant personnel changes. Ea ...

– backing vocals * Alfalpha – backing vocals *

Nick Laird-Clowes Nick Laird-Clowes (born 5 February 1957, in London, England) is an English musician and composer, best known as the lead singer and one of the principal songwriters for the Dream Academy. He co-wrote songs including "Life in a Northern Town", ...

– backing vocals * Andy Harley – backing vocals * Sam Harley – backing vocals *

Gloria Jones Gloria Richetta Jones (born October 19, 1945) is an American singer and songwriter who first found success in the United Kingdom, being recognized there as "The Queen of Northern Soul". She recorded the 1965 hit song "Tainted Love" and has wo ...

– backing vocals * Colin Jacas – backing vocals *

Dino Dines Peter Leslie "Dino" Dines (17 December 1944 – 28 January 2004) was a British keyboard player, best known for his work as a member of T-Rex. Dines was also a member of Apostolic Intervention and the Keef Hartley Band. Career Early Dines was a m ...

– keyboards * Tony Newman – drums *

Herbie Flowers Brian Keith "Herbie" Flowers (born 19 May 1938) is an English musician specialising in electric bass, double bass and tuba. He is noted as a member of Blue Mink, T. Rex and Sky. Flowers has contributed to recordings by Elton John (''Tumblewe ...

– bass guitar * Scott Edwards – bass guitar *

Paul Humphrey Paul Nelson Humphrey (October 12, 1935 – January 31, 2014) was an American jazz and R&B drummer. Biography Humphrey was born in Detroit and began playing drums at age 8, taking private lessons in Detroit. In high school he played baritone hor ...

– drums * Miller Anderson – guitar *

Steve Currie Steve Currie (19 May 1947 – 28 April 1981) was an English musician who was best known as the bass player and a long-term member of the English glam rock band T. Rex. While working for the local Tax office, Currie played with local Grims ...

– bass guitar * Davy Lutton – drums *

Bernie Casey Bernard Terry Casey (June 8, 1939 – September 19, 2017) was an American actor, poet and professional American football player. Early life Casey was born in Wyco, West Virginia, the son of Flossie (Coleman) and Frank Leslie Casey. He graduated ...

- backing vocals on "The Soul of My suit" * Chris Mercer – saxophone * Bud Beadle – saxophone, flute * J.B. Long – violin ;Technical * Mike Stavrou - engineer AIR Studios * Jon Walls - engineer AIR Studios *

Jennifer Maidman Jennifer Maidman (formerly Ian Maidman, born 24 January 1958) is a British musician, singer, producer, songwriter, actor and author who has collaborated extensively with many internationally well known groups and artists. Her work appears on hu ...

- engineer Decibel Studio * Mick O'Halloran - Tour Manager/Backline * Cliff Wright - Backline/Guitar tech * Produced by Marc Bolan

Charts

References

External links

*
Dedicated website for the ''Dandy in the Underworld'' album and tour
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dandy in the Underworld 1977 albums T. Rex (band) albums Albums recorded at Trident Studios