Electric Warrior is, by any measure, one of the defining albums of the early 1970s. Released in September 1971, it transported Marc Bolan and T. Rex from cult underground favourites into genuine superstars, launching the British glam-rock movement that would dominate the charts for the next half-decade. Produced with immense care by Tony Visconti — who layered string arrangements and backing vocals over Bolan's electric boogie riffs — the album married pop accessibility to cosmic, mystical lyricism in a way that had simply never been done before. Tracks such as Get It On and Jeepster remain instantly recognisable more than fifty years on.
This particular copy is a West German Polydor pressing carrying catalogue number 3126 001, dating from 1971, making it one of the earliest cassette format releases of the album anywhere in the world. Early pre-recorded cassette tapes from continental European majors like Polydor are genuinely scarce; most were played to destruction or simply discarded as disposable objects. A complete example — with both tapes, the original clear plastic case, and the fold-out inlay card intact — represents a meaningful find for any serious collector of Bolan memorabilia or 1970s glam-rock ephemera.
Tony Visconti's production has aged beautifully. Bolan's guitar tone, the lush orchestral swells, and Mickey Finn's percussion lock together with a warmth that suits the analogue cassette format perfectly. This is a piece of music history that also functions as a playable artefact of the era in which it was born.
| Artist | T. Rex (Marc Bolan) |
| Album | Electric Warrior |
| Label | Polydor |
| Catalogue Number | 3126 001 |
| Format | Pre-Recorded Stereo Cassette Tape |
| Year of Release | 1971 |
| Country of Manufacture | Germany (West Germany) |
| Producer | Tony Visconti |
| Genre | Glam Rock / Rock |
| Side 1 Tracks | Get It On • Cosmic Dancer • Jeepster • Monolith • Lean Woman Blues |
| Side 2 Tracks | Mambo Sun • Planet Queen • Girl • The Motivator • Life's a Gas • Rip-Off |
| Audio | Stereo |
| Language | English |
This is a genuine 50-year-old item sold honestly. Please read each point before purchasing.
Original pre-recorded cassette tapes from the early 1970s survive in complete condition far less frequently than their vinyl equivalents. Cases crack, inlays are lost, and tapes are separated or discarded. A fully intact West German Polydor pressing of Electric Warrior from the year of release — with both tapes, the original case, and the inlay card all present — is a genuinely uncommon combination. For collectors of Marc Bolan and T. Rex memorabilia, of early Polydor pressings, or of 1970s glam-rock artefacts, this represents the kind of original-format survivor that rarely surfaces in one piece. It also carries the tactile, visual appeal of the era: the bold red-and-white Polydor tape label, the gold silhouette sleeve art, and the physical weight of analogue music culture at its commercial peak.
Questions or want additional photographs of any specific area — the tape labels, the inlay card detail, or the case wear? Send a message and we'll respond promptly. We want you to buy with complete confidence.