We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
They called it “T Rextasy”. The band’s publicists trying to capitalize on the popularity of the band T Rex, fronted by Marc Bolan who from 1970–1973 had a run of 11 singles in the UK Top Ten. They weren’t nearly as popular in America but they did have a hit single the previous year with “Bang A Gong (Get It On) and in 1972 released the LP “The Slider” which became their most popular American release.
Bolan was a progenitor of what became known as the ‘glam rock”movement. Wild clothes and hair, makeup and lots of glitter. The music, like the punk movement that would surface a few years later in Britain, was not deep. The songs were repetitive to the point of being hypnotic which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
There’s a lot to like here…the British hits like “Metal Guru” and “Telegram Sam” along with tracks like “Baby Boomerang”, “Rabbit Fighter” “Rock On” and “Chariot Choogle”. And the song “Buick Mackane” treds into heavy metal territory.
You may remember “Ballrooms of Mars’ being featured in the movie School of Rock….
The band also released two stand alone singles in 1972 “Children of The Revolution” and “Solid Gold Easy Action” which both hit #2 in the UK.
They were also featured in a 1972 film directed by Ringo Starr…
By 1972 David Bowie was in the process of stealing Marc Bolan’s crown as the king/queen of Glam. And trust me this is no “Ziggy Stardust” or “Hunky Dory”….but it’s not bad.
I really didn’t want to like this…but I kinda do…see what you think.
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