Very excited to get back to this group!! Went back a listened to Bang a Gong and remembered how much of a BANGER it is!! This song amazing as well on the other side of the coin! Great range in style! What’s next for them?! 🙌🏻🔥
👉 20th Century Boy That's the Bolan banger you need. Also: 👉 Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us (1973) 👉 Roxy Music - Editions Of You / Ladytron / Pyjamarama (1972-73)
@Lucie Melahn - A dinosaur is a raptor. They were part of the bird family but most people think they were reptiles but they were really giant birds. Some could fly while others were landbound.
@@donnajean3202 Donna, sorta! I studied this for several years at Cornell vet school. It's a bit more complicated. They are not raptors, but they are early bird ancestors.
Another English band of that era, Mott The Hoople, called out to them in their hit, "All The Young Dudes," as they sang, "Who needs TV when we've got T Rex?" When Mott The Hoople's lead guitarist went on to join Bad Company and took a song he wrote and recorded with MTH to become to become Bad Company's "Ready for Love".
Mott the Hoople may have sung it, but it was David Bowie who wrote it. Bowie gave it to the band after they'd rejected his original offering to them, "Suffragette City". In fact, Bowie's giving MtH "All the Young Dudes" literally kept the band from breaking up. Bowie produced their recording of the song and sang backing vocals on the chorus. Bowie and Bolan had a very interesting frenemy relationship. They were rivals on the charts, but after Bolan's fatal car crash Bowie said, "I'm terribly broken by it. He was my mate. The only tribute I can give Marc is that he was the greatest little giant in the world." Bowie was Rolan Bolan's godfather, and Bowie took care of Rolan and Gloria Jones financially for years, because Marc's estranged wife June Child had inherited Bolan's entire estate.
@William Sager T.Rex may not have been popular in the US, but a lot of American musicians and songwriters have explored T.Rex over the years and taken their cues from Marc Bolan. Not only was he an interesting songwriter and musician who created a lot of very cool, accessible songs, he was also pretty much the epitome of a rock star, and his image was almost as influential as his music and his songwriting. Guess who Slash of Guns'n'Roses was imitating with that stovepipe hat? Gloria Jones had her own interesting career, aside from singing backup on her boyfriend's T.Rex tracks. She recorded the original version of "Tainted Love" all the way back in 1964 (it was written by Ed Cobb, two years before his "Dirty Water" became a big hit for the Standells), and her version of "Tainted Love" would later become a staple of Britain's "Northern Soul" dance movement ... and, of course, a monster transatlantic hit in synthpop form for Soft Cell in 1981.
Marc Bolan is another rocker who tragically died way too soon. If you get a chance to check out the T-Rex performance on The Midnight Special from 1973 it's worth the 8 minutes of your day. Enjoyed the Deep Cut livestream immensely this weekend !!! 🙌👍🤘✌️
His girlfriend(Marc Bolans, real name Mark Feld) she crashed the car into the tree that killed him had to get out of town quick. Gloria Jones. The tree in Barnes, South West London, was dug up by his fans, it was a sight of homage to him. Bit like the Dakota building on Amsterdam, Central Pk West for John.... Imagine,( no pun/ link intended,) digging up a bloody tree? 🤔🤔🤔"Well it was there last night"!?!?!? Mmmmm?!
@@fidoz2370 Also true, although there's more to Mott the Hoople than that. They were a very interesting band that went through a number of phases over the course of their career. Their biggest influence in the beginning was Bob Dylan, of all people, and by the end of their career, when Ian Hunter was pretty much their main creative force, they reached classic-album status with *Mott* and, to a slightly lesser extent, *The Hoople*.
You know what - I grew up in the 70es, and all that great music was available, although born in 68 I was slightly late. But there's only so much you can handle, if you want to listen thoroughly. I focused on ELO primarily, and just a few other things besides. So even now at 53, you are right, I have a Bowie deficiency. Among other things. So much great music that needs listening to, just from one decade... (or two, if we say 66-86.)
I didnt know they did Bang A Gong so suprised this isn't 20th Century Boy as number 2. You guys should we listen to that sometime on your free time then and clip it for those who didn't see. Also I thought you guys did the song Free Ride by The Edgar's winter's group but then on your Dazed and Confused reaction when the song came on and he was like oh what's that song and it turns out you'd never did it so that's my other recommendation aside Evil Woman ELO and Dirty Work Steely Dan.
Marc and David Jones (Bowie) met as teen agers in a talent scouts office in 1964. They became friends, and worked odd jobs together, prior to Bolan becoming famous. He used to hire Bowie as an opening act. Bowie was influenced by him, but it might have been mutual. Sometimes in odd ways, like, Marc's son (David's godson) is Rolan Bolan and David's son, now Duncan Jones, was called Zowie Bowie in his early childhood. Rolan was 2 when Marc died and left destitute, David stepped in and made sure Rolan was taken of for about 17 years.
This album started an entire new form of rock. Glam Rock. Bowie made Ziggy Stardust immediately after this and bands like Sweet, The New York Dolls, Utopia, and The Tubes quickly cropped up following the music and fashion sense Marc Bolan created. Even Elton John was influenced heavily by Marc Bolan, playing piano on "Bang A Gong" he was such a fan. A massive star in Europe, big for a minute in the States. Well worth diving into on your own time.
Elton didn't play on "Bang a Gong", although he did sit in with the band and mimed playing it when they were on *Top of the Pops*. The actual pianist on "Bang a Gong" is Rick Wakeman. That was in the days before Wakeman joined Yes, when he was just a session musician living from paycheck to paycheck. He was paid nine pounds for his work on "Bang a Gong". (Bolan biographer Mark Paytress stated that Blue Weaver, who was the keyboardist in Strawbs and who later became a prime architect of the Bee Gees' disco-era sound as their keyboardist and musical director, may have also played a bit of the piano on "Bang a Gong".) Another notable outside musician on the song is Ian McDonald, who played all of the saxophones. McDonald had been one of the founders of King Crimson, and he would later go on to be one of the founding members of Foreigner. And, finally, the backing vocalists on "Bang a Gong" are none other than Flo and Eddie (aka Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan), the former Turtles singers who sang backup vocals for everybody from Frank Zappa to Bruce Springsteen to Alice Cooper to the Ramones to Duran Duran to Roger McGuinn to Blondie.
Oh yeah. Just imagine how amazing a collab would've been between Ziggy Era Bowie, Marc Bolan and Mick Ronson. Maybe fill up the back with members from both the Spiders (Bowies band) and T. Rex. Would've Hands down been the best Glam album ever 🤣. Bowie and Marc hare vocals, Mick and Marc take turns playing rhythm and Lead and both play solos.
When I hear “T-Rex,” it makes me think of The Who song You Better, You Bet. “I got your body right now on my mind But I drunk myself blind To the sound of old T-Rex”
His girlfriend was Motown artist, Gloria Jones. She had a hit in the UK with "Tainted Love" later transformed into the best cover of all time by Softcell. Music lost a great when Bolan died, he and Bowie were friends and he is just as great an artist.
Marc Bolan, the lead singer/guitarist died tragically in a car accident, just as he was getting his life back together and kicking drugs. It's sad we didn't get to hear what kind of great stuff he would have done, but grateful for the gems he left us with. Cosmic Dancer is such a beauty of a song "I danced myself right out the womb/I danced myself into tje tomb" just evokes some sad yet hopeful imagery. Great reaction Gents!
His partner was obviously drunk. I read an interview that said that "hadn't drunk much, only shared a bottle of wine and the a few drinks afterwards". Yeah, that's drunk. Sad.
Thank you for playing something softer by T. Rex. It was just Marc Bolan's fantasy about dancing in space. He referred to himself as the Cosmic Dancer. Yes, talk about range, they started as a folk band, and evolved their sound. Did they invent glam rock with this album? I think they might have. They rock harder too, so check out Jeepster off the same album. One of the vinyls I wore the grooves off when I was a kid.
He did. Bowie came up with the Ziggy Stardust deal right after this and Elton upped his stage gear game considerably. Sweet and all the rest were soon to follow. I guess Alice Cooper can get some credit too, but Bolan took the theatrics to a feminine direction over the horror angle Alice employed.
@@normanleroy1874 I agree Norman. It’s good for them to try different things. I doubt many other reactors have listened to this one. It’s good for us too.
@@nicolecolson182 they have done some Genesis, I think, but maybe not Los Endos yet. Or Solsbury Hill. Home By The Sea, or Mama, from the Phil Collins era would be cool also. Such an incredibly deep catalogue, it is impossible to pick an ideal starting point for the deep dive.
Alex and Andy!! If you love this song you have to hear the song where the music is inspired by. The song is from Donovan called "Hurdy Gurdy Man". You will LOVE that song. Very much like this but it came out 3 years before this.
Ringo directed the Bolan documentary *Born to Boogie*. And "Back Off Boogaloo" not only quotes Bolan, its musical style is so close to T.Rex's as to practically be a homage.
Yay,The Who sang about getting drunk to the sound of old T,rex !!!! I did suggest this a while back ,The album SLIDER is an ace must listen !! I remember the car crash that took Marc Bolan in 1977 , gutted ,,right in the middle of the Punk movement what a shame , Another band of similar talent "MOTT THE HOOPLE" Bowie wrote their fisrt no 1 "All the young Dudes" worth a go !!! take care from Cornish Pirate !!
Visconti is the forgotten force behind glam. Bowie and Bolan were both immensely gifted when it came to songwriting and natural creativity, but it's hard to imagine either of them doing all of the things that they did in the early '70s without Visconti's input.
Getting into deeper cuts. Great 😎 T-Rex have some awesome songs. Right from the same album "Mambo Sun" for a start...but never go into Bolan's lyrics Other big hits (in the UK) to check out were "20th century boy" (a BANGER); "Metal Guru", and "Children of the Revolution". And don't forget to then continue with SLADE.
One of the most beautiful songs and it never fails to make me tear up. Marc Bolan is an utterly unique artist who died far too young. There are so many songs to recommend but I think you both would love 20th Century Boy. Anything from Electric Warrior or The Slider would be worth a reaction.
The background vocals were by Flo and Eddie formerly of the Turtles. In “Bang a Gong”, the sax was supplied by Ian McDonald formerly of King Crimson. Good stuff! I liked Marc Bolan.
And the pianist on "Bang a Gong" was none other than Rick Wakeman, who (further proving the incestuous nature of English glam rock) played piano on David Bowie's "Hunky Dory" album, including on such notable piano-flavored songs as "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Life on Mars".
@@gregsager2062 At the time, Wakeman was an oft-starving, roving studio cat. Marc offered him a shot at doing the glissando at the end of "Bang a Gong." Rick told Marc that he (Marc) could do it just as easily, but Marc insisted, telling Rick...."But if I play it, you won't get to pay your rent this week!"
@@gregsager2062 Amazingly, according to Rick, THAT was enough for a week's rent! Puts me in the mind of around 1976, Baton Rouge, LA, where I was a radio DJ, doing the 7-midnight daily shift! I was making $800 a month, and I thought I was a millionaire! I had a two-bedroom, two-story townhouse all to myself (and my 2,000 LPs)! I can't remember what rent was, but what COULD it have been? $150, $200 a month?! Amazing! THOSE days are gone, as certain as the days of man killing a mastodon for dinner!
Ah the seductive 70's; the siren song of Marc. My best friend had a giant poster above her bed that she would kiss! Also, haven't you guys seen "Billy Elliott"?
Great song! The “oohs and aaahs” were sung by Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa and the Mothers. The strings were arranged by Tony Visconti of David Bowie fame. Next up try “The Motivator”, “Rip-Off”, “Telegram Sam”, “Chariot Choogle“ or “Jeepster”,
They weren't. T.Rex had a grand total of one hit in the US, "Bang a Gong" (called "Get It On" in the UK), which peaked at #10. No other T.Rex single ever did better than #67 in the States. The *Electric Warrior* album from which "Bang a Gong" taken -- it also includes "Cosmic Dancer" -- did go gold in the US, but it took many years for it to sell enough to qualify as a gold record.
T. Rex was big in the UK. This song kinda reminds me of David Bowie's "Space Oddity". Speaking of David Bowie, From his Album Young Americans the Title Track "Young Americans", & "Fame".
The Album Electric Warrior is in my opinion one of the Greatest Albums ever produced. The late Marc Bolan was way before his time.. Thanks for doing Cosmic Dancer this song never gets any air play.
Roxy Music “Out of the Blue” is from this era/genre. Everything about this song is amazing. I’ve seen one or two reactions and they weren’t blocked. Excellent writing and musicianship on display here including one of the most unique instrumental solos at the end. I challenge you guys to figure out the instrument used without looking it up! 🤘🏽😝🤘🏽
I was about 12 when t rex and Marc Bolan came out loved them had the t shirt and my hair cut the same as Marc I am now 61 lol Mike from the uk all the best lads
Supertramp- "Lover Boy" Alex teased us with a taste during the live stream. Also "Even in the Quietest Moments" and "Fools Overture" from the same album.
Cool! Whoever requested that was on point. Glad you guys liked it. There is a modern folk singer whose voice is similar and is very creative, Devendra Banhart 👍
T-Rex, one of my all time favorite bands. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Boland's band has a ton of great songs. See his album "The Slider". Both of you will love it. Boland had a great producer, Tony Visconti, who helped him find his "sound". Marc Boland was killed in a car accident at age 29. A tragic loss for the music world.
Marc Bolan worshipped Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, of course. When Bowie was working on Lou Reed' s Transformer Marc Bolan took lessons from them on how to look gay on stage.
I am so glad you guys have decided to look into some of the geniuses of glam rock! Mark Bolan and T. Rex, David Bowie (in all his many iterations i.e. Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars, Aladin sane, the man who fell to earth, etc.), Joan Jett, The Sweet... More, More!!
Great track, sits cosily somewhere between Barrett and Bowie. Speaking of which, more Barrett and Bowie please guys! I suggest the songs Terrapin and Quicksand, lovely stuff!
You can definitely hear a bit of an early David Bowie influence in this song. The most obvious followups are "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" and "Jeepster," which definitely rock harder and have a bit of a funky feel.
They've already done "Bang a Gong (Get It On)". Heck, they even mentioned it a few times and Alex played a snippet of it in this video just to remind them of what it sounded like.
Fantastic choice of band guys. For a listen to the full diversity of T.Rex try Rip Off, Monolith or The Motivator from Electric Warrior album, Rabbit Fighter, Metal Guru, Telegram Sam and Baby Boomerang from The Slider album , Left Hand Luke, Rapids or Broken Hearted Blues from the Tanx album, Carsmile Smith, Painless Persuasion from the Zinc Alloy album, Token Of My Love or Think Zinc from the Bolan’s Zip Gun album, All Alone, Casual Agent or Dawn Storm from Futuristic Dragon album or non album tracks Thunderwing, Raw Ramp, King Of The Mountain Cometh, 20th Century Boy, Midnight, Sunken Rags and The Groover - phew. They have amazing music and all written by lead singer and guitarist Marc Bolan who tragically passed away in a car crash in 1977 aged 29.
@@barriewilkinson1455 Huge fan. I bought "Electric Warrior" when it came out and never looked back. My Sister had "Beard of Stars" and "Unicorn" and I listened to them as well, although certainly not as often. "Romany Soup" has haunted me through the years! LOL! I live northwest of Hollywood.
@@randalllee5400 Hi Randall - apologies for getting back to you so late - still, it's Marc's 75th birthday today so maybe my response is more appropriate lol. I love that you live in California and are a fan of T.Rex. I was astonished when I went to San Francisco 10 years ago and found so much of Marc in the record stores over there - he'd have been thrilled at the thought that he had arrived at last in the USA - especially after the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame accolade. Really happy to make your acquaintance. Barrie
For real! Stoked the Gents enjoyed it and I think they'll definitely explore some more T-Rex and other 70's glam. The haters have no clue what they're talking about
In the book "Greatness in Music" by Alfred (not Albert) Einstein, he said there are two kinds of greatness -- inventing a genre and perfecting a genre. Marc Bolan invented a genre -- seemingly all by himself, out of thin air -- hardly anyone can touch him on that.
Marc Bolan was known for his far out lyrics eg: did you ever see a woman,coming out of new york city,with a frog in her hand' Errrrr,what? Nope,never have. He was different and growing up in London,took his share of hidings but guess who had the last laugh? Great album by the way.
Very excited to get back to this group!! Went back a listened to Bang a Gong and remembered how much of a BANGER it is!! This song amazing as well on the other side of the coin! Great range in style! What’s next for them?! 🙌🏻🔥
👉 20th Century Boy
That's the Bolan banger you need. Also:
👉 Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us (1973)
👉 Roxy Music - Editions Of You / Ladytron / Pyjamarama (1972-73)
Telegram Sam is my go to song for T. Rex.
I had never heard this one before. Thanks for sharing guys!
I definitely agree^^^^^^^^^
I’ve never heard this song before.
20th Century Boy by T Rex is a must. One of the coolest openings riffs ever.
Yes, that intro is the textbook definition of a 'hook'.
Oh Yes, they should listen to it you're right
Absolutely, and that hook was used in television commercials 30 years later.
YESSSS
Thunderwing
Jeepster would be a good next reaction.
Agreed jeepster one of my favorites
A dinosaur is, in fact, an animal. Finally, after more than 20 years, my master's degree in zoology is put to use!
🤣 They come in handy once in a while! 🤣
@Lucie Melahn - A dinosaur is a raptor. They were part of the bird family but most people think they were reptiles but they were really giant birds. Some could fly while others were landbound.
@@donnajean3202 Donna, sorta! I studied this for several years at Cornell vet school. It's a bit more complicated. They are not raptors, but they are early bird ancestors.
@@donnajean3202 Raptors are a modern class of birds (in terms of classification). It doesn't translate to dinosaurs.
@@burmajones803 I gave up 5 years of my 20s to answer this question
Nobody is like T-Rex. I would recommend 21st Century Boy. It's a Banger.
Another English band of that era, Mott The Hoople, called out to them in their hit, "All The Young Dudes," as they sang, "Who needs TV when we've got T Rex?" When Mott The Hoople's lead guitarist went on to join Bad Company and took a song he wrote and recorded with MTH to become to become Bad Company's "Ready for Love".
The Who mention T Rex in "You Better You Bet" too, but that was a while later.
The line is "I need TV when I got T Rex." ua-cam.com/video/9IqiRY60ZDE/v-deo.html
Mott the Hoople may have sung it, but it was David Bowie who wrote it. Bowie gave it to the band after they'd rejected his original offering to them, "Suffragette City". In fact, Bowie's giving MtH "All the Young Dudes" literally kept the band from breaking up. Bowie produced their recording of the song and sang backing vocals on the chorus.
Bowie and Bolan had a very interesting frenemy relationship. They were rivals on the charts, but after Bolan's fatal car crash Bowie said, "I'm terribly broken by it. He was my mate. The only tribute I can give Marc is that he was the greatest little giant in the world." Bowie was Rolan Bolan's godfather, and Bowie took care of Rolan and Gloria Jones financially for years, because Marc's estranged wife June Child had inherited Bolan's entire estate.
@William Sager T.Rex may not have been popular in the US, but a lot of American musicians and songwriters have explored T.Rex over the years and taken their cues from Marc Bolan. Not only was he an interesting songwriter and musician who created a lot of very cool, accessible songs, he was also pretty much the epitome of a rock star, and his image was almost as influential as his music and his songwriting. Guess who Slash of Guns'n'Roses was imitating with that stovepipe hat?
Gloria Jones had her own interesting career, aside from singing backup on her boyfriend's T.Rex tracks. She recorded the original version of "Tainted Love" all the way back in 1964 (it was written by Ed Cobb, two years before his "Dirty Water" became a big hit for the Standells), and her version of "Tainted Love" would later become a staple of Britain's "Northern Soul" dance movement ... and, of course, a monster transatlantic hit in synthpop form for Soft Cell in 1981.
my favorite by Mott the Hoople is Born Late 58, they should review that one.
That song is a mood, in the very best way! Next check out “20th Century Boy.” 🤩
Yes!
Absolutely.
Marc Bolan is another rocker who tragically died way too soon. If you get a chance to check out the T-Rex performance on The Midnight Special from 1973 it's worth the 8 minutes of your day. Enjoyed the Deep Cut livestream immensely this weekend !!! 🙌👍🤘✌️
That performance is epic
His girlfriend(Marc Bolans, real name Mark Feld) she crashed the car into the tree that killed him had to get out of town quick. Gloria Jones. The tree in Barnes, South West London, was dug up by his fans, it was a sight of homage to him. Bit like the Dakota building on Amsterdam, Central Pk West for John.... Imagine,( no pun/ link intended,) digging up a bloody tree? 🤔🤔🤔"Well it was there last night"!?!?!? Mmmmm?!
@@allisonreed7682 it is indeed. 👍✌️
T Rex is also called out in the Who's "You Better You Bet" -- "But I drunk myself blind, to the sound of old T-Rex."
T. Rx were so big in the 70's, they even had their own TV show. Check out Jeepster or Ride a White Swan
I vaguely remember watching the last episode with David Bowie before Marc Bolan was killed. So sad.
Jeepster is such a fun song to sing
If you like this style, I would suggest Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes."
YESSSS - Queen opened for Mott the Hoople when they first toured the U.S.
Another Bowie tune
When I heard A&A compare T.Rex to Floyd and ELO my first thought was "these fellas have a serious Bowie deficiency in their lives."
True, although Bowie arguably took as much from Bolan during the Ziggy era as Bolan took from him.
@@gregsager2062 Yep. And Mott was taking from both of them.
@@fidoz2370 Also true, although there's more to Mott the Hoople than that. They were a very interesting band that went through a number of phases over the course of their career. Their biggest influence in the beginning was Bob Dylan, of all people, and by the end of their career, when Ian Hunter was pretty much their main creative force, they reached classic-album status with *Mott* and, to a slightly lesser extent, *The Hoople*.
You know what - I grew up in the 70es, and all that great music was available, although born in 68 I was slightly late. But there's only so much you can handle, if you want to listen thoroughly. I focused on ELO primarily, and just a few other things besides. So even now at 53, you are right, I have a Bowie deficiency. Among other things. So much great music that needs listening to, just from one decade... (or two, if we say 66-86.)
Marc Bolan died in a car accident at the age of 29. T-Rex was my first introduction to Glam-Rock. Really liked his music.
Where next? "20th Century Boy" rocks harder than "Get It On", while "Life's A Gas" is even mellower than "Cosmic Dancer".
... I think 20th Century Boy would good one!
I didnt know they did Bang A Gong so suprised this isn't 20th Century Boy as number 2. You guys should we listen to that sometime on your free time then and clip it for those who didn't see. Also I thought you guys did the song Free Ride by The Edgar's winter's group but then on your Dazed and Confused reaction when the song came on and he was like oh what's that song and it turns out you'd never did it so that's my other recommendation aside Evil Woman ELO and Dirty Work Steely Dan.
Those, plus:
Jeepster
Children of the Revolution
Actually, most of Electric Warrior
The entire Electric Warrior album is killer: Mambo Sun, Bang A Gong, Planet Queen, Cosmic Dancer, etc.
This song opened the incredible "Billy Eliot" film, and was actually filled with T. Rex songs!
Marc and David Jones (Bowie) met as teen agers in a talent scouts office in 1964. They became friends, and worked odd jobs together, prior to Bolan becoming famous. He used to hire Bowie as an opening act. Bowie was influenced by him, but it might have been mutual. Sometimes in odd ways, like, Marc's son (David's godson) is Rolan Bolan and David's son, now Duncan Jones, was called Zowie Bowie in his early childhood. Rolan was 2 when Marc died and left destitute, David stepped in and made sure Rolan was taken of for about 17 years.
I saw T-Rex back in 1970 with Uriah Heep as the Opening Act….I remember Marc sitting on the floor with his guitar and a microphone. Amazing!
This album started an entire new form of rock. Glam Rock. Bowie made Ziggy Stardust immediately after this and bands like Sweet, The New York Dolls, Utopia, and The Tubes quickly cropped up following the music and fashion sense Marc Bolan created. Even Elton John was influenced heavily by Marc Bolan, playing piano on "Bang A Gong" he was such a fan. A massive star in Europe, big for a minute in the States. Well worth diving into on your own time.
Elton didn't play on "Bang a Gong", although he did sit in with the band and mimed playing it when they were on *Top of the Pops*. The actual pianist on "Bang a Gong" is Rick Wakeman. That was in the days before Wakeman joined Yes, when he was just a session musician living from paycheck to paycheck. He was paid nine pounds for his work on "Bang a Gong". (Bolan biographer Mark Paytress stated that Blue Weaver, who was the keyboardist in Strawbs and who later became a prime architect of the Bee Gees' disco-era sound as their keyboardist and musical director, may have also played a bit of the piano on "Bang a Gong".)
Another notable outside musician on the song is Ian McDonald, who played all of the saxophones. McDonald had been one of the founders of King Crimson, and he would later go on to be one of the founding members of Foreigner. And, finally, the backing vocalists on "Bang a Gong" are none other than Flo and Eddie (aka Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan), the former Turtles singers who sang backup vocals for everybody from Frank Zappa to Bruce Springsteen to Alice Cooper to the Ramones to Duran Duran to Roger McGuinn to Blondie.
@GoldTopSlinger Don’t forget What Do You Want From Life
Oh yeah. Just imagine how amazing a collab would've been between Ziggy Era Bowie, Marc Bolan and Mick Ronson. Maybe fill up the back with members from both the Spiders (Bowies band) and T. Rex. Would've Hands down been the best Glam album ever 🤣. Bowie and Marc hare vocals, Mick and Marc take turns playing rhythm and Lead and both play solos.
At least in the U.S. this is a deep cut. Don’t think I’d ever heard it before. More Bowieesque than Floyd sounding to my ears.
To me, it sounds like "I Am the Walrus"-era Beatles
Other way around. Bowie, borrowed, a great deal from Marc Bolan.
@@maceomaceo11 There might be some truth to that, at first - but from then on, Bowie said, "Hey Marc! Hold my beer!"
To me it sounds more like Donavon
Lol, I can hear all of those artists in this song, except Floyd. But it mostly reminds me of Bowie.
Try their "Metal Guru" and "Jeepster".
Two of my favorites!!
Quite the obscure song reaction choice. I've never heard this one.
While we are in this music genre, Arthur Lee's Love is a must.
I 3rd it…Alone Again Or!
You Set the Scene
Yes damn it, do Love!!! Also songs: Message To Pretty, Singing Cowboy and 7 and 7 Is.
A house is not a hotel
Great call! "A House is Not a Motel" is still my fave.
When I hear “T-Rex,” it makes me think of The Who song You Better, You Bet.
“I got your body right now on my mind
But I drunk myself blind
To the sound of old T-Rex”
"Muscular drums/bass that contrast with romantic, ethereal guitar/vox"
Gentlemen, welcome to Glam. Rock & Roll in lipstick 💋
His girlfriend was Motown artist, Gloria Jones. She had a hit in the UK with "Tainted Love" later transformed into the best cover of all time by Softcell. Music lost a great when Bolan died, he and Bowie were friends and he is just as great an artist.
Marc Bolan, the lead singer/guitarist died tragically in a car accident, just as he was getting his life back together and kicking drugs. It's sad we didn't get to hear what kind of great stuff he would have done, but grateful for the gems he left us with. Cosmic Dancer is such a beauty of a song "I danced myself right out the womb/I danced myself into tje tomb" just evokes some sad yet hopeful imagery. Great reaction Gents!
@@robertcarran9585 Yeah, his girlfriend was driving at the time, their son was being babysat by Marc's parents, so sad
His partner was obviously drunk. I read an interview that said that "hadn't drunk much, only shared a bottle of wine and the a few drinks afterwards".
Yeah, that's drunk. Sad.
I think this one owes a lot to Donavan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man." Mott the Hoople "All the Young Dudes" is long overdue now. Get on it, Gents.
I've been after them to do Donovan's "Barabajagal." No love yet, but I'm not giving up!
Donavan, Nilsson, Joe Jackson,Lee Micheals , Dave Mason
@@kcronin7211 Donovan and Jeff Beck both need a lot more love! I adore Donovan, it's a shame he doesn't get much attention these days.
❤T-Rex you need to do 20th century boy
Thank you for playing something softer by T. Rex. It was just Marc Bolan's fantasy about dancing in space. He referred to himself as the Cosmic Dancer. Yes, talk about range, they started as a folk band, and evolved their sound. Did they invent glam rock with this album? I think they might have. They rock harder too, so check out Jeepster off the same album. One of the vinyls I wore the grooves off when I was a kid.
He did. Bowie came up with the Ziggy Stardust deal right after this and Elton upped his stage gear game considerably. Sweet and all the rest were soon to follow. I guess Alice Cooper can get some credit too, but Bolan took the theatrics to a feminine direction over the horror angle Alice employed.
Love that they are digging for the less obvious songs!
@@normanleroy1874 I agree Norman. It’s good for them to try different things. I doubt many other reactors have listened to this one. It’s good for us too.
I figured it was about reincarnation
Next T-Rex has to be "20th Century Boy" for sure!
T Rex were SO ahead of their time. Ziggy Stardust never would have happened without T Rex pioneering the way.
I never heard this song before. I really enjoyed it.
One of my all time favorite songs! T-Rex was one of the most influential 70s bands in the UK
Almost forgot how great T Rex was, that drum is excellent and the strings are fantastic. And the whole thing fits Marc Bolan's understated vocals.
Spot on, the orchestral arrangement and drumming is outstanding.
I never, ever, ever heard this on FM radio. Ever. Quintessential deep cut. Now let's do Roxy Music, Do the Strand.
or Mother of Pearl!
And Virginia Plain 🤞
Love is the Drug or Virginia Plain would be great
Some Genesis too
@@nicolecolson182 they have done some Genesis, I think, but maybe not Los Endos yet. Or Solsbury Hill. Home By The Sea, or Mama, from the Phil Collins era would be cool also. Such an incredibly deep catalogue, it is impossible to pick an ideal starting point for the deep dive.
This tune selection from T-Rex catalog of bangers is like going to Red Lobster and ordering a burger...
Alex and Andy!! If you love this song you have to hear the song where the music is inspired by. The song is from Donovan called "Hurdy Gurdy Man". You will LOVE that song. Very much like this but it came out 3 years before this.
Tragically Hip needs to be heard
Oooohh great call
Absolutely. But the question is, which song??
Michael M, Hundredth Meridian
@@MykalNines Several, what should be first is the question.
@@MykalNines New Orleans is Sinking, Twist my Arm,Courage to name a few.
Ringo Starrs " Back Off Boogaloo" Is a quote from Marc Bolan.
Ringo took the cover photo for Slider.
Ringo directed the Bolan documentary *Born to Boogie*. And "Back Off Boogaloo" not only quotes Bolan, its musical style is so close to T.Rex's as to practically be a homage.
Pleasantly surprised...
GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING A&A FAMILY!!!
☮️♥️♾️
Good Morning!
Good Morning!
Morning @John H !
Yay,The Who sang about getting drunk to the sound of old T,rex !!!! I did suggest this a while back ,The album SLIDER is an ace must listen !! I remember the car crash that took Marc Bolan in 1977 , gutted ,,right in the middle of the Punk movement what a shame ,
Another band of similar talent "MOTT THE HOOPLE" Bowie wrote their fisrt no 1 "All the young Dudes"
worth a go !!! take care from Cornish Pirate !!
The strings on this track are just so heavenly. Tony Visconti is the man.
Visconti is the forgotten force behind glam. Bowie and Bolan were both immensely gifted when it came to songwriting and natural creativity, but it's hard to imagine either of them doing all of the things that they did in the early '70s without Visconti's input.
Getting into deeper cuts. Great 😎
T-Rex have some awesome songs. Right from the same album "Mambo Sun" for a start...but never go into Bolan's lyrics
Other big hits (in the UK) to check out were "20th century boy" (a BANGER); "Metal Guru", and "Children of the Revolution".
And don't forget to then continue with SLADE.
One of the most beautiful songs and it never fails to make me tear up. Marc Bolan is an utterly unique artist who died far too young. There are so many songs to recommend but I think you both would love 20th Century Boy. Anything from Electric Warrior or The Slider would be worth a reaction.
Slash from GnR totally got the top-hat look from Bolan.
This whole album is AWESOME. Planet Queen & Jeepster are a couple highlights. 20th Century Boy is another hit of theirs.
"20th century boy" "The Slider" "Life's a gas" "Ballrooms of Mars" all fire songs
Don't forget "Baby Strange", "Children of the Revolution", "Jeepster", "Telegram Sam", and a whole bunch of others.
I love the concept album Tanks. no full songs on it, only snippets of songs but most of them very good and all original.
Marc Bolan has soooo many great songs....
20th century boy or children of the revolution, both are bangers of the highest quality.
The background vocals were by Flo and Eddie formerly of the Turtles.
In “Bang a Gong”, the sax was supplied by Ian McDonald formerly of King Crimson.
Good stuff! I liked Marc Bolan.
And the pianist on "Bang a Gong" was none other than Rick Wakeman, who (further proving the incestuous nature of English glam rock) played piano on David Bowie's "Hunky Dory" album, including on such notable piano-flavored songs as "Oh! You Pretty Things" and "Life on Mars".
@@gregsager2062 At the time, Wakeman was an oft-starving, roving studio cat. Marc offered him a shot at doing the glissando at the end of "Bang a Gong." Rick told Marc that he (Marc) could do it just as easily, but Marc insisted, telling Rick...."But if I play it, you won't get to pay your rent this week!"
@@bradsmack1 Yep. And he still was only paid nine pounds for it.
@@gregsager2062 Amazingly, according to Rick, THAT was enough for a week's rent! Puts me in the mind of around 1976, Baton Rouge, LA, where I was a radio DJ, doing the 7-midnight daily shift! I was making $800 a month, and I thought I was a millionaire! I had a two-bedroom, two-story townhouse all to myself (and my 2,000 LPs)! I can't remember what rent was, but what COULD it have been? $150, $200 a month?! Amazing! THOSE days are gone, as certain as the days of man killing a mastodon for dinner!
Ah the seductive 70's; the siren song of Marc. My best friend had a giant poster above her bed that she would kiss!
Also, haven't you guys seen "Billy Elliott"?
T. Rex is great. Telegram Sam or Jeepster next!
Great song! The “oohs and aaahs” were sung by Flo and Eddie from Frank Zappa and the Mothers. The strings were arranged by Tony Visconti of David Bowie fame. Next up try “The Motivator”, “Rip-Off”, “Telegram Sam”, “Chariot Choogle“ or “Jeepster”,
Flo and Eddie were Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan originally from the 60's group, The Turtles. Absolutely love T. Rex.
Mark Volman was the only person providing back vocal on the outro of this particular track
20th century boy❤️_ is the one you need to do next🎼🎼🎼🎼
I hadn't actually heard this song in it's entirety. Beautiful orchestration.
Maybe try “Jeepster” or “Children of the Revolution”
YESSSS
Wow! An awesome deep cut from TRex! 20th Century Boy is waiting for you. Looking forward to when you find Roxy Music
I don't think T.Rex was ever particularly popular in the US compared to the UK.
They weren't. T.Rex had a grand total of one hit in the US, "Bang a Gong" (called "Get It On" in the UK), which peaked at #10. No other T.Rex single ever did better than #67 in the States. The *Electric Warrior* album from which "Bang a Gong" taken -- it also includes "Cosmic Dancer" -- did go gold in the US, but it took many years for it to sell enough to qualify as a gold record.
THE JAMES GANG "FUNK #49",, "WALK AWAY" & "MUST BE LOVE"...NUFF SAID.
Ride a White Swan and 20th Century Boy should be next on your list of T. Rex songs.
This song and Bang a Gong were used in the movie, Billy Elliot. That movie was also where I heard the Jam's Town Called Malice for the first time.
Elemental Child (studio version) from the album A Beard Of Stars is so good. Marc's guitar solo from 2.00 on is out of this world.
T. Rex was big in the UK. This song kinda reminds me of David Bowie's "Space Oddity". Speaking of David Bowie, From his Album Young Americans the Title Track "Young Americans", & "Fame".
Great suggestions!!
T-Rex Monday is a great idea!!
The Album Electric Warrior is in my opinion one of the Greatest Albums ever produced. The late Marc Bolan was way before his time.. Thanks for doing Cosmic Dancer this song never gets any air play.
Roxy Music “Out of the Blue” is from this era/genre. Everything about this song is amazing. I’ve seen one or two reactions and they weren’t blocked. Excellent writing and musicianship on display here including one of the most unique instrumental solos at the end. I challenge you guys to figure out the instrument used without looking it up! 🤘🏽😝🤘🏽
You have to do either "20th Century Boy" or "Children of the Revolution" next
BOTH PLEASE
Good day everyone! A dinosaur was an animal. . . You gents are great! Cheers. 😺
I love there back and forth 😅
Good Morning, and yes, agreed
Happy Monday, Cat!
I was about 12 when t rex and Marc Bolan came out loved them had the t shirt and my hair cut the same as Marc I am now 61 lol Mike from the uk all the best lads
Hold me closer cosmic dancer 😆😆
Supertramp- "Lover Boy" Alex teased us with a taste during the live stream. Also "Even in the Quietest Moments" and "Fools Overture" from the same album.
Marc Bolan is the godfather of glam.
Slade
Cool! Whoever requested that was on point. Glad you guys liked it. There is a modern folk singer whose voice is similar and is very creative, Devendra Banhart 👍
Ancient animals, yes. Telegram Sam, next song. Surprised me, didn't think you would get this one, but you did. Keep it up.
You've got Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, Flo & Eddie doing that Ah Ah Ah in the background.
Cool to see T. Rex again! They're a really cool, groovy act, the Electric Warrior album is slick from cover to cover.
Time to go back to Chicago. "Happy Man" Slow it down, A rare acoustic classic. With a little "beboping at the end.
It was a number 1 song in South America, don't believe it was ever released as a single in the US.
Andy is 100% correct about the last T-Rex song
T-Rex, one of my all time favorite bands. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. Boland's band has a ton of great songs. See his album "The Slider". Both of you will love it. Boland had a great producer, Tony Visconti, who helped him find his "sound". Marc Boland was killed in a car accident at age 29. A tragic loss for the music world.
Marc Bolan worshipped Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground, of course. When Bowie was working on Lou Reed' s Transformer Marc Bolan took lessons from them on how to look gay on stage.
I like Cosmic Dancer, but it is slower than you usually like. Try Jeepster, but nothing else by Bolan is as catchy as Bang a Gong.
I am so glad you guys have decided to look into some of the geniuses of glam rock! Mark Bolan and T. Rex, David Bowie (in all his many iterations i.e. Ziggy Stardust and the spiders from Mars, Aladin sane, the man who fell to earth, etc.), Joan Jett, The Sweet... More, More!!
Marc Bolan - a sad loss to music, I remember watching his ITV show with Bowie doing TVC 15 as a guest they were good friends
Aw c'mon guys! How can you forget Bang a Gong (Get It On)? Such a beat! Treat yourself to another listen.
Have you guys done any Roxy Music yet? Check out The Thrill of It All or In Every Dream Home a Heartache!
Great track, sits cosily somewhere between Barrett and Bowie. Speaking of which, more Barrett and Bowie please guys! I suggest the songs Terrapin and Quicksand, lovely stuff!
I was thinking "Cosmic Dancer" sounds like some solo Barrett, too.
Mambo Sun. I never heard that one back in the day, but in revisiting the groups of my youth I gave this one a shot and it hooked me.
You can definitely hear a bit of an early David Bowie influence in this song. The most obvious followups are "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" and "Jeepster," which definitely rock harder and have a bit of a funky feel.
They've already done "Bang a Gong (Get It On)". Heck, they even mentioned it a few times and Alex played a snippet of it in this video just to remind them of what it sounded like.
Yeah, heavy Ziggy Stardust influence.
@@gregsager2062 For some reason, the video didn't come up when I searched for it. I thought they were sampling what they planned to do next.
@@MichaelPhillipsatGreyOwlStudio It was in their 50,000-subscriber-special livestream on UA-cam, according to Andy.
The A&A review of "Bang a Gong" is buried. Here's a link: ua-cam.com/video/CIKNmSF9n-I/v-deo.html
Now THATS a deep cut... I really liked it! Never heard it either.
Definitely Bang a Gong (or as we call it here in the UK "Get It On") ;)
This band actually created the glam rock genre. Some other songs of theirs include 20th century boy and we like to boogie.
Fantastic choice of band guys. For a listen to the full diversity of T.Rex try Rip Off, Monolith or The Motivator from Electric Warrior album, Rabbit Fighter, Metal Guru, Telegram Sam and Baby Boomerang from The Slider album , Left Hand Luke, Rapids or Broken Hearted Blues from the Tanx album, Carsmile Smith, Painless Persuasion from the Zinc Alloy album, Token Of My Love or Think Zinc from the Bolan’s Zip Gun album, All Alone, Casual Agent or Dawn Storm from Futuristic Dragon album or non album tracks Thunderwing, Raw Ramp, King Of The Mountain Cometh, 20th Century Boy, Midnight, Sunken Rags and The Groover - phew. They have amazing music and all written by lead singer and guitarist Marc Bolan who tragically passed away in a car crash in 1977 aged 29.
Mister Mister is the best track from TANX, methinks... Every song you listed is brilliant.
@@randalllee5400 Thank you Randall - are you a fan - where are you based?
@@barriewilkinson1455 Huge fan. I bought "Electric Warrior" when it came out and never looked back. My Sister had "Beard of Stars" and "Unicorn" and I listened to them as well, although certainly not as often. "Romany Soup" has haunted me through the years! LOL! I live northwest of Hollywood.
@@randalllee5400 Hi Randall - apologies for getting back to you so late - still, it's Marc's 75th birthday today so maybe my response is more appropriate lol. I love that you live in California and are a fan of T.Rex. I was astonished when I went to San Francisco 10 years ago and found so much of Marc in the record stores over there - he'd have been thrilled at the thought that he had arrived at last in the USA - especially after the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame accolade. Really happy to make your acquaintance. Barrie
@@barriewilkinson1455 Nice to hear from you, Barrie!
Classic Rock n Roll tragedy. Shot to super stardom. Everyone loves you for a hot moment. Can't live up to expectations and died tragically too early.
Great old song. Hints of Bowie, English 70's, some flavor of late Beatles! Still original.
I have never heard this song before but loved it!
Haters out in force again today, just like they were on Saturday. Bunch of keyboard warriors.
For real! Stoked the Gents enjoyed it and I think they'll definitely explore some more T-Rex and other 70's glam. The haters have no clue what they're talking about
In the book "Greatness in Music" by Alfred (not Albert) Einstein, he said there are two kinds of greatness -- inventing a genre and perfecting a genre. Marc Bolan invented a genre -- seemingly all by himself, out of thin air -- hardly anyone can touch him on that.
Marc Bolan was known for his far out lyrics
eg: did you ever see a woman,coming out of new york city,with a frog in her hand'
Errrrr,what?
Nope,never have.
He was different and growing up in London,took his share of hidings but guess who had the last laugh?
Great album by the way.