T. Rex - 1973 : Whatever Happened to the Teenage Dream? (4 CD, 2023) [24-44]

After the thrilling rush of 1972, during which Marc Bolan and T. Rex ruled the musical world with a glittery fist, 1973 proved a different kind of year. Tired of glam and looking for a new sound, Bolan turned to the sounds of America for inspiration. Determined to become a star there, he led the band on a number of tours and along the way understood that fans wanted harder and less poppy music; he also fell in love with the soul and funk beaming out over the nation's airwaves. 1973: Whatever Happened to the Teenage Dream? is a four-disc set that captures what happened when Bolan and the band turned away from glam and went in search of something else. It contains both the Tanx album, which was recorded in late 1972, and 1974's Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, recorded in 1973. Alongside them are non-LP singles, demos Bolan made at home, Zinc Alloy outtakes, the 1973 single credited to Big Carrot, and the aborted sessions for a Sister Pat Hall record.

T Rex - My People Were Fair ... (1968/2015 Deluxe) [FLAC]

My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows is the debut album by psychedelic folk band Tyrannosaurus Rex (later known as T. Rex). It was released on 5 July 1968 by record label Regal Zonophone. 

T.Rex - 1972 (5 CD, 2022) [24-44]

This box set called simply 1972 brings together studio recordings, broadcasts and performances by Marc Bolan and T. Rex. 

 The 1972 box includes The Slider album, Live At Wembley The Matinee Show (with two previously unreleased 1972 mixes from The Evening Show), Born To Boogie: The Soundtrack Album (issued in full for the first time), Marc Bolan’s US Radio Sessions, T. Rex on the BBC in 1972, featuring a rare version of Telegram Sam from the Christmas Top Of The Pops, and more!

T. Rex - Unicorn (2 CD Deluxe edition, 2015) [FLAC]

Unicorn is the third studio album by English psychedelic folk band Tyrannosaurus Rex (later known as T. Rex). It was released on 16 May 1969 by record labels Regal Zonophone and Blue Thumb, and was the last Tyrannosaurus Rex album to feature Steve Peregrin Took.

T Rex - 1968 - Prophets, Seers & Sages (2 CD Deluxe Edition 2015) [FLAC]

Deluxe two CD edition contains the mono 2014 remaster of the original album plus a host of bonus material including one non-album single, alternate takes, eight songs recorded for John Peel's 'Top Gear' program, and two songs recorded for the BBC's 'Voice of Pop' program. Disc Two contains 30 alternate takes of the album's songs including 23 previously unreleased. Also comes with a booklet featuring a new essay by respected Guardian critic Mark Paytress. Digitally remastered edition of this album from Marc Bolan's early version of T. Rex. Originally released in 1968 and produced by Tony Visconti, the second Tyrannosaurus Rex album PROPHETS, SEERS & SAGES: ANGELS OF THE AGES firmly cemented Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took as darlings of the London hippie/underground subculture and contained early Bolan classics such as 'Debora robed', 'Salamanda Palaganda' and 'Consuela'.

Marc Bolan & T Rex - Unchained Home Recordings & Studio Outtakes 1972–1977 (8 CD, 2015/FLAC)

 

In 1973, alone and with an acoustic guitar, Marc Bolan recorded the revealing “This Is My Life”. Over its five minutes, a strummed elegy akin to the T Rex B-side “Baby Strange” evolves from a finger-picked blues. The lyrics name-check B.B. King, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B Goode” and mention a visit to New York State, playfully rhymed with steak.

“Everything I did when I was going to school was just an imitation of Carl Perkins singing ‘Don’t be Cruel’,” he sings, no doubt well aware the Elvis Presley hit did not figure in Perkins’ usual repertoire. Once Presley hit big, Perkins was firmly relegated to playing second fiddle. Bolan was subverting history’s hierarchy. “This Is My Life” found Bolan reflecting on who he was and who he had become.

A home-recording, it was caught on tape for the sake of it. Bolan had a new song, so he set his equipment up to capture it: what he had just written could have charted or become a future classic, so he hit the record button. But, its fascinating lyrical self-analysis aside, “This Is My Life” was no classic. Instead, it was a rambling musical sketch for filing away alongside the other demo tapes and was not meant to be heard, and certainly not intended for release.

Marc Bolan and T. Rex - Total T. Rex 1971-1972 (5 CD, 2004/FLAC + DVD 5)

 This six-disc box set (including one DVD of amazing and heretofore unreleased video footage) completes the picture of T.Rex's glory years as documented on the "T.Rex", "Electric Warrior" and "Slider" albums, containing hard-to-find radio sessions, live material, demos and T.V. material from the era.

Marc Bolan & T Rex - Unchained Home Recordings & Studio Outtakes 1972–1977 (8 CD, 2015)

In 1973, alone and with an acoustic guitar, Marc Bolan recorded the revealing “This Is My Life”. Over its five minutes, a strummed elegy akin to the T Rex B-side “Baby Strange” evolves from a finger-picked blues. The lyrics name-check B.B. King, Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B Goode” and mention a visit to New York State, playfully rhymed with steak.

“Everything I did when I was going to school was just an imitation of Carl Perkins singing ‘Don’t be Cruel’,” he sings, no doubt well aware the Elvis Presley hit did not figure in Perkins’ usual repertoire. Once Presley hit big, Perkins was firmly relegated to playing second fiddle. Bolan was subverting history’s hierarchy. “This Is My Life” found Bolan reflecting on who he was and who he had become.