This is from the 50k livestream a way while back! Thought those who missed it would like to see this, enjoy the extra Tuesday vid!! Cheers see ya’ll tomorrow! 🔥
Andy and Alex, you still have Judas Priest and first wave of British Heavy Metal MIA from reviews. The album Sad Wings of Destiny has at least two songs to check out Rob Halford's soaring vocals. Victim of Changes and Dreamer/Deceiver are musts.
If you really want to to experience the beginning of glam rock of there was Bowie but even cooler was Be Bop Deluxe in the early seventies. Their guitarist (Bill Nelson) is one of the five greatest guitarists that ever lived. Anything off the Axe Victim album but especially No Trains To Heaven or the title track would drive home my point.
Apple TV has a 9-parts series called "1971 - The Year That Music Changed Everything" - and I'd have to agree! I had no idea there was so much happening in 1971! I was 12 yrs old! #Peace!
Far too many stars died in 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd members, Marc Bolan, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin, Maria Callas, Groucho Marx, Peter Finch, Erroll Garner, to name but a few.
The personnel on this record are great in their own right. Rick Wakeman of Yes is on piano and Hammond organ. Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles are on backing vocals. Ian McDonald of King Crimson and later of Foreigner is on sax. And Marc Bolan was such a cool artist himself.
There was someone that suggested that Yes was trying to sound 80's because of Wakeman's playing. I almost messaged him on Twitter to share that news with him. What you just listed here are some really great musicians
@@hyacinth4368 to be fair, Marc Bolan was proto-glam. He invented glam. If there was no glam before him, how can he be classified as glam? Glam is everything that came after, like David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust phase or Slade. They were glam because they came after T Rex.
Ahhh...1971. The year I turned 16, wore bell bottoms, mini skirts, desert boots and moccasins, went to keggers up in the woods, drank a glass of mom's homemade wine before getting on the school bus, and got to listen to great rock and roll music to get through it all.
Being a teen in the seventies we had the best fuckin' music! This is Glam Rock, hair metal didn't come about for another decade or so. The late sixties into the early seventies the second British invasion included bands live T-Rex, early Genesis, Mott the Hoople, early Slade and Bowie to name a few.
At the risk of repeating myself....again.....you guys are now worthy of listening to Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-Ganda-da-vida”. This was a seminal “hard rock tune, 18+ minutes. A radio station in Charlotte played the entire song every night at midnight for weeks in 1968.
Marc's star burned for a short time but incredibly brightly. For about a year and a half he was the hottest (in every sense) rock star in England, and the band made 3 astonishing albums (T. Rex, Electric Warrior, The Slider) and a whole slew of brilliant hit singles. They carried on making records in the mid-Seventies until Marc tragically died in a car accident, but he left a legacy of incredible records. You need to check out more T. Rex stuff! 😊
Bolan and T Rex were massive in Britain in the early 70s. If you want to check out more, I'd suggest "20th century boy", which is one of their heavier songs.
Great song from 50 years ago, which would put me around 15 years old at the time. Loved hearing this on the radio. Very nice hearing it now. What a great time to be alive.
Yes, "meanwhile I was still thinkin" is a nod to "Little Queenie" by Chuck Berry from 1958. Covered dozens of times by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. The best cover, imo, is by REO Speedwagon from 1972 th-cam.com/video/1F47Kq8VNNU/w-d-xo.html. If you like horns, the wailing sax in this version of "Little Queenie" is "Yakety Sax" Boots Randolph. You should really check this out.
Glam was a look, a style, an ethos. From a Sonic standpoint it was all over the map, from the slick rock song stylings of Marc Bolan, to the ethereal spaciness of David Bowie, to the witty rock n roll power of Mott the Hoople. The whole glam movement was a precursor to punk.
Don't forget Roxy Music and New York Dolls! :) But yeah, well said, even the part about it being a precursor to punk, since punk was both influenced by and a rejection of glam rock. And Andy and Alex, y'all aren't wrong in connecting glam to hair metal. KISS, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Poison were all bands that the original glam scene had a direct influence on. Personally, I much more prefer the original to the later hair metal variety, but that's just me 😛
Y'know, I'm not the most well versed in musical genres and how they emerged, but your comment triggered something in me. I now realize that, at least to me, it seems that glam is the other side of the coin to punk. Both unabashedly individualistic, but glam is using the pop trends to create something unique and dynamic while punk rejects the pop trends to do the more random and unexpected thing...
There's a bit of a legend to how Marc Bolan started. When he was 13 years old, Marc met early rockabilly legend Eddie Cochran after a concert in London. Eddie let Marc carry his gorgeous Gretsch guitar to his car. Marc was in awe of Eddie but Eddie met a tragic end soon after when he died in an car crash. His Gretsch was impounded by the local police where a young policeman named David taught himself to play on that same guitar. David formed his own band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and had several hits in the UK. (You guys should check out their banger Hold Tight, one of the first uses of a distortion effect). So Eddie Cochran's guitar was directly responsible for three rock careers, and Eddie himself inspired countless others. You can see this magical guitar today at the Rock and Roll museum in Cleveland.
The Stonesesque feel is not entirely accidental. The common denominator is Chuck Berry who hugely influenced the Stones, referenced at the fade out here by the spoken 'Meanwhile I was still thinkin'...' which is a direct lift from Chuck Berry's Little Queenie and slyly acknowledging the musical debt owed here.
Glam, in this instance, means time period. He and Bowie were frenemies, always competing with one another. Check out The Powerstation cover of this song-it’s amazing.
Not trying to pick a fight here, the guys in Power Station were all super-talented - - but I think their cover took it in a direction that lost all the sassiness of the original.
@@Yikes5824 Truth! Power Station (as much as Palmer was a great singer) completely sucked the soul right out of Bang a Gong. All the young (corporate) dudes.
Every 60 something person listening to this is cool memories of their youth. There are bigger bands, more technically amazing songs of the era but this song has a part of every 70s teenagers life. Marc Bolan was the definition of Cool.
Need to hear " I'm a jeepster" from the same album. I got to see TRex , sitting in the second row, @( [had a great connection for tickets connection ] back in the day) the only thin glam about him was that he had glitter around his eyes and on His cheeks. Great show.
@@waynethera2712 Right. Get a kick out of old guys saying todays music sucks.I’m 61.Most of the music back than sucked.We just remember the good stuff.You do have to work a bit to find the good music from the last twenty or so but its there. Check out porcupine Tree and Steven Wilsons later solo work.Discovered a lot of great progressive rock last year while working alone.I find long songs make the workday go faster
bryan schmalz, I have heard of Porcupine Tree just haven’t gotten into them yet. I’ve got 3 days with kids in school and the Mrs. at work as good a time as any. Here’s a long stoner rock track for ya. Some Ukrainian dudes called Stoned Jesus song called I am the Mountain.
Bowie owed so much to Bolan that he wrote Lady Stardust (originally called Song for Marc) which was on the Ziggy album in his honor: People stared at the makeup on his face Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace The boy in the bright blue jeans Jumped up on the stage Lady Stardust sang his songs Of darkness and disgrace
Bolan and Bowie were friends and the influence was mutual, Bolan's first glamorous appearances in TOTP were with an almost identical aesthetic to the one Bowie wore in the concert with The Hype a year before, in which Bolan was in the audience, for Not to mention that the original version of Moonage Daydream, released before anything by Electric Warrior, has a sound that clearly influenced Bolan's work.
no way, the glam rock era in britain was well and truely over by the time of post punk and new wave in the late 70's early 80's, new wave was over by the mid 80's in britain anyway
Didn't seem ahead of it's time to me. Typical 70's this is the solid glam sound. What is different is that next level exhibitionist show that Marc put on past people like Jagger. Just brought more theatrics into it.
Welcome to the beginning of Glam/Glitter. Bowie would become "Ziggy" after this, and many others would jump on the bandwagon. Mott The Hoople changed their stage show and recorded Bowie's "All the Young Dudes". There is a lot more from the early/mid 70's to explore. Tubes - "White Punks on Dope" in the US.
Bowie had already come up with Ziggy before this, remember that the original version of Moonage Daydream was released first than anything of Electric Warrior. Let's also not forget that the aesthetic of Bolan's first glamorous appearances in TOTP was influenced by Bowie's aesthetic in the concert with The Hype.
Back when this came out and I was a hormone-filled teen (well, almost a teen, but still hormone-filled) this song just oozed sexuality. It was and remains a really great song.
"Electric Warrior" is a fairly underrated and under appreciated album from the early 70s; there were so many masterpieces from that era that it is somewhat overlooked. But every song on it is worthy of a listen from you guys. Mr Bolan was a great rocker and gifted lyricist - with great imagery and funky as hell grooves.
Friend, maybe it wasn't recognized in your country, because it certainly didn't do so well outside the UK. But we have to speak properly, the album in the UK was not only a great success, it was the most successful British studio album of the ENTIRE decade! 8 weeks number 1, 29 weeks top 10.
That last line during the fade out "Meanwhile I'm still thinking" is from Chuck Berry's song Little Queenie (also covered by the Rolling Stones in their classic live album Get Yer Ya Yas Out).
Whenever I am surprised you haven't heard a song before I have to reflect on all the new music I'm not familiar with. Love your appreciation for great songs. You guys rock!
Yes heavy metal roots go back to the early 60’s. A blurred line and progression of hard rock/acid rock etc. Andy and Alex referenced “Hair Metal” (appears I forgot the word Hair in my comment). Hair Metal is a genre of it’s own, it was not really referenced until early 80s ✌️
This gem was a huge commercial success and viewers choice. No one says "Get it on" like Marc Bolan, his insane vocals, such a brilliant artist. T.Rex was one of the first bands that rocked my world, I had to have all of their albums. Lyrics, vocals and beyond, yes please. You guys will have this tune in your heads for awhile hah!
As a ten year old girl I LOVED this song and had a crush on Marc Bolan (no Osmonds for me, thank you). Think my parents were a bit disturbed by this, until they realized that I didn't have a clue what it was about, LOL.
Are you familiar with all the Osmonds work? Not all of it was bubble gum. Check out their songs "My Drum," which shows clear Led Zeppelin influence and "Traffic in my mind", which could have been done by Cream on Disraeli Gears. Also noteworthy are "Hey Mr. Taxi" which has the feel in a Paul McCartney/Wings song from about 1973 and "Life is hard enough without goodbyes."
A later cover was done by the 80s “super group” Power Station. The inimitable Robert Palmer on vocals, and members of Duran Duran in the band, with video. So that might explain the glam rock associations with this song. Looks like you filmed this pre Freedom Shack? Thanks, gents, for the Tuesday treat.
I REALLY hope they react to the Power Station version someday. Its my fave. And I know others prefer it, even though originators usually deserve huge props, as does T Rex.
Marc was a master of the 'simple but effective' school of songwriting, from his Tolkeinesque 60's hippy music to his emergence as the god of British Glam Rock in the early 70's. Thanks for the video guys :)
When T. Rex had groove, they had it, like going on forever. Sister-brother song to this is "Hot love" by them. It just goes on forever, but one does not get bored, it is just so groovy.
The choruses really are the point of this song. I love the way they get bigger each time they come back around. T. Rex, Bowie, and Roxy Music were early glam rock. Do yourselves a favor, A&A, and check out photos of the era. The look of those 70s bands very much influenced the look of 80s hair metal.
Now you definitely need to do the cover of this song done by power station. Robert Palmer is the lead singer and he does a really good job. He's the guy that does that song simply irresistible.
Yes indeed! Sometimes 70s glam was also called Art Rock, and that captured bands like Roxy Music, and later on my favourite band of the era, Be Bop Deluxe.
Has been a while for me listening to this song, maybe 30 years or so. The funk with the sax and piano did it for me, thanks guys! have a wonderful week! P.S. I'm 63
The song was produced by Tony Visconti who also produced much of David Bowie work. The T.Rex Electric Warrior album is superb and well worth exploring.
If I remember correctly Bowie started his Ziggy character in 72. I remember seeing Alice Cooper in 1970. He along with his band wore glammed up clothing. They had a tight set as well which was different than other bands I had seen in 1970. Usually all the other bands were in Jean's and t shirts and their sets were loose sometimes even tuning their instruments in the middle of a set. I do believe Marc Bolan was dressing glammed up in England before Bowie.
Gents! Thanks so much for putting this up as its own reaction! Their album Electric Warrior definitely warrants a full album reaction. Other great songs: 20th Century Boy, Monolith, The Slider, Children of the Revolution, Dandy in the Underworld, Soul of My Suit, etc. You should also give Eddie Cochran a listen- he influenced The Beatles, T-Rex, LZ, Boat Jett, The Clash, The Who and many more
This is a classic rock n roll banger. It was redone by "The Power Station" fronted by Robert Palmer who did a great job of the song and actually made it a longer run time. Check it out!! I know you guys have done some Doobie Brothers but did you do "What a Fool Believes.
From wikipedia: English glam-rock band T-Rex's Marc Bolan, discussing their hit "Bang a Gong (Get It On)", "claimed to have written the song out of his desire to record Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", and said that the riff is taken from the Berry tune. In fact, a slightly edited line ("And meanwhile, I'm still thinking") from "Little Queenie" is said at the fade of "Get It On".
Marc Bolan was my Idol when I hit my teenage years and I still love T Rex to this day. He was wild and wooly and I loved him. Great music to grow up to.
This is the best humping song ever written, I love this song! Almost all British Rock Groups were fans of T. Rex and Mott The Hoople, they were the happing groups in the UK at that time along with Jimi Hendrix. I love this song, it is almost impossible to sit still while this song is playing. Thank you for finally reacting to this group. This is an A+ for sure for me. This is a great song to listen to on long drives when you start to become hypnotized by the road. It will get you moving and wake you up.
As a 65-year-old former high school band and choir member who ended up a music major in college, I'm enjoying your discovery of the music of my youth. As far as I'm concerned, my generation was the luckiest in regards to experiencing the incredible evolution of music from the early '60s on. The canvas was blank and everything was new. I'm glad you guys went down this road and found out just how much terrific music was loved before you were born. My own kids who are in their early thirties are both Steely Dan fans as I turned them on to my music when they were very young. My only regret is you guys haven't reacted to "Don't Take Me Alive" by Steely Dan. I think it's their best song ever... and the lyrics are epic. Also, the same guitar player that performed in Kid Charlemagne, Larry Carlton, does amazing work in this song also. You're missing a treat if you don't take the time to listen to Don't Take Me Alive Keep up the good work. I enjoy your vids.
One of my favorite bands back in the early and mid 70's along with this song which back then I played over and over. Marc died on September 17, 1977 in a car crash at the age of 29,2 weeks before his 30th birthday. Bolan's friend Elton John was a guest pianist when T Rex performed Get It On on 1971's Christmas Top of the Pops. T Rex was immensely popular in Great Britain. Bang a Gong was off the groups Electric Warrior LP. HOT LOVE and PLANET QUEEN 2 songs worth a listen.
Marc Bolan was scared to drive and never had a driver's license. His wife was at the wheel of Mini, missed a curve and crashed to end Marc's life. He also was the host of a music variety show in London at the time.
Gloria Jones was his girlfriend. They had a son together. She sang the original song 'Tainted Love', which Soft Cell covered and had a hit with in the early 1980s.
I'm not sure they are the archetypal glam band - they had four albums before Bowie's intervention led to them being portrayed as glam - although I suspect Pete Watts revelled in his silver sprayed chest and thigh length platform boots! That said, I agree: everyone needs to hear Mott the Hoople.
This is from the 50k livestream a way while back! Thought those who missed it would like to see this, enjoy the extra Tuesday vid!! Cheers see ya’ll tomorrow! 🔥
Andy and Alex, you still have Judas Priest and first wave of British Heavy Metal MIA from reviews. The album Sad Wings of Destiny has at least two songs to check out Rob Halford's soaring vocals. Victim of Changes and Dreamer/Deceiver are musts.
Love a good throwback reaction!
👉 T Rex - 20th Century Boy
👉 Sparks - This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us
👉 Roxy Music - Editions Of You
More Glam essentials await, gents.⚡
If you really want to to experience the beginning of glam rock of there was Bowie but even cooler was Be Bop Deluxe in the early seventies. Their guitarist (Bill Nelson) is one of the five greatest guitarists that ever lived. Anything off the Axe Victim album but especially No Trains To Heaven or the title track would drive home my point.
Apple TV has a 9-parts series called "1971 - The Year That Music Changed Everything" - and I'd have to agree! I had no idea there was so much happening in 1971! I was 12 yrs old! #Peace!
1971- 12 years old playing the hell out of this tune on the pool hall jukebox! Freaking Marc Bolan!!!!!
T-Rex were inducted, finally, into the RRHF in 2020. Marc Bolan was crazy talented. Another artist we lost way too early.
Slade!
Far too many stars died in 1977: Lynyrd Skynyrd members, Marc Bolan, Bing Crosby, Elvis Presley, Charlie Chaplin, Maria Callas, Groucho Marx, Peter Finch, Erroll Garner, to name but a few.
Bolan died in a car accident.
@@antarcticorb9197, indeed he did. Gloria Jones was driving the Mini when it crashed into the tree, she of 'Tainted Love' fame.
Way to many artists die early. Lots of talents taken away way to early
You talk about the sauce - these are the types of bands that invented sauce.
true! Marc Bolan was more influential than most people know
Marc Bolan was arguably the biggest rock star in the UK around 1971-1972. He is sadly missed.
It was the biggest without a doubt. It's a shame he fell so quickly, but he stayed true to his style.
Bolan and Bowie for the win
@@aureliusandthespiral Bowie in 1973, when Bolan started to lose his popularity and Bowie became big around the world.
And total eye candy! I was 11 when I bought this album in 1973 and had such a crush on him
The personnel on this record are great in their own right. Rick Wakeman of Yes is on piano and Hammond organ. Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan of The Turtles are on backing vocals. Ian McDonald of King Crimson and later of Foreigner is on sax. And Marc Bolan was such a cool artist himself.
There was someone that suggested that Yes was trying to sound 80's because of Wakeman's playing. I almost messaged him on Twitter to share that news with him. What you just listed here are some really great musicians
Cool! Thanks
I love the keys here.
And produced by Tony Visconti, who was David Bowie's friend and producer.
Marc Bolan had a long-standing relationship with Ringo, too, who helped promote T Rex.
This song was proclaimed the first "glitter rock" song ever. All I know is it was and is fantastic.
Now, listen to "All The Young Dudes." You'll understand the reference to T-Rex. 🙂
Mott or Bowie, though? Both kinda have a claim on being the "original"
@@Dylan_Platt Mott the Hoople's version. I have been asking for this for over a year.
@@Dylan_Platt I like Mott 🙂
Also references in The Who's song "You Better You Bet".
Mott the Hoople was a great "glam" band. "All the Young Dudes", "Roll Away the Stone", "The Golden Age of Rock 'n' Roll"
“You’re dirty sweet and you’re my girl”! Greatness!
15 years old, swimming in the pool with the neighbor girls. This comes over the radio. Golden days.
Oh yeah, I remember...😏
Vivid. nicely done
Yes it was. Hot summer days in Houston, with beautiful girls in blue jean cutoffs and loose white blouses. Quite the fashion statement for it's day.
I remember this song and Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress by The Hollies getting a lot of radio play around the same time. Loved the riffs in both.
Something about this reminds me of Donovan. idk what. But I get the Rolling Stones comparison.
Tinker B -
Donovan : breathy singing. 👍
Both great songs. I love the Hollies, especially their later stuff.
I was 21 in 1971. I think I've heard this about 3,763 times. I think I like it. Every. Single. Time.
😂😂 stonewall classic my friend
"Doesn't feel glam". God you guys are funny! It doesn't get more glam than Marc Bolan. Ask David Bowie.
Who is Marc Nolan?
@@garymaidman625 Fixed.
Marc Bolan dressed in velvet suits with ruffled shirts, and wore Maryjane shoes. His hair was long and curly. He looked beautiful!
@@hyacinth4368 to be fair, Marc Bolan was proto-glam. He invented glam. If there was no glam before him, how can he be classified as glam? Glam is everything that came after, like David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust phase or Slade. They were glam because they came after T Rex.
@@garymaidman625
You just answered Your own question. Marc Bolan invented glam - he WAS glam!
Gotta do “children of the revolution” “20th century boy” “ride a white swan” “I love to boogie”. Among many more, brilliant and varied sound
Jeepster
@@tombreeden595 of course, ‘metal guru’ ‘telegram Sam’ ‘solid gold easy action’ ‘hot love’ too, so underrated
@@kJ922-h3j You guys just reminded me ffs forgot how good TRex were :)
"Mambo Sun" is another great tune.
Also Ballrooms of Mars and Are You My Main Man
Ahhh...1971. The year I turned 16, wore bell bottoms, mini skirts, desert boots and moccasins, went to keggers up in the woods, drank a glass of mom's homemade wine before getting on the school bus, and got to listen to great rock and roll music to get through it all.
I was a few years older, but had I not been in the Army, I would have been proud to be a jeepster for ya. :-D
Being a teen in the seventies we had the best fuckin' music! This is Glam Rock, hair metal didn't come about for another decade or so. The late sixties into the early seventies the second British invasion included bands live T-Rex, early Genesis, Mott the Hoople, early Slade and Bowie to name a few.
They definitely should check out some Mott the Hoople
Add Sweet to that list please. They were a very under-rated band.
Absolutely the best music in 70s. As an impressionable 11year old T.Rex were huge.
oh yes!!
I saw T.REX open for THREE DOG NIGHT in 1974? at Cobo Hall in Detroit. Couldn't hear for 3 hours after ! It was AWESOME!!!!!!
My best friend and I saw the same lineup in Lincoln, Nebraska. Fabulous concert!
At the risk of repeating myself....again.....you guys are now worthy of listening to Iron Butterfly’s “In-a-Ganda-da-vida”. This was a seminal “hard rock tune, 18+ minutes. A radio station in Charlotte played the entire song every night at midnight for weeks in 1968.
Yes, "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida " is definitely THE anthem of rock!
I’ve been wanting to! At this point it’s just having a good session where we’re mentally good for an 18 minute track haha
@@andyandalex Talk about sauce! You'll need to get comfortable for that one.
"Untamed youth with your cloak full of eagles." DAMN!
Marc's star burned for a short time but incredibly brightly. For about a year and a half he was the hottest (in every sense) rock star in England, and the band made 3 astonishing albums (T. Rex, Electric Warrior, The Slider) and a whole slew of brilliant hit singles. They carried on making records in the mid-Seventies until Marc tragically died in a car accident, but he left a legacy of incredible records. You need to check out more T. Rex stuff! 😊
Bolan and T Rex were massive in Britain in the early 70s. If you want to check out more, I'd suggest "20th century boy", which is one of their heavier songs.
Great song from 50 years ago, which would put me around 15 years old at the time. Loved hearing this on the radio. Very nice hearing it now. What a great time to be alive.
one of the quintessential classic rock songs
At the fade out, a nod to Chuck Berry…”Meanwhile, I was still thinking.”
Isn't it from "Little Queenie"?
@@matthewzuckerman6267 Yep, I stand corrected, it is indeed from “Little Queenie.”
@@GratefulZen Hi, --it's OK: --as someone else once said, "Close Enough for Rock 'n Roll!"
Yes, "meanwhile I was still thinkin" is a nod to "Little Queenie" by Chuck Berry from 1958. Covered dozens of times by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Tom Jones, Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles. The best cover, imo, is by REO Speedwagon from 1972 th-cam.com/video/1F47Kq8VNNU/w-d-xo.html. If you like horns, the wailing sax in this version of "Little Queenie" is "Yakety Sax" Boots Randolph. You should really check this out.
@@davidogg5269 Cool. I like this version by the Stones from Get your YaYa’s Out- th-cam.com/video/sRCq1VhhSac/w-d-xo.html
Glam was a look, a style, an ethos. From a Sonic standpoint it was all over the map, from the slick rock song stylings of Marc Bolan, to the ethereal spaciness of David Bowie, to the witty rock n roll power of Mott the Hoople. The whole glam movement was a precursor to punk.
Don't forget Roxy Music and New York Dolls! :) But yeah, well said, even the part about it being a precursor to punk, since punk was both influenced by and a rejection of glam rock.
And Andy and Alex, y'all aren't wrong in connecting glam to hair metal. KISS, Def Leppard, Quiet Riot, Motley Crue and Poison were all bands that the original glam scene had a direct influence on.
Personally, I much more prefer the original to the later hair metal variety, but that's just me 😛
@@b00jen81 the Dolls were the bridge between glam and punk.
And Slade
Y'know, I'm not the most well versed in musical genres and how they emerged, but your comment triggered something in me. I now realize that, at least to me, it seems that glam is the other side of the coin to punk. Both unabashedly individualistic, but glam is using the pop trends to create something unique and dynamic while punk rejects the pop trends to do the more random and unexpected thing...
One of the most iconic album covers of all time and this song is one of the most iconic songs ever. Totally ahead of its time.
I can remember riding with my dad in the 390ci AMX as a young boy listening to this song on a single dash speaker broadcast over AM radio!
There's a bit of a legend to how Marc Bolan started. When he was 13 years old, Marc met early rockabilly legend Eddie Cochran after a concert in London. Eddie let Marc carry his gorgeous Gretsch guitar to his car. Marc was in awe of Eddie but Eddie met a tragic end soon after when he died in an car crash. His Gretsch was impounded by the local police where a young policeman named David taught himself to play on that same guitar. David formed his own band, Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and had several hits in the UK. (You guys should check out their banger Hold Tight, one of the first uses of a distortion effect). So Eddie Cochran's guitar was directly responsible for three rock careers, and Eddie himself inspired countless others. You can see this magical guitar today at the Rock and Roll museum in Cleveland.
I've been begging the Gents for awhile to get their Eddie Cochran on. He influenced so many in such a short amount of time
Great story! Thanks.
Marc Bolan also met his end in a car crash when his singer missus Gloria Jones crashed their car into a tree.
Wow great story! Thanks for sharing that☺️
could you imagine finding that guitar in some ol geezers garage??? like finding the excalibur of guitars
T. Rex changed the musical landscape, this album was a watershed moment.
The Stonesesque feel is not entirely accidental. The common denominator is Chuck Berry who hugely influenced the Stones, referenced at the fade out here by the spoken 'Meanwhile I was still thinkin'...' which is a direct lift from Chuck Berry's Little Queenie and slyly acknowledging the musical debt owed here.
"too damn cute to be a minute over 17"
So THAT’S what the ending is …
I never realized that! And I love Little Queenie!
ha excellent! and here i thought i was the only person alive who thought this : )
1971. 1971. Holy shit. RIP Mark Bolan.
52 years ago. When I was in high school. And our parents said our music wouldn't last.
Guys, pretty much everything in the 70’s was A+. It was the best. What a great time to be alive. 💕
Glam, in this instance, means time period. He and Bowie were frenemies, always competing with one another. Check out The Powerstation cover of this song-it’s amazing.
I'll 2nd the Powerstation cover... badass guitar solo, Robert Palmer is amazing on this track.
Not trying to pick a fight here, the guys in Power Station were all super-talented - - but I think their cover took it in a direction that lost all the sassiness of the original.
Couldn't have been very much enemies with Bowie writing a song honoring Bolan's style: Black Country Rock.
@@Yikes5824 Truth! Power Station (as much as Palmer was a great singer) completely sucked the soul right out of Bang a Gong. All the young (corporate) dudes.
@@Yikes5824 agree. Did Nile Rodgers produce that cover?
Every 60 something person listening to this is cool memories of their youth. There are bigger bands, more technically amazing songs of the era but this song has a part of every 70s teenagers life. Marc Bolan was the definition of Cool.
This song is why real rock will never die.
Cool song especially for 71 ? There were a lot of cool songs back then !!!
I was alive in 71... lol. I remember all the good stuff....
ALEX AND ANDY Try ROCK AND ROLL Part 2 By GARY GLITTER ,, THEN THANK ME BIG TIME
Need to hear " I'm a jeepster" from the same album. I got to see TRex , sitting in the second row,
@( [had a great connection for tickets connection ] back in the day) the only thin glam about him was that he had glitter around his eyes and on His cheeks. Great show.
70,s best decade for music and talent
Yes, that chorus is catchy. I know I'm going to have this song playing in my head today. Love the baritone sax! 😼
Oh, yes! I love finding out that that was Ian McDonald, too.
I think with every song you here you understand why older people think today's music sucks
👍🤣🤣🤣
There is good stuff out there. Ya just gotta dig.
@@waynethera2712 Right. Get a kick out of old guys saying todays music sucks.I’m 61.Most of the music back than sucked.We just remember the good stuff.You do have to work a bit to find the good music from the last twenty or so but its there.
Check out porcupine Tree and Steven Wilsons later solo work.Discovered a lot of great progressive rock last year while working alone.I find long songs make the workday go faster
bryan schmalz, I have heard of Porcupine Tree just haven’t gotten into them yet. I’ve got 3 days with kids in school and the Mrs. at work as good a time as any.
Here’s a long stoner rock track for ya. Some Ukrainian dudes called Stoned Jesus song called I am the Mountain.
@@waynethera2712 You must be travellling the same Spotify roads I’m on. Porcupine Tree’’Anesthetize’’ Live at Tillburg. Start there. On youtube
Bowie owed so much to Bolan that he wrote Lady Stardust (originally called Song for Marc) which was on the Ziggy album in his honor:
People stared at the makeup on his face
Laughed at his long black hair, his animal grace
The boy in the bright blue jeans
Jumped up on the stage
Lady Stardust sang his songs
Of darkness and disgrace
Rock and roll Magic!
Bolan and Bowie were friends and the influence was mutual, Bolan's first glamorous appearances in TOTP were with an almost identical aesthetic to the one Bowie wore in the concert with The Hype a year before, in which Bolan was in the audience, for Not to mention that the original version of Moonage Daydream, released before anything by Electric Warrior, has a sound that clearly influenced Bolan's work.
If you liked this you will like "Mott The Hoople.” Songs such as “All the Young Dudes,” “Roll Away the Stone,” and “All the Way From Memphis."
I am still a Mott fan and totally agree with you.
I would also suggest my own favorites, 'Honaloochie Boogie' and 'Whizz Kid'.
I agree with All the young dudes. Great song.
This song was way ahead of its time it was huge hit but 15 years later would have been #1 in the new wave age
no way, the glam rock era in britain was well and truely over by the time of post punk and new wave in the late 70's early 80's, new wave was over by the mid 80's in britain anyway
it was a #1 UK hit and Top 10 in the US
Duran Duran splinter group Power Station covered it and it got to #9.
Didn't seem ahead of it's time to me. Typical 70's this is the solid glam sound. What is different is that next level exhibitionist show that Marc put on past people like Jagger. Just brought more theatrics into it.
Your getting confused with Kraftwerk..
Welcome to the beginning of Glam/Glitter. Bowie would become "Ziggy" after this, and many others would jump on the bandwagon. Mott The Hoople changed their stage show and recorded Bowie's "All the Young Dudes". There is a lot more from the early/mid 70's to explore. Tubes - "White Punks on Dope" in the US.
Bowie had already come up with Ziggy before this, remember that the original version of Moonage Daydream was released first than anything of Electric Warrior. Let's also not forget that the aesthetic of Bolan's first glamorous appearances in TOTP was influenced by Bowie's aesthetic in the concert with The Hype.
Back when this came out and I was a hormone-filled teen (well, almost a teen, but still hormone-filled) this song just oozed sexuality. It was and remains a really great song.
Marc Bolan was so underrated. Much talent. And thanks, because I did miss it.
This is a song that if you heard it on the radio while driving-you crank it up!!
"Electric Warrior" is a fairly underrated and under appreciated album from the early 70s; there were so many masterpieces from that era that it is somewhat overlooked. But every song on it is worthy of a listen from you guys. Mr Bolan was a great rocker and gifted lyricist - with great imagery and funky as hell grooves.
One of the best solid albums of 1971🎶🎶😎
One of my absolutely favorite albums ever, so so cool.
An album that always sounds fresh.
I've never heard a underrated review of Electric Warrior. 🤔
Friend, maybe it wasn't recognized in your country, because it certainly didn't do so well outside the UK. But we have to speak properly, the album in the UK was not only a great success, it was the most successful British studio album of the ENTIRE decade! 8 weeks number 1, 29 weeks top 10.
That last line during the fade out "Meanwhile I'm still thinking" is from Chuck Berry's song Little Queenie (also covered by the Rolling Stones in their classic live album Get Yer Ya Yas Out).
The end of Queen's NOW I'M HERE on their 3rd album has 'em singing: "Go! Go! Go!, little queenie!" -- as a tribute to Chuck Berry's tune.
The television man is crazy
Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks
But, man, I need a TV when I've got T. Rex
Hey, brother, you guessed
I'm a dude
Hey dude
Carry the news.
Bugaloo dudes...
And my brother's back at home
With his Beatles and his Stones
We never got if off on that revolution stuff
What a drag
Too many snags
.....I'm a dude, man....
Dudes, 1971 was a peak year for music. Google the top albums of 1971, you've done a bunch of reactions to those records.
Whenever I am surprised you haven't heard a song before I have to reflect on all the new music I'm not familiar with. Love your appreciation for great songs. You guys rock!
I saw him stagefront in Kansas City Ks waaaay back. His lyrics are great.
Check out "The SLIDER". He was ahead of his time; he died b4 his time.
70’s glam is different than 80’s glam, T.Rex and David Bowie were are the forefront of 70’s glam, metal wasn’t a thing back then✌️
Black Sabbath
Yes heavy metal roots go back to the early 60’s. A blurred line and progression of hard rock/acid rock etc. Andy and Alex referenced “Hair Metal” (appears I forgot the word Hair in my comment). Hair Metal is a genre of it’s own, it was not really referenced until early 80s ✌️
Another would be Slade, they were all part of the British Invasion of Glam. The Sweet is another that should get a mention.
This gem was a huge commercial success and viewers choice. No one says "Get it on" like Marc Bolan, his insane vocals, such a brilliant artist. T.Rex was one of the first bands that rocked my world, I had to have all of their albums. Lyrics, vocals and beyond, yes please. You guys will have this tune in your heads for awhile hah!
Great video guys, love this song! How about No Matter What by Badfinger next?
Badfinger, oh yeah.
@@homebrew2070 One of my favorite bands.
BADFINGER!!
All-time classic. Great recommendation!
Killer radio hook.
You’re already singing along.
As a ten year old girl I LOVED this song and had a crush on Marc Bolan (no Osmonds for me, thank you). Think my parents were a bit disturbed by this, until they realized that I didn't have a clue what it was about, LOL.
Same.....I was 11....
Are you familiar with all the Osmonds work? Not all of it was bubble gum. Check out their songs "My Drum," which shows clear Led Zeppelin influence and "Traffic in my mind", which could have been done by Cream on Disraeli Gears. Also noteworthy are "Hey Mr. Taxi" which has the feel in a Paul McCartney/Wings song from about 1973 and "Life is hard enough without goodbyes."
I'm a 60 year old stoner dude in Alabama and I've got a crush on Marc Bolen.
@@ericlesher5962 60 year old from Alabama here too !!!! And nothing wrong with a crush on Bolen.....
56 and still crushing on him and this era...!
A later cover was done by the 80s “super group” Power Station. The inimitable Robert Palmer on vocals, and members of Duran Duran in the band, with video. So that might explain the glam rock associations with this song. Looks like you filmed this pre Freedom Shack? Thanks, gents, for the Tuesday treat.
That explains it completely 🥰
Robert Palmer is so underrated. Phenomenal vocalist.
@@free1855 Agree!
I REALLY hope they react to the Power Station version someday. Its my fave. And I know others prefer it, even though originators usually deserve huge props, as does T Rex.
Power Station version is absolutely amazing.
Obi Wan Kenobi: This is not the T. Rex you are looking for." You want '20th Century Boy', for the Banger!
And “Jeepster”.
@@brownstansifer And "Planet Queen"...
BANG A GONG - GET IT ON! 😎🤘YEAH!
You should listen to "Children of the Revolution," "Ride a White Swan" or "Hot Love." (Elton John and Ringo Starr play on "Children of the ...)
FYI, hubcaps are are dish shaped, metal covers that attach to the wheels of a car and cover the hub/axle.
And "Jeepster" is even better than this one, IMO. Bolan, just has swagger.
+1 Jeepster
Jeepster 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Good call
Agreed
Marc was a master of the 'simple but effective' school of songwriting, from his Tolkeinesque 60's hippy music to his emergence as the god of British Glam Rock in the early 70's. Thanks for the video guys :)
When T. Rex had groove, they had it, like going on forever. Sister-brother song to this is "Hot love" by them. It just goes on forever, but one does not get bored, it is just so groovy.
FINALLY someone reacted to this song. Bangin my headed takin a trip down memory lane. Rock on
The choruses really are the point of this song. I love the way they get bigger each time they come back around. T. Rex, Bowie, and Roxy Music were early glam rock. Do yourselves a favor, A&A, and check out photos of the era. The look of those 70s bands very much influenced the look of 80s hair metal.
....this song has swag. And for 1971, it proved that "less is more" ...he sings quiet; and the chorus boosts the vibe.
Now you definitely need to do the cover of this song done by power station. Robert Palmer is the lead singer and he does a really good job. He's the guy that does that song simply irresistible.
The Power Station does a slammin' version of this.
Yeah I was going to say Robert Palmer’s version has more umph!
RIP Robert Palmer.
Yaaas!
Love the original,, but "Power Station" really ROCKS...
Agree to disagree. It is the glam version. Okay, but not great imo.
This is glam. Glam was a 70s thing. Some people call 80s hair metal “glam”, but that’s not what it originally meant.
80’s hair metal just stole glam’s outfits!
Yes indeed! Sometimes 70s glam was also called Art Rock, and that captured bands like Roxy Music, and later on my favourite band of the era, Be Bop Deluxe.
@Andy Briggs Yes. Yes it is.
@Andy Briggs It doesn't come close to glam or other genres but imo there are some good hair metal bands, like Whitesnake or Motley Crue
@Andy Briggs …..garbage…
Such a catchy tune that holds up well today.
this one of those songs played everywhere, especially the hook, can't believe you've never heard
This is the birth of glam. A total blast in this period's music era.
Has been a while for me listening to this song, maybe 30 years or so. The funk with the sax and piano did it for me, thanks guys! have a wonderful week! P.S. I'm 63
The funky sax really grabs you
The song was produced by Tony Visconti who also produced much of David Bowie work. The T.Rex Electric Warrior album is superb and well worth exploring.
David Bowie started "Glam Rock" with his "Ziggy Stardust" character. Others joined in including T. Rex.
If I remember correctly Bowie started his Ziggy character in 72. I remember seeing Alice Cooper in 1970. He along with his band wore glammed up clothing. They had a tight set as well which was different than other bands I had seen in 1970. Usually all the other bands were in Jean's and t shirts and their sets were loose sometimes even tuning their instruments in the middle of a set. I do believe Marc Bolan was dressing glammed up in England before Bowie.
Nope!
Bolan precedes Bowie. That's why there's a Bowie song mentioning T Rex and not the other way around.
I stand corrected. Marc Bolan was first.
@@davekump1532 good to see someone stand corrected and admit it. Either way Bolan / Bowie rule!
Yes!! The whole album is the heat. Desert island classic for me.
The Entire "Electric Warrior" is a classic of the 70s. What a strange, ethereal, totally draws-you-in vibe!
You need to do Echo & the Bunnymen “The Killing Moon”.
Gents! Thanks so much for putting this up as its own reaction! Their album Electric Warrior definitely warrants a full album reaction. Other great songs: 20th Century Boy, Monolith, The Slider, Children of the Revolution, Dandy in the Underworld, Soul of My Suit, etc.
You should also give Eddie Cochran a listen- he influenced The Beatles, T-Rex, LZ, Boat Jett, The Clash, The Who and many more
The Slider is my fave
Keep a little Marc in your heart ❤️
Great reaction, guys. My favourites from T. Rex are 20th Century Boy and Children Of The Revolution.
Most of the sound track to Billy Elliot, just brilliant time capsule of Thatchers Britain. 😉
The chorus was made by his wife the highest powerful voice a star in her own right.lovvvve Marc!!!!!!!!!!!!+
This is a classic rock n roll banger. It was redone by "The Power Station" fronted by Robert Palmer who did a great job of the song and actually made it a longer run time. Check it out!!
I know you guys have done some Doobie Brothers but did you do "What a Fool Believes.
Love seeing you young ppl hearing this great old song, I see the awe in your eyes.....your grandparent's music...yes, they were rocking out...
Remember to "keep a little Marc in your heart"
"And meanwhile I'm still thinkin'"...this is a direct Chuck Berry quote. Marc Bolan loved his riffs. This song has always been sex on vinyl to me.
From wikipedia: English glam-rock band T-Rex's Marc Bolan, discussing their hit "Bang a Gong (Get It On)", "claimed to have written the song out of his desire to record Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", and said that the riff is taken from the Berry tune. In fact, a slightly edited line ("And meanwhile, I'm still thinking") from "Little Queenie" is said at the fade of "Get It On".
Marc Bolan was my Idol when I hit my teenage years and I still love T Rex to this day. He was wild and wooly and I loved him. Great music to grow up to.
Can't wait for you guys to do "20th Century Boy." Absolute epic banger that will rock your minds!
This is the best humping song ever written, I love this song! Almost all British Rock Groups were fans of T. Rex and Mott The Hoople, they were the happing groups in the UK at that time along with Jimi Hendrix. I love this song, it is almost impossible to sit still while this song is playing. Thank you for finally reacting to this group. This is an A+ for sure for me. This is a great song to listen to on long drives when you start to become hypnotized by the road. It will get you moving and wake you up.
As a 65-year-old former high school band and choir member who ended up a music major in college, I'm enjoying your discovery of the music of my youth. As far as I'm concerned, my generation was the luckiest in regards to experiencing the incredible evolution of music from the early '60s on. The canvas was blank and everything was new.
I'm glad you guys went down this road and found out just how much terrific music was loved before you were born. My own kids who are in their early thirties are both Steely Dan fans as I turned them on to my music when they were very young.
My only regret is you guys haven't reacted to "Don't Take Me Alive" by Steely Dan. I think it's their best song ever... and the lyrics are epic. Also, the same guitar player that performed in Kid Charlemagne, Larry Carlton, does amazing work in this song also. You're missing a treat if you don't take the time to listen to Don't Take Me Alive
Keep up the good work. I enjoy your vids.
Im with you there. Im 65 and we had the best music in our youth.
Don’t take me alive is so great !
One of my favorite bands back in the early and mid 70's along with this song which back then I played over and over. Marc died on September 17, 1977 in a car crash at the age of 29,2 weeks before his 30th birthday. Bolan's friend Elton John was a guest pianist when T Rex performed Get It On on 1971's Christmas Top of the Pops. T Rex was immensely popular in Great Britain. Bang a Gong was off the groups Electric Warrior LP. HOT LOVE and PLANET QUEEN 2 songs worth a listen.
Marc Bolan was scared to drive and never had a driver's license. His wife was at the wheel of Mini, missed a curve and crashed to end Marc's life. He also was the host of a music variety show in London at the time.
Another tragic example proving alcohol and driving do not mix.
Gloria Jones was his girlfriend. They had a son together. She sang the original song 'Tainted Love', which Soft Cell covered and had a hit with in the early 1980s.
I was 8 when this bad baby came out & I obviously didn't get to appreciate it until later in my teens. Banger!
Glam is not hair metal. Y’all NEED to hear MOTT THE HOOPLE.
I'm not sure they are the archetypal glam band - they had four albums before Bowie's intervention led to them being portrayed as glam - although I suspect Pete Watts revelled in his silver sprayed chest and thigh length platform boots! That said, I agree: everyone needs to hear Mott the Hoople.
Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
@@stevegreen5552 He looked cool in those boots
That whole record, Electric Warrior, is top notch front to back. Every track is a ringer!