Marc Bolan, T-Rex, T.Rex - 20th Century Boy: The Ultimate Collection

Despite scoring only one sizable American hit ("Bang a Gong") during its lifespan, Marc Bolan's T. Rex was one of the most influential rock acts of the '70s. This 23-track, digitally remastered anthology moves from the band's original, late-'60s roots as Tyrannosaurus Rex to the acoustic neo-folk duo of Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took to its more familiar electrified early-'70s incarnation. While many of his U.K. peers were smitten with prog-rock excesses and album-length ruminations during that period, Bolan obsessed on the pop-single form, stripping his music down to the elemental rock hooks of "Ride a White Swan" and the minimalist cover of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues." Coupled with a glam-era sense of style, his was a pop sensibility that presaged much of the succeeding waves of punk and new wave, hard rock and glam metal. Indeed, "Metal Guru" and "Children of the Revolution" now sound like clarion calls. If, as singles like "Gong," "Telegram Sam," and "Jeepster" indicate, Bolan was working from formula, it was an undeniably infectious one. And what could be more of an ironic tribute that a quarter-century after Bolan's untimely death in a car accident, his ballsy "20th Century Boy" became the soundtrack to a car advertising campaign? --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

A LOT of fun

The stuff that is great is REALLY great... and some of the songs sound nearly quaint. Bolan had a great idea, which is even mentioned in this disc's liners: He updated Chuck Berry riffs! In my words, he added some spacey, sometimes androgynous lyrics to Chuck's riffs, added some guttural, then-sexy utterances, terrific Flo & Eddie backing vocals, and helped create glam! Cool stuff that puts a smile on my face. Recently, I did read an old CREEM article, in which Bolan says that Bowie was just trying to be Bolan; I'm happy that he's not around to try and defend that statement now. March 6, 2008

T-Rex is T-riffic

Super cool music from a classic British Shaman. Don't be fooled by the "Glam Rock" stamp placed on it.
You can't go wrong with Gibson guitars and a Marshall Amp. January 18, 2008

Amazing

I didn't have much contact with T. REX work but as soon as I got this CD I realised how many time I spent without listening to it. Simply amazing, in everyway. I couldn't stop listening to it at least for a whole week. "By the light of a Magical Moon" and "Cosmic Dancer" were magical surprises. I recommend to everyone that enjoy a really good music, specially people here in Brazil where T.REX are not so diffused, what a shame. December 12, 2007

The Best T-Rex Collection Available

Stop searching through the many compilations. This one is the one with a comprehensive History and one of the few that contains all key singles. December 11, 2007

The Best Bolan Collection To Date

I've heard it said that the only other artist to have more official posthumous releases than Marc Bolan is Jimi Hendrix. Since Marc's death in 1977, there have been numerous greatest hits collections, outtake collections, live concerts, and album re-releases. And the quality of these releases has been as varied as the albums themselves due to sound quality and song selection. Almost all of the prior hits collections were limited to either 1967-1971 or 1972-1977. You got one or the other.

Finally, we have a collection that takes the best from all eras: Marc's hippy-acoustic Tyrannosaurus Rex days through the mega-hit pop machine, T. Rex. It appears someone finally resolved all the legal matters that prevented a full greatest hits release in the past, giving listeners a complete picture of the man and his music.

People looking for Bolan's signature songs will fine them here: "Ride A White Swan," "Hot Love," "Get It On (Bang A Gong)," "Children Of The Revolution," "20th Century Boy," and "I Love To Boogie."

Being an avid Bolan fan and collector, there's never going to be the perfect representation of T. Rex on disc. To me, almost ALL of Marc's music was phenomenal. The exception would be a few tracks off of "Bolan's Zip Gun." But this album manages to come the closest I've seen to give a complete picture, picking the hits and giving the listener the T. Rex experience.
May 31, 2007

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