T.Rex was a primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld). Bolan created a deliberately trashy form of rock and roll that was proud of its own disposability, which stood in contrast to the low-key whimsical poetry of the earlier duo. T.Rex's music borrowed the underlying sexuality of early rock & roll, adding dirty, simple grooves and fat distorted guitars, as well as an overarching folky/hippie spirituality that always came through the clearest on ballads. While most of his peers concentrated on making cohesive albums, Bolan kept the idea of a three-minute pop single alive in the early 1970s. In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of "T.Rextacy" among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit -- the Top Ten "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" -- before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T.Rex's popularity in the U.K. didn't begin to waver until 1975, and they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolan's death in 1977. Over the next three decades, Bolan has emerged as a cult figure and the music of T.Rex has proved quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.
Following a career as a teenage model, Marc Bolan began performing music professionally in 1965, releasing his first single, "The Wizard," on Decca Records. Bolan joined the psychedelic folk-rock combo John's Children in 1967, appearing on three unsuccessful singles before the group disbanded later that year. Following the breakup, he formed the folk duo Tyrannosaurus Rex with percussionist Steve Peregrine Took. The duo landed a record deal with a subsidiary of EMI in February 1968, recording their debut album with producer Tony Visconti. "Debora," the group's first single, peaked at number 34 in May of that year, and their debut album, "My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brow", reached number 15 shortly afterward. The duo released their second album, "Prophets, Seers & Sages, the Angels of the Ages", in November of 1968.
By this time, Tyrannosaurus Rex was building a sizable underground following, which helped Bolan's book of poetry, The Warlock of Love, enter the British best-seller charts. In the summer of 1969, the duo released their third album, "Unicorn", as well as the single "King of the Rumbling Spires," the first Tyrannosaurus Rex song to feature an electric guitar. Following an unsuccessful American tour that fall, Took left or as is often stated by people close to the band, was sacked. He was replaced by Mickey Finn, previously linked to the band Haphash and the coloured coat.(There are a few more artists using the name Mickey Finn, though that is where the connection ends)! The new duo's first single did not chart, yet their first album, 1970's "A Beard of Stars", reached number 21.
The turning point in Bolan's career came in October of 1970, when he shortened the group's name to T.Rex and released "Ride a White Swan," a fuzz-drenched single driven by a rolling backbeat. "Ride a White Swan" became a major hit in the U.K., climbing all the way to number two. The band's next album, T.Rex, peaked at number 13 and stayed on the charts for six months. Encouraged by the results, Bolan expanded T.Rex to a full band, adding bassist Steve Currie and drummer Bill Legend (born Bill Fifield). The new lineup recorded "Hot Love," which spent six weeks at number one in early 1971. That summer, T.Rex released "Get It On" (retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" in the U.S.), which became their second straight U.K. number one; the single would go on to be their biggest international hit, reaching number ten in the U.S. in 1972. "Electric Warrior", the first album recorded by the full band, was released in the fall of 1971; it was number one for six weeks in Britain and cracked America's Top 40.
By now, "T.Rextacy" was in full swing in England, as the band had captured the imaginations of both teenagers and the media with its sequined, heavily made-up appearance; the image of Marc Bolan in a top hat, feather boa, and platform shoes, performing "Get It On" on the BBC became as famous as his music. At the beginning of 1972, T.Rex signed with EMI, setting up a distribution deal for Bolan's own T.Rex Wax Co. record label. "Telegram Sam," the group's first EMI single, became their third number one single.
"Metal Guru" also hit number one, spending four weeks at the top of the chart. The Slider, released in the summer of 1972, shot to number one upon its release, allegedly selling 100,000 copies in four days; the album was also T.Rex's most successful American release, reaching number 17. Appearing in the spring of 1973, Tanx was another Top Five hit for T.Rex; the singles "20th Century Boy" and "The Groover" soon followed it to the upper ranks of the charts. However, those singles would prove to be the band's last two Top Ten hits. In the summer of 1973, rhythm guitarist Jack Green joined the band, as did three backup vocalists, including the American soul singer Gloria Jones; Jones would soon become Bolan's girlfriend. At the beginning of 1974, drummer Bill Legend left the group and was replaced by Davy Lutton, as Jones became the group's keyboardist.
In early 1974, the single "Teenage Dream" was the first record to be released under the name Marc Bolan and T.Rex. The following album, Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow, was the last Bolan recorded with Tony Visconti. Throughout the year, T.Rex's popularity rapidly declined -- by the time "Zip Gun Boogie" was released in November, it could only reach number 41. Finn and Green left the group at the end of the year, while keyboardist Dino Dines joined. The decline of T.Rex's popularity was confirmed when 1975's Bolan's "Zip Gun" failed to chart. Bolan took the rest of the year off, returning in the spring of 1976 with "Futuristic Dragon", which peaked at number 50. Released in the summer of 1976, "I Love to Boogie," a disco-flavored three-chord thumper, became Bolan's last Top 20 hit.
Bolan released "Dandy in the Underworld" in the spring of 1977; it was a modest hit, peaking at number 26. While "The Soul of My Suit" reached number 42 on the charts, T.Rex's next two singles failed to chart. Sensing it was time for a change of direction, Bolan began expanding his horizons in August. In addition to contributing a weekly column for Record Mirror, he hosted his own variety television show, Marc. Featuring guest appearances by artists like David Bowie and Generation X, Marc helped restore Bolan's hip image. Signing with RCA Records, the guitarist formed a new band with bassist Herbie Flowers and drummer Tony Newman, yet he never was able to record with the group. While driving home from a London club with Bolan, Gloria Jones lost control of her car, smashing into a tree. Marc Bolan, riding in the passenger's seat of the car, was killed instantly.
While T.Rex's music was intended to be disposable, it has proven surprisingly influential over the years. Hard rock and heavy metal bands borrowed the group's image, as well as the pounding insistence of their guitars. Punk bands may have discarded the high heels, feather boas, and top hats, yet they adhered to the simple three-chord structures and pop aesthetics that made the band popular, as they still are today 30 years after Marc's death.
Charlie
T. Rex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's the kinda guy who always looks the same
As someone you've seen on a scene or at a party
Charlie is the kind you know what'll always be
On his own scene an absolute mystery
Sometime later an uptown nowhere High Street
Standing o a corner laughing at all the people he meets
Ah, he smiles and politely says "How do you do?"
As you walk away he makes vaces after you
My baby and I, we've been planning a nice cool weekend
Comes a knock at my door, this guy yells out I'm his friend
He looks the place over and then tells me that he'll move in
Charlie is the one that while the neighbours stare,
Biblical beard and his long black hair.
The lyrics to T. Rex's "Charlie" tell the story of encountering a mysterious and enigmatic man named Charlie. The song starts with the singer walking down the highway and spotting Charlie. Despite his striking appearance, Charlie always seems to blend into the background, making him seem like someone familiar even if he's a stranger. The singer describes Charlie as a person who will always be on his own scene, an absolute mystery.
Later in the song, the singer encounters Charlie again, this time on an uptown nowhere High Street. Charlie is standing on a corner, laughing at all the people he meets. He approaches the singer and politely says hello. As the singer walks away, Charlie makes faces after him.
The final verse of the song takes a surprising turn, as the singer reveals that he and his partner were planning a nice, cool weekend when Charlie unexpectedly shows up at his door. Charlie looks over the place and informs the singer that he'll be moving in. The song ends with a description of Charlie that includes a Biblical beard and long black hair, painting him as an eccentric and compelling figure.
Overall, the lyrics to "Charlie" are a snapshot of encounters with a mysterious and fascinating character, whose true nature remains shrouded in ambiguity.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walking down the highway, see this cat his name was 'Charlie'
As I was strolling along the road, I encountered an individual named Charlie
He's the kinda guy who always looks the same
Charlie is the type who always maintains a consistent appearance
As someone you've seen on a scene or at a party
He resembles someone whom you've spotted previously at a gathering or a happening
Charlie is the kind you know what'll always be
Charlie is the sort of person who gives the impression of being unchangeable
On his own scene an absolute mystery
He's a puzzle when it comes to his own interests and activities
Sometime later an uptown nowhere High Street
Eventually, I traversed through an upmarket area devoid of any specific characteristics
You can just imagine the wild person I'm about to meet
I was able to anticipate the eccentric individual I was going to come across
Standing o a corner laughing at all the people he meets
He was standing at a street corner, mirthfully observing every passerby
Ah, he smiles and politely says 'How do you do?'
With a grin, he cordially greets me saying 'Hello'
As you walk away he makes vaces after you
As I depart, I could witness him making faces behind my back
My baby and I, we've been planning a nice cool weekend
My significant other and I were devising an enjoyable, tranquil weekend
Comes a knock at my door, this guy yells out I'm his friend
Suddenly, there's a knock at my door and a man screams out that he's friends with me
He looks the place over and then tells me that he'll move in
After surveying the area, he announces that he'll shift in with me
Charlie is the one that while the neighbours stare,
Charlie is the person who draws attention from the neighbors due to his distinctive appearance
Biblical beard and his long black hair.
He has an impressive beard that appears biblical and luscious dark locks
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JuggsAndMagsss
It took me 6 years but I finally realized why Rex be turning so much during Clips’ rounds. He’s just making sure he gets cooked evenly on all sides.
MULA BENJI
Lmfao
williamr978
🤣🤣🤣
Chuck Sosa
Legendary comment
Temi K
Bang! Bang! God damn, you clips substitute or something 🤣🤣
Dread Presidents
AHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
WaveylikeWayne
Rex Clips
RD 1- 5:00 Rd 1- 8:15
RD 2- 14:44 RD 2- 16:17
RD 3- 22:33 RD 3- 26:52
Whit Robinson
You just Dont know how much we appreciate you
Qwenton Tynes
Goat
Dewayne Mitchell
All heroes don’t wear a cape