Unicorn Boogie: The T.Rex singles poll

Selections taken from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._Rex_discography#Singles so any omissions you know where to complain to.

As great as "Bang a Gong" is, I'll go with "Metal Guru."

gaHHHHHH

I guess "Jeepster" just barely over "Ride a White Swan"

what a run

Great poll. First thought is Metal Guru, but I'll ponder it.

impossible

jeepster, hot love, telegram sam are the early frontrunners

"ride a white swan." already voted. yes, i know what it's up against and i don't care. not in a mean or defensive way. i just cannot be convinced otherwise. a post i made years ago explains why.

Jeep

Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/10CyaGkumuoylbYS7ZJNvZ

And one for Tidal users.

https://tidal.com/playlist/a1af8fa9-5eb3-4ae6-88ef-b61b651800ef

Near impossible but I went for “20th C Boy” because sonically it’s a little juggernaut of a single.

^^^ this, although I'd say "massive" rather than "little"

Gut reaction is Jeepster or Metal Guru, but I'll give the Spotify playlist a listen. Thanks DW!

first thought was 20th Century Boy, but I realised I've come to love Metal Guru more - something about the giddiness of the strings and backing vocals, the sound of the thing simply makes me happy.

And of course Dan totally otm, that particular run is immaculate - greatest purest distillation of rock as pop colouring in the charts.

Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.

I think we have done a few albums and agree with others, this is almost impossible. Throwing darts and voting "20th Century Boy."

i voted By the Light of a Magical Moon

Missed this poll when it started, taking the chance for listen through because I haven't in ages. Probably "20th Century Boy" but we'll see.

OK, "Metal Guru." Great band.

Someone has to vote for Bang a Gong (Get It On). I love the groove and it has some great Bolan sexyfantasy nonsense lyrics. I used to think it was played out, then I kept playing it more and now I love it again.

You've got the teeth of the hydra upon you

I won’t say yet what I did vote for, but it sort of broke my heart to not vote for the song with “you’ve got the universe reclining in your hair” the best lyric/delivery of all time from a certain angle

I agree that the objectively best single probably comes from the run from Ride A White Swan to 20th Century Boy, but my favourite is the one that came next, The Groover (missing an r in the poll list), their hardest and meanest sounding track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdyKneo3anA

didn’t see anyone else mention “hot love,” so i voted for that one

i voted By the Light of a Magical Moon

Considering doing the same, I love that track.

(xp) Yes! This is too difficult.

Hot Love for me. I love how long and repetitious it is. Got into TRex from the Breaking the Waves soundtrack, which this song was on.

Should have gone for Zip Gun Boogie, seeing as I got the LP from the man himself.

But, someone reminded me that I have always loved "Jeepster" and that it's great.

So, well if yez do a LP poll....

seeing as I got the LP from the man himself

This raises questions (or maybe I missed a story).

Well, seeing as it's you..

Back in 1975, I was a contestant on a pop music TV quiz (teenage TV) representing the Thames TV region along with two other teammates. Knockout style. We won through all the way to the final, then won that too.

Anyway, after the break for ads, the show came back on to interview a star guest. 1st episode was Marc. The next time we got two of Showaddywaddy. Third time was Sparks.

Anyway, each episode won got us a signed LP. So, Zip Gun Boogie is a favourite. As is Propaganda.

Was a heck of a time for a 14 year old kid.

♡

:O

Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.

Yeah, there are no wrong answers here... um.. Nobody voted "Children of the Revolution"? That one gets cited all the time thanks to the Rolls Royce line!

Didn't vote, the poll was too quick! I needed longer to think about my choice! A poll where "Children of the Revolution" gets zero is obviously top drawer.

I could rhapsodize about each song that got multiple votes, except Metal Guru not so much... Could someone rhapsodize a bit, cause it feels very by-the-book for peak era T-Rex? Mabye because it doesn't have a big crunchy riff? I'd have chosen Buick McCain for second Slider single.

"The next time we got two of Showaddywaddy"

quality control rollercoaster here

Mark G that's an amazing story.

Now I wish I had voted 20th Century Boy instead of Metal Guru, could have had a well-deserved 4-way tie for first. Ah well.

I don't feel like the appeal of Metal Guru is hard to parse, the whole song is one big hook with that irresistible glam-shuffle beat. And the "aaahh-AAAAAHHHHH-aaah" scream at the start is delightful.

Xpost I feel for whatever team got knocked out first round, but got to meet Lyn Paul ex of the New Seekers.

(Caveat: we kinda knew the Belchers as they went to the same dance school as my sister)

re: Metal Guru, also the backing vocals! I just love the rhythm of the verses

are there verses on Metal Guru? it's basically just like one long chorus for the whole song

not trying to split hairs but think it can explain why people find it to be somewhat underwhelming

I always thought of the "is it you" parts as the chorus, I was specifically thinking about the way he sings

"Metal guru has it been
Just like a silver-studded saber-toothed dream"

Rick Wakeman making some easy money for his contribution to ‘Get It On’.

Wakeman, who was desperate for work at the time to pay his rent, had bumped into Bolan in Oxford Street, who offered him the session. Wakeman pointed out to Tony Visconti that the record did not actually need a piano player. Visconti suggested that he could add a gliss. Wakeman said that Visconti could do that, to which Bolan replied, "You want your rent, don't you?" Wakeman did, and earned £9 for his efforts.

Mark G that's a great anecdote!