New T. Rex Collection Features Earliest Recordings

08/23/2002 5:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Jerry Armor

(8/23/02, 5 p.m. ET) -- The inclusion of early recordings by Tyrannosaurus Rex is one of the highlights of the newly released Marc Bolan & T. Rex: 20th Century Boy--The Ultimate Collection. For many people, it's the first time they'll get to hear what Marc Bolan was doing before hits like "Bang A Gong (Get It On)" and "Jeepster" hit the radio.

Bolan's son Rolan told LAUNCH that having those tracks on 20th Century Boy allows listeners to learn more about his father as an artist. "What's really cool is that they're putting all the Tyrannosaurus Rex they did early with Tony Visconti in," he said. "That was just such basic and limited recording, in the sounds there and the songs. It was just such an interesting combination. It really captured the time when he was more involved in the hippie movement, and how the whole British scene adapted from that into the more electric sound."

Besides T. Rex, Visconti is well known for his production work with acts including David Bowie, the Moody Blues, U2, Thin Lizzy, and Badfinger.

-- Bruce Simon, New York

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