(Music Before 1990)

T. Rex - Electric Warrior

Thirty-nine years ago this week, Marc Bolan and his band T. Rex hit #1 on the U.K charts with their breakout single “Get It On” (re-titled “Bang A Gong (Get It On) in the U.S.).  The song and its associated full-length Electric Warrior formed the foundation of the new genre known as “glam rock.”  The genre is best remembered today for the theatricality and androgyny present in live performances and the resulting unfortunate development of hair metal.  Sadly lost in all the rhinestones and hairspray is some stupendous music, without which performers as diverse as The Ramones, The Human League, and even Prince would likely not exist in the forms in which we know them.  Below then, we celebrate glam rock with no costumes, no sequins, and no lipstick.  Just songs.  Enjoy.

T. Rex – Bang A Gong (Get It On)

David Bowie – Suffragette City

Mott The Hoople (via David Bowie) – All The Young Dudes

Roxy Music – Do The Strand