Bang a Gong (Get It On) - T-Rex (1971) 2/1/21

“Glam rock” was a sub genre of Rock & Roll that came out of England in the early 1970s. It encompassed everything from Bubblegum to '50s Rock to Cabaret Music to Art Rock...but the most important thing was the PRESENTATION.

Glam Rock artists were known for their glittery makeup, flamboyant and/or androgynous costumes, platform shoes, wild hairstyles and general weirdness. Think: David Bowie, Sweet, Slade, Gary Glitter, and the group responsible for today's “Great Song of the '70s.”

T-Rex was coming off their first hit...a song called “Hot Love,” which went to #1 in early 1971...but only in England. It didn't crack the charts anywhere else, but still, a chart topper in Great Britain is nothing to sneeze at.

For a follow-up, front man Marc Bolan came up with a song that put T-Rex on the charts all over the world!

“Get it On” was the title...but that posed a problem here in the US, because the jazz-rock group Chase already had a hit by that name. (Note: We highlighted that song back on 2/10/20, and you can read about it here: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCuuuk/posts/147725373367585

Marc came up with an easy fix. For the US release, he retitled the song, “Bang a Gong (Get It On).” The problem was solved, and the song shot up to #10 on Billboard's Hot 100. Elsewhere, by the original title, it topped the charts in England and Ireland, reached #3 in Germany and Switzerland, #6 in Norway and #12 in Canada.

TRIVIA: Background vocals were provided by Flo & Eddie (Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan) of The Turtles.

In 1985, Power Station released a cover that also did very well, reaching #8 in Australia and #9 on Billboard's Hot 100!

“Bang a Gong (Get It On):” a “Great Song” that helped put Glam Rock on the musical map in 1971, and a “Great Song” again in 1986.

T-Rex (1971):

Power Station (1986):

And Just for kicks, here's T-Rex's first hit (in the UK only): “Hot Love!”