Yesterday, September 30, 2008, would have been Marc Bolan’s sixty-first birthday. In recognition of that and to remember him I would like to take you back an incredible thirty-six years to March 1972. Marc and his band T.Rex were flying high. Their last album Electric Warrior, often sited as his best work, had underlined Marc’s position as glam-rock’s leading exponent.
By that time he was being filmed by Ringo Starr at the sell out Empire Pool, Wembley concerts for the film Born To Boogie. The hysteria at these concerts was something that hadn’t been seen since the Beatles. He was also working on his follow up album to Electric Warrior, The Slider.
The Slider was the first album released following his move to the EMI label, which came about when his previous label Fly released the single “Jeepster” without his agreement. His contract lapsed and he moved on. In an indication of how much of a coup this was to EMI, they gave Marc his own design for both record and bag under the title T.Rex Wax.
With a great cover photograph from Ringo, The Slider captures Marc and T.Rex at the very height of their powers. They had a run of ten consecutive singles that were all destined to finish in the top four UK chart slots. They achieved a total of four number ones and four more reached number two. From The Slider came two of those chart topping singles “Telegram Sam” and “Metal Guru”. They were to be his last number one records. By the end of 1974 his sales were in decline.
The Slider, which was released in July 1972, had been recorded at the famous Chateau D’Herouville near Paris and in Copenhagen. Once again Tony Visconti handled production. T.Rex consisted of Marc, bass player Steve Currie, drummer Bill Legend and Mickey Finn who added backing vocals and hand percussion. If Electric Warrior had propelled T.Rex into the super league, The Slider certainly helped confirm that position.
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