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Marc Bolan & T. Rex - 20th Century Boy - The Ultimate Collection
Marc Bolan & T. Rex - 20th Century Boy - The Ultimate Collection
Released: 2002
Label: Hip-O Records
Cat. No.: 3145849482
Total Time: 70:16


Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck, August 2002

What a magnificent indulgence it was to hear this music again. To hear it all remastered for the best possible sound makes it much more inviting than ever before. Marc Bolan & T. Rex made a lot of great music in the few short years that they were in existence. For those of you that did not know, Marc lost his life in a freak car accident in 1977. Unfortunately, it was just before he was getting ready to go into an entirely new direction with his music.

"20th Century Boy - The Ultimate Collection" is the definitive T. Rex found on one CD. There have been countless collections and rarities issued. I know, I bought some of them. Until now, there hasn't been one single CD available that has put together the early acoustic Bolan recordings and the well-known glam rock tracks. The recent car commercial [Mitsubishi Motors ed.] playing the "20th Century Boy" track hasn't hurt renewed interest in Bolan's catalog It certainly turned my head and reminded me of the great music that this man made. It is a rare occasion indeed to listen to a CD with 23 tracks and enjoy every single one. I most certainly did, and it gets better with each listen.

If Bolan had a different twist of fate and lived, I am sure he would have given Mr. Bowie a run for his money. He was the only artist during the seventies that even came close to keeping up with Bowie in glam rock circles.

My favs are "20th Century Boy," "Jeepster," "Children Of The Revolution," "Elemental Child," "Ride A White Swan,"and the incredible "Slider." Collections like this continue to give me further evidence that the 70s provided a cache of great music similar to that of the 60s. The music is so memorable and timeless that I never tire of hearing it. It also helps that I grew up in that period, so my relationship to the music is more personal.

The sound keeps getting better every time an artists' catalog is re-released. Yes, it can become an expensive hobby. It somehow becomes all worth it when you give that CD a spin though. It does it for me every time without fail. If you have been a fan of this music you will be in rock 'n' roll rapture, if this is the first time you have been exposed you will become a fan straight away.

Rating: 5/5

More about 20th Century Boy - The Ultimate Collection:

Track Listing: Debora (3:08) / One Inch Rock (1:44) / King Of The Rumbling Spires (2:08) / By The Light Of A Magical Moon (2:48) / Elemental Child (5:33) / Ride A White Swan (2:13) / Summertime Blues (2:42) / Jewel (2:49) / Beltane Walk (2:22) / Hot Love (4:56) / Bang A Gong (Get It On) (4:26) / Raw Ramp (5:12) / Cosmic Dancer (4:26) / Jeepster (4:10) / Telegram Sam (3:45) / Metal Guru (2:24) / Mystic Lady (3:14) / The Slider (3:21) / Children Of The Revolution (2:28) / Solid Gold Easy Action (2:25) / Born To Boogie (2:02) / 20th Century Boy (3:38) / I Love To Boogie (2:12)

Musicians:
(overall) Marc Bolan - vocals, guitar
Steve Peregrine Took - Bass, Percussion, Piano, Bongos, Drums, Gong, Vocals, Pixiephone
Mickey Finn - percussion
Steve Currie - bass
Bill Legend - drums
Jack Green - rhythm guitar
Dino Dins - keyboards

Contact:

Website: www.marc-bolan.com
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

  • My People Were Fair & Had Sky in Their Hair...But Now They're Content to Wear Stars (1968)
  • Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels Of The Ages (1968)
  • Unicorn (1969)
  • T.Rex (1970)
  • A Beard Of Stars (1970)
  • Electric Warrior (1971/2002*)
  • The Slider (1972/2002**)
  • Tanx (1973/2001*)
  • Zinc Alloy And The Hidden Riders Of Tomorrow (1974/2001)
  • Bolan's Zip Gun (1975)
  • Futuristic Dragon (1976/2002**)
  • Dandy In The Underworld (1977/2002**)
  • Live 1977 (1997)
  • Live At The Boston Gliderdrome (2002)
  • T.Rex Wax Co Singles (2002)
  • Renaissance (2002)
plus lotsa comps, including:
  • The Best of T.Rex (1971)
  • Bolan Boogie (1972)
  • Great Hits (1973)
  • 20th Century Boy (1981, Australia)
  • Across The Airwaves (1982)
  • T. Rextasy: The Best Of T.Rex, 1970-1973 (1985)
  • 20th Century Boy: Ultimate Collection (2002)

    * Japanese import, ** expanded or deluxe edition


Muzik Man

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