T. Rex: "Solid Gold Easy Action" Single (1973)

T. Rex's "Solid Gold Easy Action" was kept from reaching the top spot on the UK charts by Jimmy Osmond's "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool," as published in Record Mirror on January 6, 1973.

T. Rex released "Solid Gold Easy Action" in December 1972 as a single, following their glam rock peak with The Slider album. Written by frontman Marc Bolan, the track features his signature slinky guitar riffs, boogie rhythms, and playful, cryptic lyrics, backed by Mickey Finn’s percussion, Steve Currie’s bass, and Bill Legend’s drums. Produced by Tony Visconti at Château d’Hérouville in France, it captures T. Rex’s glittery, chart-dominating sound, blending raw energy with pop accessibility. The song’s title reportedly drew from a misheard lyric in Bob Dylan’s "Ballad of a Thin Man."

The single reached #2 on the UK Singles Chart, held off the top by Slade’s "Gudbuy T’Jane," and charted across Europe, including #3 in Ireland. It didn’t make a significant US impact, typical of T. Rex’s stateside struggles. Backed with B-side "Born to Boogie," it sold strongly, cementing Bolan’s glam icon status before their commercial decline. Its infectious groove remains a staple of T. Rex’s early ‘70s catalog