T. Rex: Great Hits Album (1973)

Bolan's Telegram to Stardom

T. Rex’s Great Hits LP, released in the UK on November 2, 1973, on T. REX Records (catalogue: BLN 5003 / 0C 062 ◦ 94744), was a 14-track compilation of Marc Bolan’s glam anthems. Produced by Tony Visconti, it featured Telegram Sam, Metal Guru, 20th Century Boy, and Children Of The Revolution. Pressed by EMI Records and printed by Garrod & Lofthouse Ltd., with initial copies including a poster, it peaked at No. 32 on the UK Albums Chart for 3 weeks, November 10 –24, 1973.

Issued in a fully laminated sleeve, with cassette (grey/blue body) and 8-track variants, it’s a sparkling snapshot of Bolan’s T. Rex reign.

Housed in a colorful sleeve with Bolan's iconic image from the Born T Boogie film, it’s a nostalgic snapshot of the T. Rexmania era.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: T. REX Records (UK).

Formats: Vinyl LP, cassette (grey/blue body), 8-track.

℗ & ©: 1972/1973 Wizard Artists Ltd. Published by Wizard Artists Ltd. / Warrior Music Projects Ltd.

Notes: First cat# on spine/back, second on back. Rimtext: THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD. Initial copies with poster.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

Great Hits was released in the UK in 1973 in multiple formats, all with the same 14-track sequence:

Vinyl LP (Catalogue: BLN 5003):

Side A:

Telegram Sam

Jitterbug Love

Lady

Metal Guru

Thunderwing

Sunken Rags

Solid Gold Easy Action

Side B:

20th Century Boy

Midnight

The Slider

Born To Boogie

Children Of The Revolution

Shock Rock

The Groover

Packaging: Fully laminated sleeve. Initial copies with poster.

The album was launched worldwide:

All featuring the same sleeve cover

The editions released in Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Thailand

included a textured sleeve

T. REX – BLN 5003, T. REX – 0C 062 ◦ 94744

UK

1973

T. REX – BLN. 5003, T. REX – BLN-5003, EMI – BLN. 5003

Australia

1973

EMI – BLN-3001

Venezuela

1973

Odeon – EOP-80930

Japan

1973

T. Rex – 3 C062-94744, T. Rex – 3C 062 - 94744

Italy

1973

EMI – BLN 5003

Greece

1973

EMI – BLN 5003

Denmark

1973

T. REX – 3 C062 - 94744, T. REX – 3C 062 - 94744

Italy

1973

EMI – BLN 5003

Greece

1973

T. REX – BLN(D) 5003

South Africa

1973

T. REX – BLN 5003

New Zealand

1973

T. REX – BLN 5003, T. REX – 0C 062 ◦ 94744

Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong & Thailand

1973 Textured sleeve

In 1983, the album was reissued in Japan with a lyric insert and an obi strip included.

T. Rex – SP20-5061

Series: Rock Original Disk Series Vol.2 Marc Bolan & T.Rex – 11

A1 Telegram Sam

A2 Jitterbug Love

A3 Lady

A4 Metal Guru

A5 Thunderwing

A6 Sunken Rags

A7 Solid Gold Easy Action

B1 20th Century Boy

B2 Midnight

B3 The Slider

B4 Born To Boogie

B5 Children Of The Revolution

B6 Shock Rock

B7 The Groover

Licensed From – Marc On Wax

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Wizard Artists Ltd.

Made By – Sounds Marketing System, Inc.

Producer – Tony Visconti

Included lyric insert & obi strip.

Cassette Album (Grey Body) (Catalogue: TC-BLN 5003 / 0C 244 ◦ 94744):

Side A:

Telegram Sam

Sunken Rags

The Slider

Jitterbug Love

Lady

Metal Guru

Solid Gold Easy Action

Side B:

Thunderwing

Midnight

The Groover

20th Century Boy

Born To Boogie

Children Of The Revolution

Shock Rock

Packaging: Grey cassette body. Label: Greatest Hits.

Cassette Album, (Blue Body) (Catalogue: TC-BLN 5003 / 0C 244 ◦ 94744):

8-Track Cartridge, Compilation (Catalogue: 8X-BLN 5003 / OC 346 o 94744):

Program 1: Telegram Sam / Sunken Rags / The Slider

Program 2: Jitterbug Love / Lady / Metal Guru / Solid Gold Easy Action

Program 3: Thunderwing / Midnight / The Groover

Program 4: 20th Century Boy / Born To Boogie / Children Of The Revolution / Shock Rock

Packaging: Printed by Delga Press Ltd. (October 1973).

artwork and track credits.

Packaging: Standard cassette case with J-card.

The album received its first release on compact disc in Japan on January 21, 1986.

by Sounds Marketing System, Inc. – MD32-5018

1 Telegram Sam 3:49

2 Jitterbug Love 2:57

3 Lady 2:13

4 Metal Guru 2:26

5 Thunderwing 3:47

6 Sunken Rags 2:55

7 Solid Gold Easy Action 2:19

8 20th Century Boy 3:41

9 Midnight 2:47

10 The Slider 3:24

11 Born To Boogie 2:06

12 Children Of The Revolution 2:30

13 Shock Rock 1:44

14 The Groover 3:16

Manufactured By – Sounds Marketing System, Inc.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Wizard Artists Ltd.

Licensed From – Marc On Wax

Producer – Tony Visconti

4 page fold out B&W Japanese/English track list and Japanese biography

Made in Japan. Printed in Japan. ¥3.200

Production and Context

Produced by Tony Visconti, the tracks were recorded between 1971 and 1973 at studios like Advision and Chateau d'Hérouville, London and France. The lineup featured Marc Bolan (vocals, guitar), Mickey Finn (percussion, congas), Howard Kaylan (backing vocals), Mark Volman (backing vocals), and session musicians.

The compilation assembled T. Rex's early glam hits from Electric Warrior and The Slider, reflecting Bolan’s transformation from folk to rock stardom. Released amid the glam rock peak, it followed Zinc Alloy (1974).

Album Chart Performance

Great Hits charted briefly in the UK:

Peak: No. 32.

Weeks on Chart: 3 (November 10 –24, 1973).

Chart Run: No. 32 (Nov 10), No. 42 (Nov 17), No. 37 (Nov 24).

Legacy and Collectibility

Great Hits is a T. Rex cornerstone, with “Telegram Sam” and “Metal Guru” as timeless anthems.

This LP is a must-have for glam rock fans.

Do you have Great Hits in your vinyl stack? Which Bolan track rocks your turntable? Share in the comments!

Sources