T.Rex: Ride A White Swan Single TOTP (1970)

Marc & Mickey cast a spell on BBC’s biggest stage!

With "Ride a White Swan", at number 30 on the BBC Singles Chart, T. Rex recorded their TOTP debut at BBC Television Centre, 201 Wood Lane, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12, England, on Wednesday, November 11, 1970. The duo—Marc Bolan on Gibson Les Paul and Mickey Finn on bass—delivered a mimed performance, broadcast the following day (November 12).

The song was performed for a second time and broadcast on November 26, 1970. Again, a mimed performance, then repeated on December 10, 1970.

And lastly, on January 7, 1971, played over charts.

The recording of November 11/12, 1970 is available on:

A&M Records Deluxe Edition of the T. Rex 1970 album – Universal 534 732-2 (CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered), released 2014.

A&M 7" vinyl single – Catalogue: 534 731-8, Barcode: 0600753473184, released March 3, 2014.

Full Show rundown:

Matthews Southern Comfort – "Woodstock" (over charts, #1)

Roger Whittaker – "New World In The Morning" (mimed, #17)

McGuinness Flint – "When I'm Dead And Gone" (mimed, NEW)

T.Rex – "Ride a White Swan" (mimed, #30)

Dave Edmunds – "I Hear You Knockin'" (mimed, NEW)

Don Fardon – "Indian Reservation" (mimed, #4)

Neil Diamond – "Cracklin' Rosie" (audience dancing, #29)

Clarence Carter – "Patches" (mimed, #2)

The Move – "When Alice Comes Back To The Farm" (mimed, NEW)

Jimi Hendrix Experience – "Voodoo Chile" (Pan's People dance, #5)

Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Bayou Country" (audience dancing, NEW)

The Bee Gees – "Lonely Days" (mimed, NEW)

Matthews Southern Comfort – "Woodstock" (audience dancing)

60 years ago.........

"Today in Music History – November 12th.

1965, After changing his name from Toby Tyler to Marc Bolan, the future T.Rex star performed his first single ‘The Wizard’ on the UK TV show Ready Steady Go!"

November 12th 1965

Marc makes his television debut on Rediffusion's Ready Steady Go! performing “The Wizard” also on the show were Tom Jones, Nashville Teens, Wilson Pickett, The Small Faces, and Sylvie Vartan