T. Rex: T. Rex Regeneration Single (2012)

A Glam Rock Revival

T. Rex’s “T. Rex Regeneration” 7-inch vinyl single, was released in the UK on October 22, 2012, on Fly Records (catalogue: BUG-100). Backed with “Childlike Men” and “Hey Let's Do It,” this limited-edition release featured rare tracks from Marc Bolan's archives, celebrating the band's glam rock legacy. Produced by Tony Visconti for the originals, the single showcased Bolan's playful vocals and riff-driven energy, but as a niche reissue, it did not chart. Housed in a picture sleeve with Bolan's iconic imagery, it’s a prized collectible for T. Rex fans.

The single was released in the UK and USA with variations:

UK (Fly BUG-100): Released October 22, 2012. Standard 7-inch vinyl, picture sleeve.

UK (Fly BUG-100-12): Released October 22, 2012. 12-inch vinyl with extended “Childlike Men” and etched side, picture sleeve.

UK (Fly BUG-100CD): Released October 22, 2012. CD with two tracks, jewel case.

USA (Fly BUG-100): Released October 22, 2012. Same tracklist as UK, but on transparent red vinyl, picture sleeve.

7" Vinyl Single UK

Label: Fly Records – BUG-100

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition

Country: UK

Released: 22 Oct 2012

A Childlike Men (Single Edit) 3:40

B Hey Let's Do It 3:24

Published By – Westminster Music Ltd.

Published By – Onward Music Ltd.

Producer – Morgan Visconti, Tony Visconti

Written-By – Marc Bolan

Limited numbered edition pressed on 70g vinyl. Inner bag.

7" Vinyl Single US

Label: Fly Records – FLY-1

Format: Vinyl, 7", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Transparent Red

Country: US

Released: 2012

A Childlike Men 3:40

B Hey Let's Do It 3:24

Distributed By – Light In The Attic

Producer – Morgan Visconti, Tony Visconti

Written-By – Marc Bolan

"In 1970 record producer Tony Visconti presented Fly Records with a test acetate of T. REX’s ‘Ride A White Swan’, which became Fly’s first release. It was Marc Bolan’s breakthrough record in the UK, making T.Rex a household name. During T.Rex’s two year association with Fly, Bolan established himself in the American marketplace, recording some of his key tracks on American soil, with Visconti producing.

40 years later Tony and his son, Morgan Visconti, under their ‘T.REX REGENERATION’ project banner, presented Fly with a ‘new’ T.Rex track, ‘Childlike Men’. It was the perfect tune to inaugurate Fly Records’ label in the America. It is released as a limited 7” red vinyl single."

12" Vinyl Single UK

Label: Fly Records – HBUG-100

Format: Vinyl, 12", 45 RPM, Limited Edition, Etched, Single Sided

Country: UK

Released: 22 Oct 2012

A1 Childlike Men (Full Version) 4:01

A2 Hey Let's Do It 3:24

Published By – Westminster Music Ltd.

Published By – Onward Music Ltd.

Producer – Morgan Visconti, Tony Visconti

Written-By – Marc Bolan

Limited Individually numbered edition, A-side features two tracks, B-side features an etching of Marc.

Pressed on 180g vinyl, comes in strong clear PVC sleeve with info sticker on the PVC

CD Single UK

Label: Fly Records (3) – 45BZZ05

Format: CD, Single

Country: UK

Released: 2012

1 Childlike Men (Single Edit) 3:40

2 Hey, Let's Do It 3:24

3 Childlike Men 4:01

Licensed To – Bucks Music Group Ltd.

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Straight Ahead Productions

Producer – Morgan Visconti, Tony Visconti

Written-By – Marc Bolan

Card sleeve with inner bag. Black vinyl design polycarbonate CD.

---

Production and Context

WHAT IS 'T.REX REGENERATION'?

T. REX

'CHILDLIKE MEN'

FLY's 100th single!

'Childlike Men' is the previously unreleased, 'new' T.Rex single, and is released on the 30th September 2012, commemorating Marc Bolan's 65th birthday.

Limited edition vinyl editions will be available and are detailed on pages 3 & 4.

Pre-ordering is available for special packages of the formats of 'Childlike Men', and are available exclusively from INTOXICA RECORDS mail order store via this link

http://intoxica.co.uk/index.php/trex

or by telephone order (UK) 020 7229 8010

The pre-order reserves the package(s) of your choice, and your order will be fulfilled and shipped just as soon as stocks are available.

T.Rex Regeneration is the name for MORGAN VISCONTI & TONY VISCONTI's new collaborative T.REX project.

Morgan and Tony have taken some of T.REX's classic FLY recordings, and selected elements from these multi-track recordings - which Tony originally produced for FLY between 1970 and 1972 - to create new tracks that re-present T.REX's music in a fresh & captivating style, befitting of the band's legacy, whilst imbuing a dollop of 'fun' into the process (an element of Marc's original recording sessions which was in abundance).

The first fruits of the project are the tracks 'CHILDLIKE MEN' and 'HEY, LET'S DO IT'.

WHAT FORMATS FOR 'CHILDLIKE MEN' ARE AVAILABLE?

'Childlike Men' is released as a numbered, limited edition 7" single; a numbered, limited edition one-sided 12" single (with an etching of Marc on the flipside) and CD single.

Downloads will initially be available as iTunes exclusives.

Further details of the physical formats are listed below.

Distribution for individual items through regular outlets and record stores will be available from the 5th November 2012.

Anyone who made a postal or telephone enquiry to the FLY office may use the form on page 5 to order directly from FLY.

To pre-order, simply fill out the form on page 5 giving your name, address and package option.

Pre-orders from the FLY office can only be accepted with payment by Sterling cheque made payable to BUCKS MUSIC GROUP LTD.

Once stock is received at the office orders will be shipped.

If you have any queries you can call the FLY office between 10am and 5pm, Monday - Friday (except for Public Holidays) on 020 7221 4275

Many thanks for all the enquiries and requests.

Fly Paper #1 is specifically about our special 100th single release, our next issue will be sent out next month and will round up our other recent releases.

12" HBUG100-etched side photo taken in the FLY courtyard

7" single cat BUG100

Tracks: Childlike Men-single edit' b/w

'Hey, Let's Do It' Pressed on 70gram heavyweight black pure virgin vinyl.

Special 'reversible' picture sleeve-with spine (featuring Tony Visconti's personal photographs of Marc and T.Rex band members)

White paper inner sleeve Photo record label.

Shrinkwrapped

100% sustainable paper labels and stickers

Printed with premium colour-rich non-toxic inks

Each 7" is individually numbered.

FLY PAPER #1

Text from FLY PAPER #1

BELOW TEXT FROM UNCUT MAGAZINE DATED DECEMBER 2012

INSTANT KARMA!

REBORN TO BOOGIE

'Our plan is to invite Morrissey to duet with Bolan...'

TONY VISCONTI on "Frankensteining" the T.REX archives

66 "I 'T'S A FUN PROJECT and I think Marc would totally approve," says legendary producer Tony Visconti, whose work with T.Rex spanned Bolan's golden years of the early '70s. "He loved studio wizardry, and he and I were the first ones in there with that. We're trying to create a batch of new songs with T.Rex, to put together a new kind of surreal catalogue. The idea is to regenerate that beautiful music."

Visconti is talking up T.Rex Regeneration, a novel project in tandem with musician son Morgan, his first child with ex-wife Mary Hopkin. The inaugural release is "Childlike Men", backed by "Hey, Let's Do It", the result of long hours sifting through Bolan master tapes and splicing classic songs to create something fresh. "Childlike Men" is essentially a boogified conflation of "Ride A White Swan" and "Jeepster", with an added dash of hippyish Bolan poetry. It's an audacious idea, though it remains to be seen how it'll go down with T.Rex purists.

"About two years ago I told Morgan that I had these master tapes," explains Visconti. "Morgan is a very successful jingle writer in America and grew up with David Bowie walking through our front room and Marc Bolan holding him in his arms. He just started playing around on the computer and after about a month came up with the rudimentary elements of T.Rex Regeneration. And I said: "Great! Now here's what Marc would have done.' The difference between Regeneration and a remix is that we sampled every member of the band. So instead of putting it through a loop, it's actually Bill Legend on drums, Steve Currie on bass, Mickey Finn on congas and the band on back-up vocals. To all intents and purposes we Frankensteined it, but this is the T.Rex band, as well as Marc Bolan. That's why it sounds so warm and lovely and beautiful."

There's a neat symmetry at play here. "Childlike Men" is the 100th release on Fly Records, the label that launched Bolan's and Visconti's-hit-making career in 1970 with debut 45 "Ride A White Swan". But it's more than just a celebratory tribute. Visconti opines that, "Marc's legacy has never been respected. So many atrocious CDs have been put out containing bad mastering and tinny renditions of what used to be a nice, fat T.Rex sound. I've been 'conveniently left out of any T. Rex reissues until very recently, but I'm finally getting respect now and was able to contribute to the new 40th anniversary remaster of The Slider. It's my legacy, too, and I just want it to be represented well. Morgan and laim to generate at least an album's worth of material based on what we have access to. Our big plan is to invite current artists of the day to join in and do duets with Marc, be it Adele or Morrissey or whoever.

"This was the most special period of my life. 'Ride A White Swan' was my first hit and it was one of my longest associations. I was with Marc for five years, so it was almost like being married and divorced. Or having your mate die on you. It's so emotionally charged for me." ROB HUGHES

"Childlike Men"/"Hey, Let's Do It" is out now on Fly

Sources

Discogs: T. Rex Regeneration (2012)

45cat: T. Rex Regeneration (2012)

RareVinyl: T. Rex Childlike Men (2012)

Discogs: T. Rex Regeneration CD (2012)

Discogs: T. Rex Regeneration 12" (2012)

Official Charts Company: T. Rex Singles

AllMusic: T. Rex Discography

Wikipedia: T. Rex Discography