There Was a Time...

Back in the early '70s, as a teenager I wasn’t really into music at all… until Marc Bolan burst onto the scene and changed everything for me. The first single I ever bought was “Ride a White Swan,” and my first album was T. Rex. I can still vividly remember exactly where I got them. That iconic look he shared with Mickey Finn, combined with those magical, poetic lyrics, opened up an entirely new world.
 
Every time I played those records, I felt transported into a glittering, fantastical realm. Like so many fans, I covered every inch of my bedroom walls with Marc Bolan posters and photos – there wasn’t a spare spot left! I bought every single record they released, plus every music paper and magazine I could get my hands on. I even spent money meant for a new school shirt on Electric Warrior (worth it ). What made it all so special was that Marc created everything himself – the music, the lyrics, the imagery, the whole vibe. This account is dedicated to appreciating Marc Bolan and T. Rex, with most posts sharing posters, photos, records, and memories just like these. 
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By the summer of 1972, Glam Rock had taken a full hold on the UK singles charts, with Slade, Sweet, Roxy, and even Bowie donning the silver, glitter, and all. Bowie became my second love after Marc. I think every teenager was seduced by Ziggy male and female alike. Then came a curveball when I first saw the Alice Cooper Group. Not really Glam Rock, more shock rock, but Alice was my introduction to harder rock.
 
Nobody who knew me could understand my love for Alice; maybe that was part of the allure? But I loved how he misled  the press, who tried to have him banned from the UK ( Mary Whitehouse), but I saw the messages in the likes of Dead Babies etc.  In that summer, I bought "The Slider," "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust," "School's Out." Then came Rod. I was never taken by "Maggie May," but "You Wear It Well" and "Angel" hooked me in, so the next purchase was "Never a Dull Moment."
 
Interspersed with all the albums were the singles. First, Bowie was "Changes," Alice was "Be My Lover" (ordered from an advert in the press via a classmate), Mott's "Dudes," Roxy's "Virginia Plain." I remember buying Hawkwind's "Silver Machine."
I used to go around all the newspaper shops, etc., to find out as much as I could. There was no internet, so it was really hard to source reliable news back in the day. NME, Melody Maker, and Music Star were in high demand, so I managed to build up a collection, and this blog site is a place where you can view these items and more.
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I hope they bring back some special times, and as Marc says, "You Can't Fool The Children of The Revolution."
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Who else fell under Marc’s spell back in the day? What was your first Glam record or favorite memory? Drop your stories in the comments – I’d love to hear them!
What was your first T. Rex record or favorite memory? Drop your stories in the comments – I’d love to hear them! 💫
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Chris-