Tyrannosaurus Rex (July 25, 1969) – King Of The Rumbling Spires / Do You Remember Single UK: 7"
Updated: Oct 6
Released on July 25, 1969, King Of The Rumbling Spires was the final Tyrannosaurus Rex single to feature the partnership of Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took. Issued on Regal Zonophone under catalogue number RZ 3022, the record marked the closing chapter of the original Tyrannosaurus Rex line-up before Took's departure from the group.
The single represented a noticeable departure from the duo's earlier acoustic folk-based recordings and hinted at the harder-edged direction Bolan would eventually pursue in T. Rex. Although only a minor chart success, it remains one of the most significant releases in the Tyrannosaurus Rex catalogue.
Both tracks were recorded at Trident Studios, St. Anne's Court, Soho, London.
Production was handled by Tony Visconti for Straight Ahead Productions.
Unlike earlier Tyrannosaurus Rex singles such as Debora(h) and Pewter Suitor, both sides were issued in stereo.
The recordings featured experimentation with electric instrumentation and a fuller studio sound than the duo's earlier releases.
STYLE & THEMES
"King Of The Rumbling Spires" stands apart from much of the group's earlier work through its prominent electric guitar sound. The recording retained Bolan's fantasy-inspired lyrical imagery while introducing a more aggressive musical approach.
"Do You Remember" provided a contrasting B-side and maintained many of the melodic and lyrical qualities that had characterised the group's previous recordings.
Together the two tracks document Tyrannosaurus Rex at a crossroads between psychedelic folk and the more electric style that would eventually evolve into T. Rex.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
SIDE ONE
• King Of The Rumbling Spires – Tyrannosaurus Rex's most overtly electric single to date and their final charting release before the transition toward T. Rex.
SIDE TWO
• Do You Remember – Companion B-side showcasing the melodic and poetic qualities of Bolan's songwriting.
RELEASE HISTORY
The single was released on July 25, 1969 by Regal Zonophone.
Issued under catalogue number RZ 3022, it became the last Tyrannosaurus Rex single to feature Steve Peregrin Took.
The record reached No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart and remained on the chart for one week.
Promotional copies were distributed ahead of release, with some examples carrying date stamps of August 21, 1969 on both the sleeve and record.
CHARTS
Chart | Peak Position |
UK Singles Chart | No. 44 |
CHART RUN
Date | Position |
August 9, 1969 | 44 |
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, electric guitars
Steve Peregrin Took — drum kit, percussion
Tony Visconti — bass guitar, electric organ, producer
PRODUCTION
Producer: Tony Visconti
Production Company: Straight Ahead Productions
Studio: Trident Studios, St. Anne's Court, Soho, London
Label: Regal Zonophone
Country: UK
Format: 7" Single, 45 RPM, Stereo
Catalogue Number: RZ 3022
Publisher: Essex International / Lupus Music
NOTES
• Released on July 25, 1969.
• Recorded at Trident Studios, St. Anne's Court, Soho, London.
• Produced by Tony Visconti.
• Both tracks were issued in stereo.
• Reached No. 44 on the UK Singles Chart.
• Entered the chart on August 9, 1969.
• Last Tyrannosaurus Rex single to feature Steve Peregrin Took.
• Commercial copies were issued with red Regal Zonophone centre labels.
• Promotional copies and sleeves are known carrying August 21, 1969 date stamps.
• The single is regarded as a major stylistic departure from the duo's earlier acoustic recordings.
• Marc Bolan played electric guitar on the recording.
• Tony Visconti contributed bass guitar and electric organ.
• Steve Peregrin Took performed drum kit and percussion.
• The release was originally issued as a stand-alone single.
• It was later added as a bonus track on reissues of Unicorn.
• A test pressing owned by John Peel is documented in the supplied source.
• Original UK copies were available as both four-prong push-out and solid-centre pressings.
• A sleeve commonly seen with the record was produced during the 1990s by Paul Johnson for the Marc Bolan fan club and is not an original 1969 sleeve.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Country | Date | Format | Catalogue Number |
UK | July 25, 1969 | 7" Single, 4-Prong Centre | RZ 3022 |
UK | 1969 | 7" Single, Solid Centre | RZ 3022 |
UK | 1969 | Promo Single | RZ 3022 |
UK | 1969 | Test Pressing | RZ 3022 |
INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS
Country | Year | Label | Catalogue Number |
France | 1969 | Stateside | 2C006 90531 |
Germany | 1969 | Polydor | 59 331 |
Norway | 1969 | Polydor | 59331 |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue Number | Tracklisting |
7" Single | RZ 3022 | Side One • King Of The Rumbling Spires Side Two • Do You Remember |
RUN-OUT ETCHINGS
Side | Matrix / Runout |
Side One | 7YCAR 6969-1 / 1 KT O |
Side Two | 7YCAR 6970-1 / 1 KT O |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Promo Copy | Date-stamped August 21, 1969 examples documented |
Test Pressing | Example owned by John Peel |
Four-Prong Centre | Standard UK commercial pressing |
Solid Centre | Alternative UK pressing |
1990s Fan Club Sleeve | Produced by Paul Johnson, not an original sleeve |
Licensing Credit Variant | Different credit order on push-out labels |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2, RockfilesUK.
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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