Marc Bolan And T. Rex (January 1, 1982) – Across The Airways Album UK: Picture Disc LP,TC.

Across The Airways is a compilation album released by Cube Records in January 1982. Issued in the United Kingdom as a picture disc LP, the collection draws together recordings from both the Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex eras, showcasing the breadth of Marc Bolan's songwriting and musical development.

The release combines psychedelic folk recordings, acoustic favourites and later T. Rex material, making it one of the more eclectic compilations issued during the early 1980s.

RECORDING

The album consists of previously released studio recordings by Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex.

The compilation features tracks spanning several phases of Marc Bolan's career, from early duo recordings through to material recorded following the group's transition into T. Rex.

STYLE & THEMES

The collection highlights the contrast between the mystical folk-rock sound of Tyrannosaurus Rex and the more accessible rock and glam style associated with T. Rex.

Acoustic fantasy-driven compositions sit alongside well-known recordings such as Jeepster, Life's A Gas and Ride A White Swan, illustrating the evolution of Bolan's musical approach.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• The Misty Coast Of Albany — Early Tyrannosaurus Rex recording.

• Iscariot — Acoustic-era Bolan composition.

• Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia — Classic example of the group's psychedelic folk style.

• Misty Mist — Characteristic early Tyrannosaurus Rex recording.

• Chariots Of Silk — Well-known

composition from the duo period.

• Scenescof — Early catalogue selection.

• Girl — Recording from the T. Rex era.

• Life's A Gas — Popular fan favourite.

• Jeepster — One of T. Rex's best-known recordings.

• Beltane Walk — Transitional-era composition bridging both phases of Bolan's career.

• Jewel — Key recording from the move towards the T. Rex sound.

• Sailors Of The Highway — T. Rex album track.

• Suneye — Acoustic-era recording.

• A Daye Laye — Early Bolan composition.

• Wind Cheetah — Tyrannosaurus Rex recording.

• Light Of A Magical Moon — Fantasy-inspired acoustic piece.

• Hot Love — Included in its Tyrannosaurus Rex version.

• Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart — Early catalogue favourite.

• Summertime Blues — Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart composition interpreted by Tyrannosaurus Rex.

• Pavilions Of Sun — One of the defining recordings of the early period.

• Ride A White Swan — Closing track and breakthrough hit.

RELEASE HISTORY

The album was released by Cube Records in January 1982.

It was issued as a picture disc under catalogue number ICSX 1004 and included a two-sided black and white insert containing session information, a brief history and band profiles.

Standard LP and cassette editions were also issued, with subsequent releases appearing in Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

PERSONNEL

Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar, songwriter

Oliver Dick — art direction, design

Copeland, Douglas & Dyer — posterisation artwork

Barry Plummer — photography

Steve Benson — photography

PRODUCTION

Label: Cube Records

Catalogue Number: ICSX 1004

Format: Picture Disc LP

Country: UK

Art Direction: Oliver Dick

Photography: Barry Plummer, Steve Benson

NOTES

• Picture disc LP release.

• Includes a two-sided black and white insert.

• Insert contains session dates, artist profiles and a brief history.

• Combines Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex recordings.

• Artwork directed by Oliver Dick.

• Photography by Barry Plummer and Steve Benson.

• Released by Cube Records.

RELATED RELEASES

• The T. Rex Collection

• Bolan Boogie

• Ride A White Swan

• The Ultimate Collection

• 20th Century Boy

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Cat No.	Date	Format
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airways	Cube Records	UK	ICSX 1004	January 1982	Picture Disc LP
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	UK	ICS 1004	1982	LP, Gatefold
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	UK	ZCICS 1004	1982	Cassette
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	Germany	INT 146.314	1982	LP
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	Spain	2311144	1982	LP
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Trash / Trio Records	Japan	AW-25014(M)	1982	LP
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Trash / Trio Records	Japan	PTC-25010(M)	1982	Cassette

TRACKLIST TABLE

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
LP	ICSX 1004	Side One • The Misty Coast Of Albany • Iscariot • Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia • Misty Mist • Chariots Of Silk • Scenescof • Girl • Life's A Gas • Jeepster • Beltane Walk • Jewel
LP	ICSX 1004	Side Two • Sailors Of The Highway • Suneye • A Daye Laye • Wind Cheetah • Light Of A Magical Moon • Hot Love • Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart • Summertime Blues • Pavilions Of Sun • Ride A White Swan

---

Across The Airwaves is a compilation album issued by Cube Records in January 1982. Released in association with BBC Records, the album collects recordings originally produced by the BBC and drawn from Radio 1 broadcasts featuring both Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex.

The compilation combines material from different periods of Marc Bolan's career, spanning the transition from the Tyrannosaurus Rex era into the more commercially successful T. Rex years.

---

RECORDING

The album consists of recordings produced by the BBC and sourced from Radio 1 broadcasts.

All tracks on the original release are presented in mono.

The compilation contains performances credited to both Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex.

STYLE & THEMES

The collection traces Marc Bolan's development from the acoustic, psychedelic folk style of Tyrannosaurus Rex through to the glam rock era of T. Rex.

By combining BBC performances from different periods, the album highlights the stylistic progression of Bolan's songwriting while preserving a number of radio recordings not readily available elsewhere.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• The Misty Coast Of Albany — Tyrannosaurus Rex BBC recording.

• Iscariot — Early Bolan composition.

• Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia — Tyrannosaurus Rex performance.

• Misty Mist — BBC session recording.

• Chariots Of Silk — Early Tyrannosaurus Rex favourite.

• Scenescof — Included from the group's BBC recordings.

• Girl — T. Rex performance.

• Life's A Gas — Acoustic-flavoured T. Rex recording.

• Jeepster — T. Rex hit featured on the compilation.

• Beltane Walk — Included from the BBC archives.

• Jewel — Closing track on side one.

• Sailors Of The Highway — Opens side two.

• Suneye — BBC session performance.

• A Daye Laye — Tyrannosaurus Rex recording.

• Wind Cheetah — Included from the early catalogue.

• By The Light Of A Magical Moon — BBC performance.

• Hot Love — T. Rex chart classic.

• Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart — Tyrannosaurus Rex recording.

• Summertime Blues — Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart composition.

• Pavillions Of Sun — Featured on side two.

• Ride A White Swan — Closing track of the compilation.

NOTES

• Produced from BBC Radio 1 recordings.

• Released in conjunction with BBC Records.

• All tracks are mono recordings.

• Gatefold sleeve on the original LP edition.

• Marketed by Dakota Records.

• Distributed by Precision Records & Tapes Limited.

• Matrix numbers include ICS-1004-A1 DAMONT and ICS-1004-B1 DAMONT.

RELEASE HISTORY

The album was released in the United Kingdom in January 1982 by Cube Records.

The compilation was also issued on cassette and picture disc formats and later appeared in Germany, Spain, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Europe through a variety of reissues.

Later CD editions appeared in Japan, Europe and Australia/New Zealand.

PERSONNEL

Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar, composer

Oliver Dick — art direction, design

Copeland, Douglas & Dyer — posterization artwork

Barry Plummer — photography

Steve Benson — photography

PRODUCTION

Produced by the BBC

Art Direction and Design by Oliver Dick

Posterization Artwork by Copeland, Douglas & Dyer

Photography by Barry Plummer

Photography by Steve Benson

Marketed by Dakota Records

Distributed by Precision Records & Tapes Limited

Label: Cube Records

Catalogue Number: ICS 1004

Recorded At: BBC Radio 1 Sessions

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Cat No.	Date	Format
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	UK	ICS 1004	January 1982	LP, Compilation, Mono, Gatefold
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	UK	ZCICS 1004	1982	Cassette
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	UK	ICSX 1004	1982	LP, Picture Disc
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	Germany	INT 146.314	1982	LP, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Polydor	Spain	2311144	1982	LP, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Trash / Trio Records	Japan	AW-25014(M)	1982	LP, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Trash / Trio Records	Japan	PTC-25010(M)	1982	Cassette
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airways	Cube Records	Japan	20CP-12	1989	CD, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	Cube Records	Australia & New Zealand	CDMID 166248	1990	CD, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airwaves	A&M Records	Europe	541 004-2	1998	CD, Compilation
Marc Bolan And T. Rex	Across The Airways	A&M Records	Japan	POCM-2106	1999	CD, Compilation

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
LP	ICS 1004	Side One: The Misty Coast Of Albany • Iscariot • Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia • Misty Mist • Chariots Of Silk • Scenescof • Girl • Life's A Gas • Jeepster • Beltane Walk • Jewel Side Two: Sailors Of The Highway • Suneye • A Daye Laye • Wind Cheetah • By The Light Of A Magical Moon • Hot Love • Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart • Summertime Blues • Pavillions Of Sun • Ride A White Swan
Cassette	ZCICS 1004	The Misty Coast Of Albany • Iscariot • Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia • Misty Mist • Chariots Of Silk • Scenescof • Girl • Life's A Gas • Jeepster • Beltane Walk • Jewel • Sailors Of The Highway • Suneye • A Daye Laye • Wind Cheetah • By The Light Of A Magical Moon • Hot Love • Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart • Summertime Blues • Pavillions Of Sun • Ride A White Swan
CD	20CP-12	The Misty Coast Of Albany • Iscariot • Once Upon The Seas Of Abyssinia • Misty Mist • Chariots Of Silk • Scenescof • Girl • Life's A Gas • Jeepster • Beltane Walk • Jewel • Sailors Of The Highway • Suneye • A Daye Laye • Wind Cheetah • By The Light Of A Magical Moon • Hot Love • Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart • Summertime Blues • Pavillions Of Sun • Ride A White Swan

---

SOURCES Discogs, rockfiles, 45 World, Wikipedia.

All album artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.

---