Marc Bolan And T. Rex (January 22, 1982) – Across The Airwaves Album: LP
Tyrannosaurus Rex’s second album, Prophets, Seers & Sages The Angels of the Ages, released just four months after their debut, deepened Marc Bolan’s mystical psychedelic folk vision with richer acoustic arrangements and Steve Peregrin Took’s eclectic percussion.
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.
Comments