Marc Bolan (July 13, 2026) The Song That Influenced Prince Twice – LouderSound / Classic Rock.

Classic Rock Magazine (Louder) publishes a new feature exploring the creation of Marc Bolan’s 1971 T. Rex classic Get It On, its chart success, its musical inspirations, and the song’s later influence on Prince.   Includes Bolan’s own 1971 reflections, studio details from Trident, and the track’s reintroduction to new audiences.

Classic Rock Magazine (via LouderSound) reports on the story behind Marc Bolan’s 1971 T. Rex single Get It On, released on 2 July 1971 and now regarded as one of the defining records of the glam‑rock era.

The article contrasts Bolan’s earlier single Hot Love — half of which consists of the repeated “La, la, la” refrain — with the sophistication and vivid imagery of Get It On. Bolan drew inspiration from Chuck Berry’s Little Queenie, echoing the ad‑libbed line “...and meanwhile, I’m still thinking” as the track fades out.

The song was recorded at Trident Studios in London and produced by Tony Visconti, who would soon find greater success with David Bowie.

The session featured notable contributors: Rick Wakeman performing piano glissandos for £9, Ian McDonald (King Crimson) layering four saxophone tracks, and Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (The Turtles) providing backing vocals. Get It On became the perfect summer single of 1971, spending four weeks at No.1 in the UK and reaching No.10 in the USA, where it was retitled Bang A Gong (Get It On) due to an existing song with the same name.

The article notes how the 1985 cover by The Power Station reintroduced Bolan’s song to a new generation, though Bolan himself did not live to see it, having passed in 1977 at age 29.

His legacy, the feature argues, is secured by the golden run of early‑70s singles — with Get It On standing as one of his most accomplished works.

LouderSound highlights that Get It On directly inspired Prince twice, first with Cream and again with Peach.

Bolan’s lyric “you’re dirty‑sweet and you’re my girl” is mirrored in Prince’s “you’re filthy‑cute and baby you know it,” underscoring Bolan’s lasting influence on him.

The feature closes with Bolan’s own 1971 comment to Record Mirror: “I honestly believe Get It On was one of the best things I’ve ever done. The only kind of criticism I’m going to accept about it is that if someone can say, ‘Well, that’s out of tune or the guitar work is crap.’ OK, but I know it isn’t.”