T. Rex (March 3, 1973) “20th Century Boy” Single Review – Melody Maker

The March 3, 1973 edition of Melody Maker reviews T. Rex’s new single “20th Century Boy”, describing it as a high-energy track with Marc Bolan’s signature howling vocals and driving rhythm.

Publication: Melody Maker

Date: March 3, 1973

Country: United Kingdom Location: London

Section: Single Reviews

THE STORY

The review highlights the song’s powerful guitars, Marc Bolan’s vocal delivery, and its infectious, danceable energy. It notes the “gang awa’” feel and compares elements to earlier T. Rex hits while praising its overall impact.

CONTEXT AND NOTES “20th Century Boy” became one of T. Rex’s most iconic and successful singles. This review, published alongside the single’s promotional push, reflects the continued high anticipation for new T. Rex material at the peak of their glam rock dominance.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 

Event: Single review

Era: 1973 (T. Rex Glam Rock peak) Tone: Energetic, positive Photography: Text-based review

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• “T. REX - ‘20th Century Boy’ (EMI)” review heading

• Detailed commentary on the song’s sound, vocals, and groove

• Placement within the weekly singles review column

• Surrounding reviews of other artists (Jimmy Stevens, Lou Reed, etc.)

RELATED MATERIAL

• February 17, 1973 Record Mirror “The Starmakers No. 3: Tony Visconti”

• March 2, 1973 Melody Maker “20th Century Boy” single review (earlier mention)

• March 10, 1973 Melody Maker “Tanx for the memory” album review

• March 11, 1973 BRAVO Essen concert review

For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

SOURCES

• Melody Maker, March 3, 1973

All magazine scans, newspaper cuttings, scrapbook items, photographs 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.