T. Rex (August 18, 1971) – “T. Rex Leap to the Top Spot” Feature – Cambridge Evening News

This Cambridge Evening News article from August 1971 celebrates T. Rex’s meteoric rise to the top of the UK charts with their hit single Get It On. The piece highlights Marc Bolan’s transformation from whimsical folk poet to electrifying rock star, marking the band’s breakthrough into mainstream success.

Publication: Cambridge Evening News   Date: August 18 1971 Country: United Kingdom

Under the headline “T. Rex Leap to the Top Spot,” the article notes that Bolan and his band are “just about the most unlikely pop stars” to achieve consecutive number‑one hits.

It contrasts their earlier days as Tyrannosaurus Rex, known for acoustic songs about pixies and fantasy, with their new electric sound — “sheer rock and roll, a chunky number with Bolan growling the suggestive lyrics.”

The writer situates T. Rex’s success within the broader evolution of rock, observing how trends from Beatlemania to psychedelia have come and gone, yet Bolan’s music remains rooted in the enduring spirit of rock. The piece concludes that, despite experimentation, true stars “never strayed too far from it.”

CONTEXT AND NOTES  

Released in July 1971, Get It On (retitled Bang a Gong (Get It On) in the U.S.) became one of T. Rex’s defining hits, cementing their role as pioneers of glam rock.

The single’s success followed Hot Love and propelled Bolan into pop superstardom, blending swagger, sensuality, and simplicity into a new sound that shaped the decade. This Cambridge Evening News feature captures the excitement of that moment — the shift from underground cult act to chart‑topping phenomenon — and reflects Britain’s fascination with Bolan’s glittering reinvention.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS  

Event: T. Rex reach No. 1 with Get It On   Era: 1971 – Early Glam Rock Breakthrough Tone: Celebratory, analytical, and nostalgic

Photography: None included; text‑only column under The Pop Scene heading

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