T. Rex (August 19, 1972) – “The Slider” Advert - New Musical Express (NME)
This striking full-page EMI advertisement promotes T. Rex's album The Slider. Using a dramatic portrait of Marc Bolan and a simple, bold design, the advert focuses entirely on the release, reinforcing the album's importance during one of the most successful periods of T. Rex's career.
Publication: New Musical Express (NME)
Date: August 19, 1972
Country: United Kingdom
This full-page advertisement is devoted exclusively to promoting The Slider, T. Rex's latest album. The design is dominated by a large black-and-white portrait of Marc Bolan wearing a distinctive hat, creating an instantly recognisable image that occupies most of the page.
The band's name, T. REX, appears in oversized lettering across the top, while the album title THE SLIDER is displayed prominently beneath the photograph. The minimalist layout ensures that all attention remains focused on Bolan and the new release.
Below the title, EMI provides the catalogue number BLN 5001 and the straightforward message "Available Now", emphasising the album's immediate availability. The advert also notes that the release can be purchased on Musicassette and 8-Track Cartridge, highlighting the different formats available to consumers at the time.
Rather than relying on reviews, quotations or extensive promotional text, the campaign places complete confidence in the visual impact of Marc Bolan and the strength of the T. Rex name. The result is a highly effective example of early-1970s music advertising.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published shortly after the release of The Slider, the advertisement appeared during the height of Bolanmania and reflects the extraordinary popularity T. Rex enjoyed in 1972. The album followed the enormous success of Electric Warrior and further cemented Marc Bolan's position as one of Britain's biggest rock stars.
The advert is notable for its simplicity. By presenting only Bolan's image, the album title and a brief sales message, EMI demonstrated the confidence it had in T. Rex's commercial appeal. The campaign relied on recognition rather than persuasion, reflecting the group's dominance of the British music scene.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Promotion of The Slider
Era: 1972 The Slider era
Tone: Promotional
Photography: Large portrait photograph of Marc Bolan
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
• Full-page EMI advertisement for The Slider
• Large portrait image of Marc Bolan
• Album title and catalogue number BLN 5001
• Availability on LP, Musicassette and 8-Track Cartridge
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