T. Rex (July 22, 1972) – The Best Of T. Rex Album GER: LP
Updated: Oct 3
A popular 1972 budget compilation on the Music For Pleasure label featuring key tracks from Tyrannosaurus Rex and early T. Rex, promoted as available now in the July 22, 1972 issue of Sounds magazine.
The Best Of T. Rex was a compilation album released by Cube Records in Germany on July 22, 1972.
Issued as a club edition, the album gathered ten tracks spanning the transition from the group's earlier folk-inspired recordings through to the breakthrough glam rock period that established T. Rex as one of the leading acts of the early 1970s.
The release combined major hit singles with key album tracks, presenting a concise overview of the band's most commercially successful and influential recordings up to that point.
RECORDING
The compilation contained previously released recordings by T. Rex produced by Tony Visconti.
The material represented recordings made during the band's rise from the closing Tyrannosaurus Rex era through the early T. Rex chart-success period.
No new recordings were made for the album. The release compiled existing studio masters originally produced for earlier T. Rex releases.
STYLE & THEMES
The album traces the evolution of T. Rex from acoustic folk-rock into the electric glam rock sound that defined the group's commercial peak.
Songs such as Ride A White Swan, Hot Love, Get It On and Jeepster showcase the Bolan-Visconti partnership that became synonymous with the glam rock movement.
The inclusion of tracks such as One Inch Rock, Deborah and Life's A Gas also reflects Marc Bolan's melodic songwriting and the band's progression from underground favourites to chart-topping stars.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Hot Love — One of T. Rex's breakthrough hit singles.
• Summertime Blues — The group's interpretation of the Eddie Cochran classic.
• One Inch Rock — Included from the transition period between Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex.
• Ride A White Swan — Landmark single that launched the T. Rex commercial breakthrough.
• Raw Ramp — Fan favourite originally associated with the Get It On era.
• Get It On — One of the band's signature recordings and biggest international hits.
• Life's A Gas — A well-known Marc Bolan composition from the Electric
Warrior period.
• Deborah — Early Bolan composition originating from the Tyrannosaurus Rex repertoire.
• Woodland Rock — Album track representing the band's electric glam-rock style.
• Jeepster — Major UK hit single from the Electric Warrior era.
BONUS TRACKS
None.
RELEASE HISTORY
The album was issued by Cube Records as a German compilation LP on July 22, 1972.
It was released as a special club edition through Bertelsmann Club and was marketed as a "Club-Sonderauflage" (club special edition).
The compilation remained exclusive to the German market and presented a selected overview of T. Rex recordings available through Cube Records.
NOTES
• German-only compilation release.
• Issued by Cube Records.
• Released as a Bertelsmann Club exclusive edition.
• Marketed as a Club-Sonderauflage (club special edition).
• Features material from both the Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex periods.
• Includes key T. Rex hit singles including Ride A White Swan, Hot Love, Get It On and Jeepster.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
T. Rex | The Best Of T. Rex | Cube Records | Germany | 28 664-1 | July 22, 1972 | LP, Compilation, Club Edition |
TRACKLIST TABLE
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
LP | 28 664-1 | Side One: Hot Love • Summertime Blues • One Inch Rock • Ride A White Swan • Raw Ramp Side Two: Get It On • Life's A Gas • Deborah • Woodland Rock • Jeepster |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2, Marc Bolan ‘There Was A Time’ by Cliff McLenehan
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
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