T. Rex (May 27, 1977) - "Dandy In The Underworld" Single: UK

RELEASE DETAILS

Date: 27 May 1977

Catalogue: MARC 17

Format: 7" Single Country: UK

A-Side: “Dandy In The Underworld”

Written by: Marc Bolan

Produced by: Marc Bolan

B-Side: 

Double B-side

B1 “Groove A Little”

B2 “Tame My Tiger”

THE STORY

“Dandy in the Underworld” was the third and final single released from T. Rex’s twelfth and final studio album of the same name (during Marc's lifetime). Released just months before Marc Bolan’s tragic death, it marked the end of an era for one of Britain’s most influential glam rock bands. The single version was specially remixed and edited for radio play.

CONTEXT & NOTES

Written in November 1976 and inspired by the myth of Orpheus and The Picture of Dorian Gray, Bolan described the song as a “Bolonic revision of Orpheus descending” — a reflection on his own life of excess and comeback. The single edit removed the fourth verse and changed the lyric “Exalted companion of cocaine nights” to “T. Rex nights” for airplay. It features Steve Harley of Cockney Rebel on backing vocals. This was the first T. Rex single since 1970 not to chart on its initial release.

TRACK LIST

UK 7" Single

A. Dandy In The Underworld (Single Version) – 3:53

B1. Groove A Little – 3:27

B2. Tame My Tiger – 2:32

CHART PERFORMANCE

UK Singles Sales Chart: Peak Position No. 73 (2021 re-entry)

Weeks on Chart: 1

INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS

• Ireland 7" Single (MARC 17)

  Same tracklist as UK. Two variants exist (standard and solid centre).

  
  

• Japan 7" Single (EMR-20326)

  A. Dandy In The Underworld – 3:56

  B. Tame My Tiger – 2:30

  (Commercial and Promo versions released October 5 1977)

PERSONNEL

• Marc Bolan – vocals, guitar

• Dino Dines – keyboards, synthesizer

• Herbie Flowers – bass

• Tony Newman – drums

• Steve Harley – backing vocals

  
  

Production

• Marc Bolan – producer

• Mike Stavrou, Jon Walls – engineers

PACKAGING HIGHLIGHTS

First 25,000 copies issued with full picture sleeve

SOURCES

Discogs

45cat

BBC Official Charts

Wikipedia.

WHAT THE LABEL / SLEEVE SHOWS

Circular black & white picture sleeve featuring a striking high-contrast negative portrait of Marc Bolan.

Text around the circle reads “DANDY IN THE UNDERWORLD • GROOVE A LITTLE • TAME MY TIGER” with “T-REX” at the top.

Bottom of sleeve shows catalogue number MARC 17, EMI Records branding, and 45 RPM.

RELATED MATERIAL

• Album: Dandy in the Underworld (1977)

• Previous Single: “The Soul of My Suit”

• Following Single: “Celebrate Summer” (posthumous)

COPYRIGHT NOTICE All single artwork, photographs, logos, 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.