T. Rex (5 May 1972) “Metal Guru”/“Lady”/ “Thunderwing” – Single 7" UK

“Metal Guru” marks the absolute apex of T. Rextasy, arriving at a moment when Marc Bolan was not just a pop star but a cultural phenomenon. Issued on the band’s own T. Rex Wax Co. imprint, the single became the group’s fourth and final UK No.1, completing a run of dominance unmatched by any other glam-era act.

RELEASE DETAILS

Artist: T. Rex

Label: T. Rex Wax Co. (EMI)

Date: 5 May 1972

Catalogue: MARC 1

Format: 7" Vinyl Single

Country: UK

A-Side: “Metal Guru”

B-Side: “Lady” / “Thunderwing”

Written by: Marc Bolan

Produced by: Tony Visconti

UK 7" Commercial Single (MARC 1) A. Metal Guru

B1. Lady

B2. Thunderwing

Note: Although the sleeve and label list "Thunderwing" as B1 and "Lady" as B2, the actual playback order on the record is reversed — "Lady" plays first, followed by "Thunderwing."

UK Variants

• 4‑prong push‑out centre

• Solid centre

• White‑label promo

• Multiple EMI pressing‑plant codes

PERSONNEL

• Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar

• Mickey Finn — percussion, vocals

• Steve Currie — bass

• Bill Legend — drums

• Howard Kaylan & Mark Volman (Flo & Eddie) — backing vocals

• Tony Visconti — producer, string arrangements

Chart Performance (UK OCC):

• Entered: 13 May 1972

• Reached No.1: 20 May 1972

• Weeks at No.1: 4

• Total weeks: 14

Advert

• New Musical Express

• May 6, 1972

The final mix is one of the densest in the T. Rex catalogue: a wall‑of‑sound glam anthem with a spiritual undercurrent. Bolan described the song as a “festival of life,” imagining a godlike figure who is “all alone without a telephone.”

B‑Sides

The UK 7" carried two non‑album B‑sides, both now considered essential Slider‑era material:

“Thunderwing”

• Recorded: Rosenborg Studio, Copenhagen — Nov 1971

• A darker, heavier track with a proto‑metal edge

• Later became a fan‑favourite deep cut

“Lady”

• Recorded during the Slider sessions

• A short, melodic acoustic piece

• Showcases Bolan’s 1967–69 Tyrannosaurus Rex sensibility in miniature

Both tracks were produced by Tony Visconti, whose arrangements and engineering defined the classic T. Rex sound.

Note: 

Although the sleeve and label list "Thunderwing" as B1 and Lady as B2, the actual playback order on the record is reversed — "Lady"  plays first, followed by "Thunderwing."

THE STORY

“Metal Guru” began life during the early Slider sessions at Château d’Hérouville (Strawberry Studios), France, between 8–12 March 1972. The initial take was a stripped-down acoustic track before being transformed through massive electric-guitar overdubs, Tony Visconti’s orchestral arrangements, Flo & Eddie’s stacked backing vocals, and additional work in London and Los Angeles.

The final mix is one of the densest in the T. Rex catalogue: a wall-of-sound glam anthem with a spiritual undercurrent. Bolan described the song as a “festival of life,” imagining a godlike figure who is “all alone without a telephone.”

It followed the chart-topping “Telegram Sam” and preceded The Slider, arriving while Bolan Boogie and the Tyrannosaurus Rex reissue were also topping the album charts — the absolute peak of Bolan’s commercial power.

International Issues

Argentina

• Metal Guru — 7", 33⅓ RPM, Single — T. Rex – 1529 — Argentina · 1972

Australia

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – T. REX‑9929 — Australia · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo — T. Rex – T. REX‑9929 — Australia · 1972

Austria

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — Ariola – 12158 AT / 12 158 AT — Austria · 1972

Brazil

• Metal Guru — 7", 33⅓ RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Brazil · 1972

Canada

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Reprise – REP 1095 — Canada · 1972

Chile

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Odeon – MSOD 8902 — Chile · 1972

Denmark

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Denmark · 1972

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Denmark · 1972

Finland

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Finland · 1972

France

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single — CBS – REX 8116 / T. Rex – REX 8116 — France · 1972

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single — CBS – REX 8116 — France · 1972

Germany

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany · 1972

• Metal Guru / Thunderwing — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany · 1972

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany · 1972

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany

• Metal Guru / Lady — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — Ariola – 12 158 AT — Germany

India

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Stateside – ESS. 168 — India · 1972

Ireland

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Ireland · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Ireland · 1972

Israel

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Mispress — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Israel · 1972

  Israel

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Israel · 1972

Italy

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – 3C 006‑93460 / 3 C006‑93460 — Italy · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – 3C 006‑93460 / 3 C006‑93460 — Italy · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — T. Rex – 3 C006‑93460 / 3C 006 93460 — Italy · 1972

Japan

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Odeon – EOR‑10100 — Japan · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Red Vinyl — Odeon – EOR‑10100 — Japan · 1972

Mexico

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – EMI 7168 — Mexico · 1972

Netherlands

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Ariola – 12158 AT — Netherlands · 1972New Zealand

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — New Zealand · 1972

Norway

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – 7E 006‑93460 — Norway · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Misprint, Stereo — T. Rex – 7E 006‑93460 — Norway · 1972

Peru

• Guru De Metal / Señora — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Odeon Del Peru – 11586 — Peru · 1972

Singapore

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1 — Singapore · 1972

South Africa

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – MARC 1J — South Africa · 1972

Spain

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Ariola – 12158 A — Spain · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Ariola – 12158 A — Spain · 1972

Sweden

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — T. Rex – 4E 006‑93460 — Sweden · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Stereo — T. Rex – 4E 006‑93460 — Sweden · 1972

Turkey

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Stateside – TSS 4132 — Turkey · 1972

United States

• Metal Guru / Jeepster — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Reprise – REP 1151 — US · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single — Reprise – REP 1095 — US · 1972

• Metal Guru — 7", 45 RPM, Single, Promo (Stereo/Mono) — Reprise – REP 1095 — US · 1972

International: Chart

Ireland: No.1

• Germany: No.1

• Australia: Top 10

• New Zealand: Top 10

• Canada: No.45

• Spain: No.13

• Norway: No.4

Related Material

• Telegram Sam (Single)

  A1: Telegram Sam

  B1: Cadilac

  B2: Baby Strange

  UK T-REX 101 21 Jan 1972

• Bolan Boogie (Album Compilation)

  UK HIFLY 8 5 May 1972

• The Slider (Album)

  UK BLN 5001 21 Jul 1972

  
  

• Children of the Revolution (Single)

  A1: Children Of The Revolution

  B1: Jitterbug Love

  B2: Sunken Rags

  UK MARC 2 8 Sep 1972

  
  
  
  

Cover of T. Rex's "Telegram Sam" single from 1972, featuring bold red and blue graphics with an image of the band on the sleeve, highlighting their iconic glam rock style.

This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. All rights to the music, artwork, and trademarks belong to their respective copyright holders.

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