T. Rex (November 5, 1971) – Jeepster b/w Life's A Gas Single: UK

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Released on November 5, 1971 by Fly Records, Jeepster was issued as the third single from Electric Warrior and became another major hit for T. Rex during the height of T. Rextasy. The single reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and continued the extraordinary commercial momentum generated by "Hot Love" and "Get It On".

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The release became controversial because Marc Bolan had already agreed a new deal with EMI and was preparing to launch his own T. Rex Wax Co. label. Bolan reportedly did not want Fly Records to issue another single from Electric Warrior, but the label proceeded regardless. Fortunately for all concerned, the release became a substantial hit and further strengthened T. Rex's position as Britain's biggest pop phenomenon of late 1971.

Originally prepared as a limited promotional disc featuring both "Jeepster" and "Life's A Gas", the release was later upgraded to full commercial status with "Jeepster" promoted as the A-side.

RECORDING

The recordings were drawn from the Electric Warrior sessions.

Recording took place at:

• Trident Studios, London

• Advision Studios, London

• Wally Heider Studios, Los Angeles

• Media Sound Studios, New York

The single was produced by Tony Visconti for Straight Ahead Productions Ltd.

Both songs were written by Marc Bolan.

STYLE & THEMES

"Jeepster" combined glam rock, blues rock, boogie rock and rockabilly influences into one of the most recognisable recordings in the T. Rex catalogue.

The song's musical foundation and opening lyrical phrases were adapted from Howlin' Wolf's "You'll Be Mine", a fact openly acknowledged by Marc Bolan.

"Life's A Gas" provided a gentler and more reflective counterpart, helping make the single one of the strongest two-sided releases of the T. Rex era.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• Jeepster (4:10) – Originally issued from Electric Warrior and became T. Rex's fourth consecutive Top 2 UK hit.

• Life's A Gas (2:22) – Taken from Electric Warrior and issued as the B-side. The song later remained one of the most beloved recordings in Bolan's catalogue.

RELEASE HISTORY

The single was released on November 5, 1971 through Fly Records as catalogue number BUG 16.

Promotional pressings had originally been produced to promote Electric Warrior, but Fly Records subsequently converted the project into a full commercial single release.

The single peaked at No. 2 in Britain.

Its chart run was famously blocked first by Slade's "Coz I Luv You" and then by Benny Hill's "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West)".

Internationally, the single achieved chart success in several territories including Australia and Canada.

CHARTS & CERTIFICATIONS

Territory	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart	2
Australia	28
Canada	73

AWARDS

No awards supplied.

PERSONNEL

Marc Bolan — lead vocals, guitar

Mickey Finn — congas, bongos

Steve Currie — bass

Bill Legend — drums

Tony Visconti — producer

PRODUCTION

Producer: Tony Visconti

Produced For: Straight Ahead Productions Ltd.

Publisher: Essex Music International Ltd.

Publisher: Campbell Connelly

Label: Fly Records

Catalogue Number: BUG 16

NOTES

• Released on November 5, 1971.

• Reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

• Taken from the album Electric Warrior.

• Marc Bolan did not initially want the single released because he had already signed a new arrangement with EMI and was preparing T. Rex Wax Co.

• Fly Records proceeded with the release despite Bolan's objections.

• The success of the single helped maintain T. Rex's remarkable run of chart hits throughout 1971.

• The release originated as a promotional Electric Warrior disc before becoming a commercial single.

• "Jeepster" was inspired musically by Howlin' Wolf's "You'll Be Mine", something Bolan openly acknowledged.

• The song became one of the defining recordings of the glam rock era.

• "Life's A Gas" remains one of Marc Bolan's best-loved compositions and one of the most celebrated B-sides in the T. Rex catalogue.

• At least twelve recognised UK label variations are known.

• Multiple mispressings, label errors and acetates exist and are highly sought after by collectors.

• Matrix numbers recorded include GRUB 1A-1U and GRUB 1B-1U.

• The single followed "Get It On" and preceded "Telegram Sam" in the T. Rex singles chronology.

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE UK

Artist	Title	Label	Country	Catalogue	Format
T. Rex	Jeepster / Life's A Gas	Fly Records	UK	BUG 16	7" Single, Solid Centre
T. Rex	Jeepster / Life's A Gas	Fly Records	UK	BUG 16	7" Single, Push-Out Centre
T. Rex	Jeepster / Life's A Gas	Fly Records	UK	BUG 16	Promotional Single
T. Rex	Jeepster / Life's A Gas	Fly Records	UK	BUG 16	Acetate

TRACKLIST TABLE UK

Format	Catalogue	Tracklisting
7" Single	BUG 16	Side 1: Jeepster (4:10) Side 2: Life's A Gas (2:22)
Promotional Disc	BUG 16	Jeepster / Life's A Gas
Acetate	BUG 16	Jeepster

UK LABEL VARIANTS TABLE

No.	Variant
1	Solid centre with white "GRUB 1A"
2	Solid centre with grey "GRUB 1A"
3	Solid centre without "GRUB 1A"
4	Push-out centre with white "GRUB 1A"
5	Push-out centre with double groove and white "GRUB 1A"
6	Push-out centre with grey "GRUB 1A"
7	Push-out centre without "GRUB 1A"
8	Jukebox centre with white "GRUB 1A"
9	Jukebox centre with grey "GRUB 1A"
10	Jukebox centre without "GRUB 1A"
11	Solid centre with white "GRUB 1A" and double groove
12	Solid centre with grey "GRUB 1A" and double groove

SPECIAL PRESSINGS & ERRORS

Variant	Notes
Both Sides Play Jeepster	Known mispressing
Misaligned Colour Printing	"3D" appearance caused by colour registration error
Misaligned Side 1 Label	Manufacturing variation
Misaligned Solid Centre	Label alignment error
Misaligned Push-Out Centre	Label alignment error
Single-Sided Acetate	Known acetate pressing
Promotional Electric Warrior Single	Limited promotional release prior to commercial issue

JEEPSTER – INTERNATIONAL VARIANTS TABLE

Country	Label	Catalogue Number	Format / Notes	Year
Angola	Polydor	2016002	7", 45 RPM	1973
Australia	Parlophone	A-9719	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Australia	Parlophone	A-9719	7", 45 RPM Promo (A Label)	1971
Australia	Polydor	2016 002	7", 45 RPM, 2nd Issue	1972
Austria	Ariola	10 823 AT	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Belgium	Stateside	4 C 006-93054	7", 45 RPM Stereo Single	1971
Belgium	Stateside	4 C 006-93054	Label Variant	1971
Denmark	Columbia	6E 006 93054	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
France	CBS	CBS 7653	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
France	CBS	CBS 7653	Plastic Moulded Label Variant	1971
Germany	Ariola	10 823 AT	7", 45 RPM Stereo Single	1971
Germany	Ariola	10 823 AT	Variant	1971
Germany	Polydor	2016 002	7", 45 RPM Single	1972
Germany	Polydor	2016 002	Promo	1972
Germany	Cube Records	None	Reissue	N/A
Greece	Columbia	SCMG 501	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Ireland	Fly Records	BUG.16 / GRUB 1	7", 45 RPM Push-Out Centre	1971
Italy	IL	NIL 9052	7", 45 RPM Stereo Single	1971
Italy	Polydor	2016 002	7", 45 RPM Stereo Single	1972
Japan	Polydor	DP 1857	7", 45 RPM Single	1972
Japan	Polydor	DP 1857	Promo	1972
Kenya	Parlophone	BUG-16	7", 45 RPM	N/A
Lebanon	Parlophone	MOL 64	7", 45 RPM Stereo Single	1971
Netherlands	Stateside	5C 006-93054	Orange Sleeve	1971
Netherlands	Stateside	5C 006-93054	Orange Sleeve, Big Hole Centre	1971
Netherlands	Stateside	5C 006-93054	Purple/Pink Sleeve	1971
New Zealand	Parlophone	NZP.3414	7", 45 RPM Stereo, Solid Centre	1971
Norway	Columbia	7E006 93054	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Portugal	Polydor	2016002	7", 45 RPM Single	N/A
Spain	Ariola	10.823-A	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Spain	Polydor	20 16 002	Reissue	1972
Sweden	Columbia	4E 006-93054	7", 45 RPM Single	1971
Sweden	Columbia	4E 006-93054	Variant	1971
Turkey	Stateside	TSS 4116	7", 45 RPM Single	1972

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SOURCES Discogs, 45 Worlds, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Demon Records, Rockfiles, Official Marc Bolan archives, All album artwork, photographs, labels, 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.

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