T. Rex (October 1, 1991) – Cover Feature – Music Collector Issue 32.
Music Collector devoted the cover of its October 1991 issue to T. Rex, celebrating the enduring appeal of Marc Bolan nearly fourteen years after his death. Headlined “The 20th Century Boy Returns”, the issue reflects the growing collector interest in Bolan's recordings, memorabilia and legacy during the early 1990s.
Publication: Music Collector
Publication Date: October 1991
Country: United Kingdom
Event Date: October 1991
Issue 32 of Music Collector places T. Rex firmly in the spotlight with a striking full‑cover portrait of Marc Bolan wearing one of his trademark feather boas.
The cover headline:
“T. Rex – The 20th Century Boy Returns”
signals a major feature examining the continuing popularity of Bolan's music and the growing collectability of T. Rex records, memorabilia and rare releases.
Published during a period of renewed interest in glam rock, the issue targets collectors and enthusiasts who were actively searching for original singles, albums, promotional items and archive material from the Bolan years. The cover positioning demonstrates that T. Rex remained one of the most sought‑after collecting subjects in British rock history.
Alongside the T. Rex feature, the issue also includes articles on The Hollies, AC/DC, New Order, The Mock Turtles and Alison Moyet, although Marc Bolan dominates the cover presentation.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
By 1991, Marc Bolan's reputation had undergone a significant critical reassessment. What had once been dismissed by some critics as teen‑oriented glam rock was increasingly recognised as an important chapter in British popular music history.
Collector magazines such as Music Collector played an important role in preserving the history of artists like T. Rex by documenting rare releases, discographies, memorabilia and record‑collecting trends.
The cover is also notable for its use of the phrase “The 20th Century Boy Returns”, drawing upon one of Bolan's most celebrated recordings while reinforcing the continued revival of interest in his work.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Music Collector cover feature
Era: 1991 – Legacy and collecting period
Tone: Celebratory and archival
Photography: Full-colour cover portrait of Marc Bolan
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Music Collector Issue 32
T. Rex cover feature
Headline: “The 20th Century Boy Returns”
Marc Bolan cover portrait
Coverage aimed at record collectors and enthusiasts
Evidence of continuing interest in T. Rex during the early 1990s
October 1991 publication
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