T. Rex (October 9, 1970) – Ride A White Swan b/w Is It Love / Summertime Blues Single UK
Released on October 9, 1970, Ride A White Swan became the first release issued under the name T. Rex and marked the beginning of Marc Bolan's transformation from the folk-psychedelic world of Tyrannosaurus Rex into the streamlined electric sound that would soon dominate the British charts.
Issued on Fly Records as catalogue number BUG 1, the single became the breakthrough record that launched T. Rex into mainstream success. The release reached No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and became the foundation upon which the phenomenon later known as T. Rextasy would be built.
Recorded at Trident Studios in Soho, London, and produced by Tony Visconti, the single paired the now-classic "Ride A White Swan" with "Is It Love" and "Summertime Blues" on the reverse side.
The single represented the first official T. Rex recording to be released following Marc Bolan's decision to shorten the group's name from Tyrannosaurus Rex.
STYLE & THEMES
"Ride A White Swan" introduced the stripped-down electric boogie style that would become the hallmark of T. Rex's early 1970s success.
The single bridged the gap between the mystical acoustic Tyrannosaurus Rex period and the glam-rock revolution that followed, making it one of the most important transitional records in Marc Bolan's catalogue.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Ride A White Swan (2:15) — The debut T. Rex single and the record that launched the group's commercial breakthrough.
• Is It Love (2:36) — Included on the flip side of the original release.
• Summertime Blues (2:44) — Additional B-side track featured on the original configuration.
RELEASE HISTORY
Released in the United Kingdom on October 9, 1970 through Fly Records.
The single subsequently received releases throughout Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and South America, becoming the first globally distributed T. Rex single.
A numbered UK reissue appeared in 2007 through Universal Music TV and Fly Records.
CHARTS
United Kingdom
• UK Singles Chart: No. 2
PRODUCTION
Artist: T. Rex
Producer: Tony Visconti
Studio: Trident Studios, St. Anne's Court, Soho, London
Label: Fly Records
Catalogue Number: BUG 1
NOTES
• First release issued under the shortened T. Rex name.
• Reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart and became the group's first major commercial success.
• Recorded at Trident Studios in Soho, London.
• Produced by Tony Visconti.
• The original UK issue carried catalogue number BUG 1.
• Contrary to popular belief, the earliest UK pressings used mustard-coloured labels.
• Fly Records later utilised lilac-coloured labels originally acquired from the defunct Immediate Records.
• The switch to lilac labels occurred as sales increased and additional pressings were required.
• The Irish edition was issued on the Regal Zonophone label rather than Fly Records.
• Multiple UK pressing variations exist, including solid-centre and push-out-centre editions.
• Run-out etchings differ between mustard-label and lilac-label pressings.
• The release received more than thirty documented international variations.
• The single marked the beginning of the commercial era that would soon produce Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and other major hits.
• Widely regarded as the starting point of T. Rex's transition into one of the defining acts of the glam rock era.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Country | Label | Catalogue Number | Format |
UK | Fly Records | BUG 1 | 7" Single |
UK | Fly Records | BUG 1 | Mustard Label Variant |
UK | Fly Records | BUG 1 | Lilac Label Variant |
UK | Fly Records | BUG 1 | Solid Centre Variant |
UK | Fly Records | BUG 1 | Push-Out Centre Variant |
UK & Ireland | Fly Records | BUG 1 | Solid Centre Variant |
Ireland | Regal Zonophone | BUG-1 | 7" Single |
Ireland | Fly Records | BUG-1 | UK Label Variant |
Australia | Parlophone | A-9335 | 7" Single |
Australia | Parlophone | A-9335 | Promo |
Canada | Reprise | 0982 | 7" Single |
USA | Reprise | 0982 | Promo Single |
Argentina | Odeon Pops | DTOA/M 5104 | 7" Single |
Denmark | Stateside | 6E 006-92148 | 7" Single |
Finland | Stateside | 5E 006-92148M | 7" Single |
France | CBS | 5381 | 7" Single |
Germany | Ariola | 14 773 AT | 7" Single |
Greece | Columbia | SCMG 478 | 7" Single |
Japan | Blue Thumb | HIT-1857 | 7" Single |
Japan | Odeon | OR-2762 | 7" Single |
Lebanon | Parlophone | MOL49 | 7" Single |
Netherlands | Stateside | 5C 006-92148 | 7" Single |
New Zealand | Parlophone | NZP 3392 | 7" Single |
Norway | Stateside | 7E 006-92148 | 7" Single |
Portugal | Stateside | 8E 006-92329 M | 7" Single |
Singapore / Malaysia / Hong Kong | Columbia | EAC-1047 | 7" Single |
South Africa | Stateside | JSS 1312 | 7" Single |
Spain | Ariola | 14.912-AS | 7" Single |
Sweden | Stateside | 4E 006-92148 M | 7" Single |
Scandinavia | Cherry Red / Planet Records | CHERRY 29 | 7" Single |
Yugoslavia | Various | Various | 7" Single |
UK | Universal Music TV / Fly | 1744372 | Numbered Reissue (2007) |
TRACKLIST TABLE UK
Format | Catalogue Number | Tracklisting |
Original UK 7" Single | BUG 1 | Side 1: Ride A White Swan (2:15) Side 2a: Is It Love (2:36) Side 2b: Summertime Blues (2:44) |
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.
Comments