G2E3 – Origins of the Motown – The Early Days Part 2

Includes: T Rex, Slade and Suzi Quatro

30th June 2023 Philthetestmanager Arts, Music 0

Welcome pop pickers to episode 3 of Genre 2, Glam Rock.

This week back to Glam Rock. Thank you to Wiki and Top of the Pops.

Glam rock emerged from the English psychedelic and art rock scenes of the late 1960s and can be seen as both an extension of, and a reaction against, those trends. Its origins are associated with Marc Bolan, who had renamed his acoustic duo T. Rex and taken up electric instruments by the end of the 1960s. Bolan was, in the words of music critic Ken Barnes, “the man who started it all”. Often cited as the moment of inception is Bolan’s appearance on the BBC music show Top of the Pops in March 1971 wearing glitter and satins, to perform what would be his second UK Top 10 hit (and first UK Number 1 hit), “Hot Love“. The Independent newspaper states that Bolan’s appearance on Top of the Pops “permitted a generation of teeny-boppers to begin playing with the idea of androgyny”. T. Rex’s 1971 album Electric Warrior received critical acclaim as a pioneering glam rock album. In 1973, a few months after the release of the album Tanx, Bolan captured the front cover of Melody Maker magazine with the declaration “Glam rock is dead!”

Noddy Holder and Dave Hill of Slade, Suzi Quatro

The Tunes:

The featured song is T Rex and Ride a White Swan from 1971 on Top of the Pops. Sadly their very first performance has been lost.

T Rex – Hot Love – Top Of The Pops – February 1971. She’s faster than most and she lives on the coast. They just do not write them like they used to.

T Rex – Bang A Gong (Get It On). – Marc’s wife Gloria with a friend. There are better versions of this, but I like the rawness of this.

T Rex ~ Telegram Sam – Back to better quality recording from ToTP. 1972 I think.

T Rex – Metal Guru 1972 ToTP.

They released many more tunes, the above are the ones I think are best. If anyone says his last hit was a tree, then consider yourself blocked.

Slade – Coz I Love You ( TOTP ) 1971. This is still excellent, great song writing, though I remember at the time teachers were not happy wiv their spellink.

Slade Look Wot You Dun 1972 – Classic Slade.

Slade – Skweeze Me Pleeze Me

One of my favourite Slade tunes is a slower on:
Slade – Far far away 1975 – Some foreign pop show. Unusually Dave Hill not ponced up like a Postalier on a Friday night.

In the early 70’s along came Suzi. Very talented girl. Loved this when it came out:

Suzi Quatro – 48 Crash (ToTP 1973)

I cannot remember this one at the time, just found it, worth a listen:
Suzi Quatro – All Shook Up Music Video.

Suzi Quatro – Can The Can (TOTP 1973). Simply awesome.

As I say a very talented lady, she is 73 now, but still going strong, and worthwhile looking up some of her interviews.

Singalong, enjoy and be happy!

Links to Origins Series:

Genre 1 Episode 1 – Motown – The Beginning	Genre 1 Episode 2 – Motown – The early Days	Genre 1 Episode 3 – Motown – The early Days Part 2


Genre 2 Episode 1 –Glam Rock – The Beginning	Genre 2 Episode 2 –Glam Rock – The early days	G2E3 – Origins of the Motown – The Early Days Part 2
G2E3 – Origins of the Motown – The Early Days Part 2

Genre 3 Episode 1 – The Singers	Genre 3 Episode 2 – The Singers – The early Days

G4E1 – Origins of Northern Soul & Disco – The Beginning	G4E2 – Northern Soul and Disco – Early days

G5E1 – Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll – The Beginning	G5E2 – Origins of Rock ‘n’ Roll – Early Days

G6E1 – Those different ones like what I like	G6E2 – Those different ones like what I like – Part 2
G6E3 – Those different ones like what I like – Part 3