Hot Love Single: 2007

T.Rex’s "Hot Love", was released as a limited-edition, numbered 7-inch vinyl single in the UK by Universal (catalog number 1744373, barcode 6025174437XX) on September 3, 2007.

Label: Universal Country: UK Catalogue: 1744373

This release is part of Universal Music TV’s series celebrating T. Rex’s glam rock hits from their peak years (1970–1972), alongside other reissues like "Get It On" (1744374). "Hot Love" was T. Rex’s first UK No. 1 single, originally released in 1971, and this reissue faithfully reproduces the original tracks with their iconic A-side and double B-side, capturing the band’s pivotal role in sparking the glam rock movement.

Track Details

A-Side: "Hot Love" (4:59, as per stopwatch timing; printed as 5:00)Origin: Originally released on February 12, 1971, by Fly Records (BUG 6), "Hot Love" was T. Rex’s first UK No. 1 single, topping the charts for six weeks starting March 14, 1971. Recorded at Trident Studios, London, on January 21–22, 1971, with overdubs on January 26, produced by Tony Visconti for Straight Ahead Productions. It was first performed in a rawer, slower version on BBC Radio 1 in December 1970. The song marked the debut of a full drum kit on a T. Rex track, with session drummer Bill Fifield (later Bill Legend) joining Marc Bolan (vocals, guitar), Mickey Finn (percussion), and Steve Currie (bass). Backing vocals were by Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (Flo & Eddie).

Style: A quintessential glam rock anthem, "Hot Love" blends catchy pop-rock with a sultry, bass-heavy groove, handclaps, and strings. Bolan’s playful, rhyming lyrics and the infectious “la-la-la” outro create a party-like atmosphere. The song’s sexy swagger and Bolan’s glittery, satin-clad Top of the Pops performances in March 1971 (with makeup by stylist Chelita Secunda) were pivotal in launching the glam rock movement.

Publisher: Essex Music International Ltd.

Cultural Impact: The song’s Top of the Pops appearances, with Bolan’s glittery teardrops and sailor suit, sparked “T. Rextasy,” a fan frenzy akin to Beatlemania. It solidified T. Rex’s shift from psychedelic folk to electric pop-rock, setting the stage for Electric Warrior (1971).

Label: Universal Country: UK Catalogue: 1744373

B-Side:

"Woodland Rock" (2:27, stopwatch timing; printed as 2:25) / "The King Of The Mountain Cometh" (3:55, stopwatch timing; printed as 3:48)

Origin:

"Woodland Rock": Recorded during the same January 1971 Trident Studios sessions as "Hot Love," produced by Tony Visconti. Like the A-side, it features Bill Fifield’s drums, marking T. Rex’s first use of a full drum kit. A boogie-infused rocker with psychedelic elements, it was part of the original 1971 single’s double B-side.

"The King Of The Mountain Cometh": Initially recorded during July 1970 sessions for the T. Rex album, this track is the only recorded work by the Bolan/Finn/Currie trio, though officially credited to the full band. A mystical, folk-rock track with dark, revolutionary undertones, it blends Bolan’s poetic lyricism with a cosmic vibe.

"The King Of The Mountain Cometh":

The 2007 reissue reportedly uses a different mix from the original, disappointing some fans seeking the “proper mix” from the 1971 single.

Publisher: Essex Music International Ltd. (for "Woodland Rock"); Lupus Music (for "The King Of The Mountain Cometh").

Note: The B-side plays at 33⅓ RPM, contrasting with the A-side’s 45 RPM, a distinctive feature of Universal’s 2007 T. Rex reissues.

Format: 7" vinyl, limited edition, numbered, stereo. Side A at 45 RPM, Side B at 33⅓ RPM.

Matrix/Runout (Estimated, based on "Get It On" pattern):Side A: 1744373 A1 B795921-02A1 [e.g., "Hot Love Sparkles"]

Side B: 1744373 B1 B795921-02B1 [e.g., "Marc’s Woodland Groove"]

Rights Society: BIEM / SABAM

Label Code: LC07341

Production: Produced for Straight Ahead Productions. ℗ 1971 Straight Ahead Productions Ltd., ℗ & © 2007 Universal Music TV, a division of Universal Music Operations Ltd. Manufactured in the EU.

Packaging:

Features a picture sleeve with a design reminiscent of the original 1971 Fly Records release (BUG 6), incorporating the Fly logo. However, unlike the original, which lacked a picture sleeve in the UK, this reissue includes one, though some fans note it deviates from the original mustard label.

Amazon reviews praise the sleeve and Fly logo but criticize the sound as “lifeless” and note the wrong mix of

"The King Of The Mountain Cometh" (matching a version from the 20th Century Superstar box set rather than the 1971 original).

Related Releases:

Part of Universal’s 2007 T. Rex series, including "Get It On" (1744374), "Ride a White Swan," "Telegram Sam," "Metal Guru," and "Jeepster."

The series aligns with reissues of Electric Warrior and the 1972 box set.

"Hot Love" Significance:

The single’s six-week No. 1 run and Bolan’s flamboyant image fueled “T. Rextasy,” a cultural phenomenon. Its raw energy, catchy hooks, and baroque strings (noted by reviewers) made it a glam rock cornerstone. The B-sides, especially "The King Of The Mountain Cometh," reflect Bolan’s transition from folk to electric, with poetic lyrics rooted in his Tyrannosaurus Rex era.

2007 Reissue Context:

Released 30 years after Bolan’s death (September 16, 1977, in a car crash at age 29), the reissue tapped into the vinyl revival and nostalgia for glam rock. The limited-edition, numbered format and RPM split (45/33⅓) mirror other series entries like "Get It On." However, fan criticism of the B-side mix and sound quality suggests Universal prioritized collectibility over fidelity.

Comparison to Original 1971 Release

Original Release (1971):Label: Fly Records (BUG 6)

Tracks: A: "Hot Love" (4:59); B: "Woodland Rock" (2:27), "The King Of The Mountain Cometh" (3:55)

Chart Performance: No. 1 UK for six weeks, 17 weeks in the charts.

Details: Recorded at Trident Studios with Tony Visconti. Early pressings had a mustard Fly label; later ones used a hovering Fly logo. No picture sleeve in the UK, though some international releases (e.g., Belgium) included one.

2007 Reissue:

Uses original 1971 recordings, with no remixing.

Adds a picture sleeve, unlike the UK original, but fans note deviations in label design (not mustard) and B-side mix issues.

Marketed as a collector’s item, with numbering and RPM split (45/33⅓) for uniqueness.