Hot Love – Single: Feb. 1971

T. Rex’s first UK No. 1 single and the spark that ignited the glam‑rock explosion.

🔘 – Overview

Released in the UK on February 19, 1971, “Hot Love” marked a seismic turning point in Marc Bolan’s career. Issued on Fly Records (BUG 6), the single became T. Rex’s first UK No. 1, launching the band — and Bolan himself — into full‑blown superstardom. The track’s success helped define the emerging glam‑rock movement, with Bolan’s glitter‑dusted Top of the Pops performance becoming one of the genre’s foundational moments.

Produced by Tony Visconti, “Hot Love” expanded the duo‑era T. Rex sound into a fuller, more electric arrangement, foreshadowing the sonic direction of Electric Warrior later that year. The B‑sides — “Woodland Rock” and “The King of the Mountain Cometh” — showcased Bolan’s growing confidence as a songwriter, blending rock ’n’ roll swagger with mystical lyricism.

The single entered the Official Singles Chart on February 27, 1971, climbing rapidly to No. 1, where it remained for six consecutive weeks. It charted for 17 weeks in total, becoming one of the defining UK singles of the early 1970s.

🔘 – Track List

UK 7" Single — Fly Records – BUG 6 — 1971

Side A

Hot Love

Written‑By: Marc Bolan

Produced by Tony Visconti

Side B1

Woodland Rock

Written‑By: Marc Bolan

Produced by Tony Visconti

Side B2

The King of the Mountain Cometh

Written‑By: Marc Bolan

Produced by Tony Visconti

🔘 – Variants

7", 45 RPM, Single, Brown Labels, Solid Centre — Fly – BUG 6 — UK — 1971

7", 45 RPM, Single, Brown Labels, 4‑Prong Centre — Fly – BUG 6 — UK — 1971

7", 45 RPM, Single, Black Labels, Solid Centre (Repress) — Fly – BUG 6 — UK — 1971

7", 45 RPM, Single, Black Labels, 4‑Prong Centre (Repress) — Fly – BUG 6 — UK — 1971

7", 45 RPM, Single, Black Labels, Large Centre (Repress) — Fly – BUG 6 — UK — 1971

7", 45 RPM, Single, Limited Edition, Numbered — Fly/Universal – 1744373 — UK — 2007

🔘 – Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

Peak No. 1 · 17 Weeks on Chart (1971)

Pos 31 — Feb 27, 1971

Pos 17 ↑ — Mar 6, 1971

Pos 07 ↑ — Mar 13, 1971

Pos 01 ↑ — Mar 20, 1971

Pos 01 ← — Mar 27, 1971

Pos 01 ← — Apr 3, 1971

Pos 01 ← — Apr 10, 1971

Pos 01 ← — Apr 17, 1971

Pos 01 ← — Apr 24, 1971

Pos 02 ↓ — May 1, 1971

Pos 06 ↓ — May 8, 1971

Pos 09 ↓ — May 15, 1971

Pos 17 ↓ — May 22, 1971

Pos 21 ↓ — May 29, 1971

Pos 31 ↓ — Jun 5, 1971

Pos 34 ↓ — Jun 12, 1971

Pos 48 ↓ — Jun 19, 1971 (Final Week)

🔘 – Context & Notes

• Produced by Tony Visconti for Straight Ahead Productions

• Written by Marc Bolan

• First pressing features mustard‑coloured labels

• Later pressings feature Fly Records logo

• Published by Essex Music International Ltd.

• ℗ 1971 Fly Records

• One of the most important singles in the rise of glam rock

• Bolan’s glitter‑cheeked TOTP performance became iconic

• First T. Rex single to feature two B‑sides

🔘 – Visual Archiv

UK Fly Records mustard‑label 7-inch for “Woodland Rock,” and "The King of the Mountain Cometh" showing catalogue number BUG 6 and production credit for Tony Visconti.

Caption:

T. Rex’s “Hot Love” (1971), issued on Fly Records as BUG 6 — first pressing with mustard labels.

🔘 – Related Material

• “Ride a White Swan” (1970)

• Electric Warrior (1971)

• “Get It On” (1971)

• “Jeepster” (1971)

Explore the tags below for connected posts and themes.

🔘 – Discography

Ride a White Swan — 1970

Hot Love — 1971

Get It On — 1971

Jeepster — 1971

🔘 – Mini‑Timeline

✦ February 19, 1971 — Single released

✦ February 27, 1971 — Enters UK chart

✦ March 20, 1971 — Reaches No. 1

✦ April 1971 — Six consecutive weeks at No. 1

✦ June 19, 1971 — Final chart week

🔘 – Glam Flashback

“Hot Love” is the moment glam rock truly ignited. Bolan’s shimmering performance, the swaggering groove, and the effortless charm of the track transformed T. Rex from cult favourites into national icons — and set the stage for the glitter‑soaked decade to come.

🔘 – Closing Notes

A landmark single in British pop history, “Hot Love” remains one of Marc Bolan’s most influential recordings — the spark that lit the glam‑rock fuse and propelled T. Rex into the mainstream.

🔘 – Sources

Discogs

Official Charts Company

Fly Records

Wikipedia

🔘 – Copyright

All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators.

Presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes.

#ReleaseChronicle #TRex #HotLove #MarcBolan #GlamRock #1971 #FlyRecords