đ Jeepster â Single: Nov. 1971
- T.Rex
- Nov 4, 1971
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 13
Original 1971 UK pressing of âJeepsterâ on Fly Records.
A bluesârooted glam strut released amid label tensions and rising superstardom, âJeepsterâ captures Marc Bolan at his most charismatic and unstoppable.
đ â OVERVIEW
Released in the UK on November 5, 1971, T. Rexâs âJeepsterâ arrived as a defining glamârock single issued by Fly Records (BUG 16). Written by Marc Bolan and produced by Tony Visconti for Straight Ahead Productions Ltd., the track fuses blues roots with Bolanâs seductive glam strut, lifting its central riff and vocal phrasing from Howlinâ Wolfâs âYouâll Be Mineâ (written by Willie Dixon).
The release was steeped in controversy: Fly issued and promoted the single without Bolanâs permission, shortly after he had left the label for EMI and his own imprint, T. Rex Wax Co. Despite this, âJeepsterâ became a major hit, reaching No. 2 in the UK and holding that position for five consecutive weeks. It also charted in AUS (No. 28) and CAN (No. 73).
Backed with âLifeâs A Gas,â the single featured a pictureâlabel Bâside with no printed duration and was housed in a plain singleâcolour sleeve typical of Flyâs earlyââ70s output.
đ â TRACK LIST
A: Jeepster
B: Lifeâs A Gas
đ â VARIANTS (selection)
AUS ¡ 1971 ¡ 7" Single ¡ Fly Records ¡ Standard issue
CAN ¡ 1971 ¡ 7" Single ¡ Fly Records ¡ Canadian issue
UK ¡ 1971 ¡ 7" Single ¡ Fly BUG 16 ¡ Standard issue
UK ¡ 1971 ¡ 7" Promo ¡ Fly BUG 10 ¡ Limited promo (500 copies)
đ â CHART PERFORMANCE
UK â Peak No. 2 ¡ 15 Weeks on Chart
Pos
37
November 7, 1971
Pos
08 â
November 14, 1971
Pos
02 â
November 21, 1971
Pos
03 â
November 28, 1971
Pos
02 â
December 5, 1971
Pos
02 â
December 12, 1971
Pos
02 â
December 19, 1971
Pos
02 â
December 26, 1971
Pos
03 â
January 2, 1972
Pos
10 â
January 9, 1972
Pos
18 â
January 16, 1972
Pos
29 â
January 23, 1972
Pos
34 â
January 30, 1972
Pos
44 â
February 6, 1972
Pos
46 â
February 13, 1972
AUS â Peak No. 28
CAN â Peak No. 73
đ â CONTEXT & NOTES
⢠Fly Records released âJeepsterâ without Bolanâs consent, promoting it heavily after he had already moved to EMI.
⢠The Aâsideâs riff and vocal phrasing draw directly from Howlinâ Wolfâs âYouâll Be Mineâ, written by Willie Dixon.
⢠The Bâside featured a picture label and no printed duration, a detail prized by collectors.
⢠A limited promo pressing (BUG 10) of 500 copies circulated on September 10, 1971, ahead of Electric Warrior.
⢠Recorded at Trident Studios, featuring Marc Bolan, Mickey Finn, Steve Currie, and Bill Legend â the classic Electric Warrior lineup.
⢠A promotional film was created because Bolan declined to appear on Top of the Pops.
⢠Bolan performed an acoustic âLifeâs A Gasâ with Cilla Black on her BBC show in January 1973.
đ â RELATED MATERIAL
⢠Explore tags below for connected posts
đ â DISCOGRAPHY
Eraârelated releases:
Hot Love â 1971
Get It On â 1971
Telegram Sam â 1972
đ â MINIâTIMELINE
⌠Sep 1971 â Limited promo pressing (BUG 10) distributed ahead of Electric Warrior
⌠Nov 1971 â âJeepsterâ released by Fly Records without Bolanâs approval
⌠Dec 1971 â Holds No. 2 on UK charts for five weeks (not consecutive)
đ â GLAM FLASHBACK
âJeepsterâ is the sound of Bolan in full bloom â a glitterâslicked blues riff turned into a swaggering love spell. Even wrapped in label politics, the single radiates the confidence of an artist who knew he was shaping the future. Itâs glam at its most effortless: playful, stylish, and impossible to resist.
đ â CLOSING NOTES
A defining moment in T. Rexâs glamârock ascent, âJeepsterâ merges blues homage with Bolanâs unmistakable charisma. Despite label tensions and its unofficial release status, the single remains one of the most enduring and beloved entries in the bandâs catalogue.
đ â SOURCES & COPYRIGHT
All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators.
This post is presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes only.
Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia and BBC Official Charts
đ â TAGS
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