🔘 Jeepster – Promo Single: Sept. 1971

Issued as a limited‑edition promotional single, “Jeepster” captures T. Rex at the height of their early glam‑rock ascent. Raw, swaggering, and irresistibly rhythmic, the track showcases Marc Bolan’s fusion of rock ’n’ roll simplicity with glitter‑dusted charisma. Although the commercial single would not arrive until later in 1971, this promo pressing marked the first UK appearance of the song on 7-inch vinyl.

Released on September 10 1971 by Fly Records (BUG 10), the promo single paired “Jeepster” with “Life’s a Gas,” both taken from the forthcoming *Electric Warrior* album. Produced by Tony Visconti, the tracks reflect Bolan’s shift from the mystical folk of Tyrannosaurus Rex to the electric, groove‑driven sound that defined the glam era. The BUG‑series promo was pressed in small quantities for radio and industry circulation only, making it a sought‑after collector’s item today.

Label: Fly Records

Catalogue Number: BUG 10

Format: 7" Vinyl Single (Promo Only)

Released: September 10 1971 (UK)

🔘 Track List

UK 7" Promo Single — Fly Records – BUG 10 — 1971

A. Jeepster

B. Life’s a Gas

Written by: Marc Bolan

Produced by: Tony Visconti

Recorded: 1971

🔘 Key Highlights

• Released September 10 1971 (promo only)

• A-side: Early promo issue of “Jeepster” ahead of the commercial release

• B-side: “Life’s a Gas,” another *Electric Warrior* standout

• Chart debut: Promo release only (no chart entry)

• Performed on: TV and radio appearances during the *Electric Warrior* campaign

• Recorded at: 1971 Visconti‑produced sessions

🔘 The Story

By mid‑1971, Marc Bolan had fully embraced the electric glam sound that would make him a cultural icon. “Jeepster,” with its bluesy riff, playful swagger, and infectious groove, was one of the centrepieces of the soon‑to‑be‑released *Electric Warrior*. Fly Records issued this limited‑run promo single to build anticipation among radio programmers and music press.

The pairing with “Life’s a Gas” further showcased Bolan’s range—balancing the strutting confidence of “Jeepster” with the tender, reflective charm of one of his most beloved acoustic compositions. Both tracks were produced by Tony Visconti, whose warm, spacious production became a defining element of the T. Rex sound.

While the promo itself did not chart, it played a key role in setting the stage for the commercial release of “Jeepster” later in 1971, which became one of the band’s signature hits. Today, the BUG 10 pressing is prized by collectors for its rarity and its place in the *Electric Warrior* rollout.

🔘 Variants (UK)

• 7", 45 RPM, Promo Single — Fly Records – BUG 10 — UK — 1971

• Issued in Fly Records promo sleeve

🔘 Chart Performance

UK — Official Singles Chart

Promo release only

Did not chart

Total Weeks: 0

🔘 Context & Notes

• A-side: Early promo pressing of one of T. Rex’s most iconic tracks

• B-side: Album cut from *Electric Warrior*

• Production: Tony Visconti’s signature glam‑era sound

• Sleeve notes: Fly Records promotional sleeve

• Historical placement: Part of the *Electric Warrior* promotional campaign

• Reissues / compilation appearances: Commercial single released later in 1971

🔘 Related Material

• “Hot Love” (1971)

• “Get It On” (1971)

• “Jeepster” (Commercial Single, Nov. 1971)

• *Electric Warrior* (1971)

🔘 Discography

Hot Love — 1971

Get It On — 1971

Jeepster (Promo) — 1971

Jeepster (Commercial Single) — 1971

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

✦ 1971 — Recorded during *Electric Warrior* sessions

✦ Sept 10 1971 — UK promo single released

✦ Nov 1971 — Commercial single issued and charts

🔘 Glam Flashback

Before “Jeepster” strutted into the charts, it prowled through radio stations on this rare promo pressing. Bolan’s glam revolution was already in full swing—and this single was one of its earliest sparks.

#ReleaseChronicle #TRex #MarcBolan #Jeepster #1971 #FlyRecords #ElectricWarrior

🔘 Sources

Primary reference sources: Fly Records, Discogs, Official Charts Company, contemporary music‑press documentation, archival references.

🔘 Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.

Only 500 copies were pressed and given to friends and disc jockeys, in advance of

T. Rex’s album Electric Warrior, which was released on September 24, 1971, in the UK by Fly Records. This promotional disc was later upgraded to a commercial single, with “Jeepster” as the A-side, on November 5, 1971.

The single was supplied in a single-sized envelope-styled sleeve in purple, matching one side of the single's labels.

Both tracks, written by Marc Bolan and produced by Tony Visconti, are from the Electric Warrior album. “Jeepster” is a glam rock classic, heavily influenced by Howlin’ Wolf’s “You’ll Be Mine” (written by Willie Dixon), as Bolan himself acknowledged. The single reached number 2 on the UK Singles Chart, though its release caused controversy because Fly Records promoted it without Bolan’s

permission, as he was transitioning to EMI and his own T. Rex Wax Co. Records.

“Life’s a Gas,” the B-side, is a reflective track from the same album, later performed acoustically by Bolan and Cilla Black on her BBC show in January 1973.

The 7-inch vinyl single was released by Fly Records (catalog number BUG 16) in the UK, available in both solid and push-out center versions with a paper label.

T. Rex release a single on September 10 but it won't be on sale to the public. Titles are "Jeepster" and "Lie's A Gas," both Marc Bolan compositions for his album Electric Warrior" which is released on September 24. Only 500 copies of the single will be pressed and given to "Friends and disc-jockeys."