Friday June 26, 2020 "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" T. Rex
“Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs” and this T. Rex song may rank among the most frivolous.
Tyrannosaurus Rex's (later shortened to T. Rex) lead singer and primary lyricist Marc Bolan was originally a model who hoped to pursue acting but found glitter rock stardom to be a worthwhile substitute. For this particular tune the band had the melody, rhythm and the line ``your dirty and sweet” and Marc made up the rest of the lyrics on the spot as they recorded it.
Sure sounds like it too…” Well you’re built like a car, you’ve got a hubcap diamond star halo” and “that’s the truth with your cloak full of eagles”. The kind of romantic musings sure to get a girl's attention, but maybe because she is thinking does a healthy mind imagine these kinds of lyrics.
Background vocals on the original recording were done by Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman who were the voices of The Turtles (“It Ain't Me Babe" and many others) who then went on to work with Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and also toured as Flo & Eddie.
Stay safe and well...and bang a gong, or maybe not.
Yes that is Elton John on keyboards in the video.
