COLLECTING… TANX
Tanx
(EMI/T. Rex BLN 5001, LP, with printed inner and poster,
UK, 1973) £40
Simply put, this was the last T.rex album that was bought and played in significant order, so of course, that means perfect copies are increasingly scarce. Whereas the fold-out poster can still be found in the package, to find it without drawing-pin holes is rare.
Children Of The Revolution/jitterbug Love/ Sunken Rags
(Stateside TSS 4141, 7”, Turkey, 1972) £30
Recorded at Ascot for the Born To Boogie film, the track – with Elton John on piano – was released in September 1972, and kept off the UK No 1 spot firstly by Slade’s Mama Weer All Crazee Now and then – horror of horrors – David Cassidy with How Can I Be Sure? Released on Stateside in Turkey, this yellow-label version of arguably the ultimate T.rex single is a delightful curio.
Christmas Time/wanna Spend My Christmas
With You/christmas/everybody Knows It’s Christmas (Lyntone, fan-club only 7” flexi, with letter on brown envelope/without, UK, 1972) £45/£30
Always pioneering, Bolan released his entry into the Christmas market a whole year before Annus Glammus Festivus (I think he means the glam xmas of 1973 – Ed). Unlike the following year, it was still thought that, like The Beatles before him, festive wishes were the preserve of fan clubs and flexidiscs.
Tanx
(Odeon, EOP-80777, LP, Japan, with obi-strip, printed inner, poster, plastic cover, Japan, 1973) £100
As with all Japanese releases of this (or any) era, finding them in mint condition with all parts in tact is something of a challenge. Copies of this have sold beyond £200, and one to aim for if completism is your scene.
Złoto Ułatwia Nam ycie (Solid Gold Easy Action)
(Przedsiębiorstwo Wydawniczo-poligraficzne RSW Prasa Ksiaęka Ruch ęr-0410, 5” flexi, one- sided, card-backed, Poland, 1973) £25
The pocztówka dęwiękowa (sound postcard), was a popular format in Poland in the 1970s. Made from plastic-coated paper, they were virtually unplayable, and made a flexidisc feel like a 180g pressing. Credited to ‘M.belan’ a copy of this version Solid Gold Easy Action, although not bank-breaking, can be hard to acquire, especially in decent condition.