Glam Rock

by Simon Philo

  Unicorn, Tyrannosaurus Rex (May 1969), Album, Regal Zono. Peaked at no. 12 in the UK.

  “Space Oddity,” David Bowie (July 1969), Single, Philips. Early Bowie foray into space dread. UK no. 5.

  “Sugar, Sugar,” the Archies (September 1969), Single, RCA. More bubblegum. Biggest-selling single in the US in 1969.

  “Lola,” the Kinks (June 1970), Single, Pye. No. 2 in UK; Top 10 in US.

  “Ride a White Swan,” T. Rex (October 1970), Single, EMI. Peaked at no. 2 in January 1971. Glam’s breakthrough single.

  “I Hear You Knocking,” Dave Edmunds Rockpile (November 1970), Single, MAM. UK best-seller for six weeks.

  T. Rex, T. Rex (December 1970), Album, EMI. Now “abbreviated” and mean serious glam business.

  1971, “Get It On”

  The Man Who Sold the World, David Bowie (January 1971), Album, Mercury. Did Not Chart (DNC). Pre-glam; but check out Bowie in a dress on the UK cover.

  “Funny Funny,” Sweet (January 1971), Single, RCA. Sweet’s first Chinn-and-Chapman-written-and-produced hit.

  “Hot Love,” T. Rex (February 1971), Single, EMI. Six weeks at no. 1 in UK.

  “Eighteen,” Alice Cooper (February 1971), Single, Warner Bros. Top 30 in the US.

  “Co-Co,” Sweet (May 1971), Single, RCA. No. 2 in the UK. No. 93 in the US. Still in bubblegum mode. Still not playing own instruments!

  “Get Down and Get with It,” Slade (June 1971), Single, Polydor. Slade’s first hit 45.

  “Get It On,” T. Rex (July 1971), Single, EMI. Four weeks at no. 1 in the UK. Billboard Top 10 in early ’72.

  Electric Warrior, T. Rex (September 1971), Album, EMI. A total of eight weeks at no. 1 in the UK, and the year’s best-selling LP. Peaked at no. 32 in the States.

  “Coz I Luv You,” Slade (October 1971), Single, Polydor. Four weeks at no. 1 in UK.

  “Alexander Graham Bell,” Sweet (October 1971), Single, RCA. Disappointingly stalled outside the UK Top 30.

  “Jeepster,” T. Rex (November 1971), Single, EMI. UK no. 2; DNC in the USA.

  Hunky Dory, David Bowie (December 1971), Album, RCA. DNC on initial release, but would peak at no. 3 in September 1972. Featured some glam songs (“Queen Bitch” and “Changes,” for example) while covering some key glam subject matter (space travel and gender-bending).

  Killer, Alice Cooper (December 1971), Album, Warner Bros. Top 30 on both sides of the Atlantic.

  1972, “Hang On to Yourself”

  “Telegram Sam,” T. Rex (January 1972), Single, EMI. Two weeks at no. 1 in UK. No surprise. It’s the height of Trexstasy, and this is quintessential glitter rock.

  “Look Wot You Dun,” Slade (February 1972), Single, Polydor. UK no. 4.

  “Rock and Roll (Parts 1 & 2),” Gary Glitter (March 1972), Single, Bell. Eventually climbed to no. 2 in UK, thanks to the dance hall/disco appeal of “Part 2.”

  “Back Off Boogaloo,” Ringo Starr (March 1972), Single, Apple. Starr directed Bolan’s movie Born to Boogie and released this glam-inspired single that reached both the UK and US Top 10s.

  Slade Alive!, Slade (April 1972), Album, Polydor. UK no. 2.

  “Starman,” David Bowie (April 1972), Single, RCA. Bowie’s first UK Top 10 since “Space Oddity.” Jet-propelled by a memorable TV performance on Top of the Pops. Only reached no. 65 in the US.

  “Rocket Man,” Elton John (April 1972), Single, DJM. Excluding duet with Kiki Dee, highest-charting UK single of the decade (no. 2). Top 10 in the US.

  “Metal Guru,” T. Rex (May 1972), Single, EMI. Back-to-back UK no. 1s for Bolan.

  The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, David Bowie (June 1972), Album, RCA. Peaking at no. 5, represented Bowie’s first genuine long-form best-seller. Only reached no. 75 on Billboard.

  Roxy Music, Roxy Music (June 1972), Album, Island. UK Top 10 for RM’s impressive debut LP.

  “Little Willy,” Sweet (June 1972), Single, RCA. Another UK hit single.

  “Take Me Bak ’Ome,” Slade (June 1972), Single, Polydor. Slade’s second UK no. 1.

  “All the Young Dudes,” Mott the Hoople (July 1972), Single, CBS. UK no. 3; US no. 37. Bowie-penned, T. Rex name-checking, glam anthem/manifesto. LP of same name would also include a cover of Velvet Underground’s “Sweet Jane.”

  “School’s Out,” Alice Cooper (July 1972), Single, Warner Bros. A UK no. 1 for three weeks. Top 10 in the States. Worth noting that it isn’t college that is “out.”

  The Slider, T. Rex (July 1972), Album, EMI. UK no. 4; US no. 17.

  “Virginia Plain,” Roxy Music (August 1972), Single, Island. Like “Hot Love” and “Starman” before it, this one gets a boost from a memorable performance on Top of the Pops. Peaks at no. 4 in the UK.

  “Mama Weer All Crazee Now,” Slade (August 1972), Single, Polydor. Yet another no. 1 for Slade.

  “Children of the Revolution,” T. Rex (September 1972), Single, EMI. No. 2 in UK.

  “John, I’m Only Dancing,” David Bowie (September 1972), Single, RCA. Queerer and queerer.

  “Wig Wam Bam,” Sweet (September 1972), Single, RCA. Top 10 UK. Noticeably harder, rockier sound. First 45 on which the band played its own instruments.

  “I Didn’t Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock and Roll),” Gary Glitter (September 1972), Single, Bell. UK Top 5.

  “Crazy Horses,” the Osmonds (October 1972), Single, MGM. UK no. 2. A cash-in maybe; glammest Osmonds’ single, no question.

  “Elected,” Alice Cooper (October 1972), Single, Warner Bros. UK no. 4; just no. 26 in the US.

  Transformer, Lou Reed (November 1972), Album, RCA. Bowie-produced LP that reached UK Top 20 and US Top 30.

  “Walk on the Wild Side,” Lou Reed (November 1972), Single, RCA. UK Top 10; Billboard Top 20.

  “The Jean Genie,” David Bowie (November 1972), Single, RCA. UK no. 2; just no. 71 in US.

  “Gudbuy T’Jane,” Slade (November 1972), Single, Polydor.

  Slayed?, Slade (December 1972), Album, Polydor. Second glam LP to reach no. 1 in the UK.

  “Solid Gold, Easy Action,” T. Rex (December 1972), Single, EMI. Another no. 2.

  “Blockbuster,” Sweet (December 1972), Single, RCA. Spent five weeks at no. 1 in early ’73.

  “Ball Park Incident,” Wizzard (December 1972), Single, Harvest. UK Top 10.

  1973, “Cum On Feel the Noize”

  “Do You Want to Touch Me?” Gary Glitter (January 1973), Single, Bell. Yet another UK no. 2.

  “Cum On Feel the Noize,” Slade (February 1973), Single, Polydor. Fourth UK best-seller.

  “Pyjamarama,” Roxy Music (March 1973), Single, Island. Non-album single.

  For Your Pleasure, Roxy Music (March 1973), Album, Island. Top 5 in UK; peaked at no. 193 in US.

  Billion Dollar Babies, Alice Cooper (March 1973), Album, Warner Bros. Three weeks at no. 1 in the UK, where it registered glam’s third long-form best-seller. No. 1 on Billboard too.

  “20th Century Boy,” T. Rex (March 1973), Single, EMI. Peaked at no. 3 in the UK.

  “Hello Hello I’m Back Again,” Gary Glitter (March 1973), Single, Bell. No. 2 (again).

  Tanx, T. Rex (March 1973), Album, EMI. “Only” reached no. 4 on the UK album chart.

  “See My Baby Jive,” Wizzard (March 1973), Single, Harvest. Spent a month at no. 1 in the UK.

  Aladdin Sane, David Bowie (April 1973), Album, RCA. Five weeks as UK’s best-seller, to become glam’s fourth no. 1 LP. Billboard Top 20 too.

  “Drive-In Saturday,” David Bowie (April 1973), Single, RCA. Peaked at no. 3 in the UK.

  “Hellraiser,” Sweet (April 1973), Single, RCA. Follow-up to “Blockbuster,” makes no. 2.

  “Can the Can,” Suzi Quatro (April 1973), Single, RAK. Three weeks as UK’s best-selling single.

  “Skweeze Me Pleeze Me,” Slade (June 1973), Single, Polydor. Another no. 1.

  “The Groover,” T. Rex (June 1973), Single, EMI. UK no. 4 “only.”

  “Live and Let Die,” Wings (June 19
73), Single, Apple. McCartney goes glam. UK Top 10; US no. 2.

  “I’m the Leader of the Gang (I Am),” Gary Glitter (July 1973), Single, Bell. A four-week run at no. 1 in the UK.

  “48 Crash,” Suzi Quatro (July 1973), Single, RAK. UK no. 3.

  “Do the Strand,” Roxy Music (July 1973), Single, Island. US-only single, where—unsurprisingly—it failed to chart.

  “Rock On,” David Essex (August 1973), Single, CBS. UK no. 3.

  New York Dolls, New York Dolls (August 1973), Album, Mercury. DNC in the UK. Scrapped in Top 200 in the band’s native US.

  Mott, Mott the Hoople (August 1973), Album, CBS. UK Top 10.

  “Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad),” Wizzard (August 1973), Single, Harvest. Back-to-back UK no. 1s for Roy Wood.

  “Ballroom Blitz,” Sweet (September 1973), Single, RCA. Peaked at no. 2 in the UK.

  Sladest, Slade (September 1973), Album, Polydor. Four weeks as the UK’s best-selling LP for the UK’s biggest pop act of the day.

  Goats Head Soup, the Rolling Stones (September 1973), Album, Rolling Stones. Complete with ubercamp, very glam cover shot of Mick Jagger giving it the full Isadora Duncan.

  Pin Ups, David Bowie (October 1973), Album, RCA. Five weeks at no. 1 for Bowie’s covers album. Billboard Top 30 too.

  “Sorrow,” David Bowie (October 1973), Single, RCA. UK no. 3.

  These Foolish Things, Bryan Ferry (October 1973), Album, Island. Covers album included credible if rather irreverent version of “A Hard Rain’s Gonna Fall.”

  “My Friend Stan,” Slade (October 1973), Single, Polydor. UK no. 2.

  “Dyna-Mite,” Mud (October 1973), Single, RAK.

  “Daytona Demon,” Suzi Quatro (October 1973), Single, RAK. UK Top Five.

  Stranded, Roxy Music (November 1973), Album, Island. UK no. 1 for a week.

  “Streetlife,” Roxy Music (November 1973), Single, Island. A UK Top 10.

  “Truck On (Tyke),” T. Rex (November 1973), Single, EMI. Stalled at no. 12.

  “Roll Away the Stone,” Mott the Hoople (November 1973), Single, CBS. Top 10 for Christmas.

  “I Love You Love Me Love,” Gary Glitter (November 1973), Single, Bell. Four weeks at no. 1 for this rather funereal single.

  Band on the Run, Paul McCartney & Wings (December 1973), Album, Apple. No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic for McCartney’s most glam LP.

  “The Show Must Go On,” Leo Sayer (December 1973), Single, Chrysalis. UK no. 2 for debut single.

  “Merry Xmas Everybody,” Slade (December 1973), Single, Polydor. Five weeks at no. 1 and the last in a run of six UK best-sellers in just two years.

  “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day,” Wizzard (December 1973), Single, Harvest. UK no. 4. Were it not for Slade’s Xmas single—see above—this would surely have made no. 1.

  1974, “Teenage Rampage”

  “Teenage Rampage,” Sweet (January 1974), Single, RCA. UK no. 2 (and the first single I ever bought).

  “Tiger Feet,” Mud (January 1974), Single, RAK. No. 1 for four weeks, the biggest-selling single of the year (and the first single purchased by my younger brother).

  “The Man Who Sold the World,” Lulu (January 1974), Single Polydor. Bowie written, produced, and arranged track gives Lulu her first UK hit in five years when it peaks at no. 3.

  “Sugar Baby Love,” the Rubettes (January 1974), Single, Polydor. Four weeks at no. 1 in the spring.

  Muscle of Love, Alice Cooper (January 1974), Album, Warner Bros. US Top 10; just Top 40 in UK.

  “Teenage Lament,” Alice Cooper (January 1974), Single, Warner Bros. A UK no. 12.

  Here Come the Warm Jets, Brian Eno (January 1974), Album, Island. Eno’s solo debut reaches the UK Top 30.

  Silverbird, Leo Sayer (January 1974), Album, Chrysalis. UK no. 2.

  Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue, Slade (February 1974), Album, Polydor. Another UK no. 1.

  “Rebel Rebel,” David Bowie (February 1974), Single, RCA. UK Top Five; Billboard no. 64. Conclusive proof that Bowie was still glamming it up—“Your face is a mess / You’re a juvenile success.”

  “Devilgate Drive,” Suzi Quatro (February 1974), Single, RAK. Two weeks at UK no. 1.

  “Bennie and the Jets,” Elton John (February 1974), Single, DJM. A UK B-side but a US no. 1.

  Kiss, KISS (February 1974), Album, Casablanca. DNC in UK; peaked at no. 87 in the US.

  “Seven Seas of Rhye,” Queen (February 1974), Single, EMI. First Top 10 single, featured music-hall-style chorus of “I Do Like to Be beside the Seaside” in the fade-out.

  Queen II, Queen (March 1974), Album. EMI.

  Zinc Alloy and the Easy Riders of Tomorrow, T. Rex (March 1974), Album, EMI. Would only reach no. 12, with the majestic “Teenage Dream”—on which it was hard not to hear self-pity—peaking at no. 13 on the UK singles chart.

  “Every Day,” Slade (March 1974), Single, Polydor. Wistful, most un-Slade-like ballad reaches no. 3 in the UK.

  “Judy Teen,” Cockney Rebel (March 1974), Single, EMI. Angular glam peaks at UK no. 5.

  “Remember Me This Way,” Gary Glitter (March 1974), Single, Bell.

  “Angel Face,” the Glitter Band (March 1974), Single, Bell. UK no. 4.

  “Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll,” Mott the Hoople (March 1974), Single, CBS. The band’s last UK Top 20 hit.

  “The Cat Crept In,” Mud (April 1974), Single, RAK. Follow-up to “Tiger Feet” reaches no. 2 in UK.

  “Shang-A-Lang,” Bay City Rollers (April 1974), Single, Bell. UK no. 2.

  “This Town Ain’t Big Enough,” Sparks (April 1974), Single, Island. Unlikely UK no. 2 hit.

  “Touch Too Much,” Arrows (May 1974), Single, RAK. UK Top 10 for Anglo-American outfit.

  Diamond Dogs, David Bowie (May 1974), Album, RCA. UK no. 1; US no. 5. Check out the album’s cover art by glam’s go-to artist Guy Peellaert.

  Kimono My House, Sparks (May 1974), Album, Island. UK no. 4.

  “Hey Rock and Roll,” Showaddywaddy (May 1974), Single, Bell. First UK hit for rock ’n’ roll revivalists.

  Axe Victim, Be Bop Deluxe (June 1974), Album, Harvest. DNC. Includes “Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape,” which—though rather “proggy”—is also glam. Hence close links with Cockney Rebel, whom the band supported.

  The Psychomodo, Cockney Rebel (June 1974), Album, EMI. Debut LP makes the UK Top 10.

  “The Bangin’ Man,” Slade (July 1974), Single, Polydor. Another big UK hit, no. 3.

  “Light of Love,” T. Rex (July 1974), Single, EMI. Only manages to reach no. 22 in the UK.

  “Mr. Soft,” Cockney Rebel (July 1974) Single, EMI. Second UK Top 10.

  “The Sixteens,” Sweet (July 1974), Single, RCA. Epic glam anthem somewhat limps into UK Top 10.

  “Amateur Hour,” Sparks (July 1974), Single, Island. UK Top 10 for follow-up to “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for Both of Us.”

  “Knock on Wood,” David Bowie (September 1974), Single, RCA. Live cover version of soul classic made the UK Top 10.

  It’s Only Rock ’n’ Roll, the Rolling Stones (October 1974), Album, Rolling Stones. Here the Stones are at their most glam, especially on the title track (and in its camp promo video). Cover also by Peellaert.

  Eldorado—A Symphony by the Electric Light Orchestra, Electric Light Orchestra (October 1974), Album, Warner Bros. Check out those Oz-inspired sparkly shoes on the cover!

  “Killer Queen,” Queen (October 1974), Single, EMI. No. 2 in UK; no. 12 in US. Campy tale of a high-class call girl with expensive tastes.

  “All I Want Is You,” Roxy Music (October 1974), Single, Island.

  “Far Far Away,” Slade (October 1974), Single, Polydor. UK no. 2 for first single taken from Slade in Flame OST.

  “Tell Him,” Hello (October 1974), Single, Bell. Top 10 UK hit for glam-disco hybrid.

  “Let’s Get Together Again,” the Glitter Band (October 1974), Single, Bell. UK no. 8.

  “Never Turn Your Back on Mother Nature,” Sparks (October 1974), Sin
gle, Island. UK Top 20.

  Rollin’, Bay City Rollers (October 1974), Album, Bell. Four weeks as UK’s best-seller.

  Country Life, Roxy Music (November 1974), Album, Island. No. 3 in the UK; Billboard Top 40.

  Sheer Heart Attack, Queen (November 1974), Album, EMI. UK no. 2; US no. 12.

  David Live, David Bowie (November 1974), Album, RCA. Live set from US tour; reaches no. 2 in the UK, and peaks at no. 8 in the States.

  Desolation Boulevard, Sweet (November 1974), Album, RCA. First “proper” LP, featured “The Six Teens,” “Turn It Down,” and “Fox on the Run.” DNC in the UK; but US no. 25.

  “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” Elton John (November 1974), Single, DJM. A US no. 1 for this glam-soaked cover.

  “The Wild One,” Suzi Quatro (November 1974), Single, RAK. UK no. 7.

  “Zip Gun Boogie,” T. Rex (November 1974), Single, EMI. T. Rex single fails to reach UK Top 40.

  “Turn It Down,” Sweet (November 1974), Single, RCA. Subject to a TV ban and “heavier” in all departments, this final Chinn-and-Chapman-written-and-produced single fails to make the UK Top 40.

  “Saturday Gigs,” Mott the Hoople (November 1974), Single, CBS. Aka “Saturday Kids.” “In ’74 was the Broadway tour, we didn’t much like dressing up any more,” “goodbye,” and “don’t you ever forget us.” UK no. 41.

  “Lonely This Christmas,” Mud (November 1974), Single, RAK. Four weeks at no. 1.

  “The Bump,” Kenny (December 1974), Single, RAK. More glam-disco. Originally recorded by the Bay City Rollers, would peak at no. 3 in the UK in early ’75.

  Slade in Flame, Slade (December 1974), Album, Polydor. OST to uncharacteristically downbeat Slade movie peaks at “just” no. 6.

  1975, “Got to Leave You All Behind and Face the Truth”

  “Now I’m Here,” Queen (January 1975), Single, EMI. Peaks at no. 11 in the UK. More high campery that—like “Get It On”—fades out with a reference to rock ’n’ roll classic “Little Queenie” for good glam measure.

  “Something for the Girl with Everything,” Sparks (January 1975), Single, Island. Another UK Top 20.