T. Rextasy: The Best of T. Rex, 1970-1973

AMG Review of T. Rextasy: The Best of T. Rex, 1970-1973

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

This is it, T. Rex fans, the best of their greatest hits in a compilation. The only problem is, it's no longer in print. Unlike the T. Rex compilations currently available, T. Rextasy contains all the hits prior to Electric Warrior, as well as several tracks unavailable anywhere else. This is also the best sequencing job of the T. Rex hits, each song extending to the next, until you feel like you've taken an insightful journey through the dreamy and poetic world of Marc Bolan. You'll also find strong album tracks, like the guitar-fuzz freakout "Jewel," which was one of T. Rex's first "rock" songs (after beginning as a straight folk duo), and an acoustic cover of "Summertime Blues." Also included are unedited versions of such classics as "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" and "Raw Ramp," with unreleased introductions. Every hit is here ("Metal Guru," "Telegram Sam," "Ride a White Swan," etc.), except for "Children of the Revolution," which would have made the anthology complete. If you don't want to buy all of T. Rex's early-'70s albums (which you really should -- most of their album tracks were as good as their singles), hunt down T. Rextasy: The Best of T. Rex 1970-1973. It will supply you with nearly all of their prime cuts.