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Get It On (T. Rex song)#The Power Station version

{{Short description|1971 single by T.Rex}}

{{EngvarB|date=June 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Get It On

| cover = T.Rex Get It On single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = T. Rex

| album = Electric Warrior

| B-side = {{hlist|"There Was a Time"|"Raw Ramp"}}

| released = 2 July 1971

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{flatlist|

  • Glam rock{{cite book|author1=Professor Sarah Niblock|author2=Professor Stan Hawkins|title=Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SM2hAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT44|access-date=3 October 2015|date=28 January 2013|publisher=Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.|isbn=978-1-4094-9479-9|page=44}}{{cite web|url=https://rockcellarmagazine.com/top-11-glam-rock-songs/|title=Top 11 Glam Rock Songs|first=Frank|last=Mastropolo|date=January 12, 2018|magazine=Rock Cellar Magazine|access-date=December 21, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/gold-dust-glam-rock-s-top-10-singles-1171968.html|title=Gold Dust: Glam rock's top 10 singles|first=Catherine|last=Pepinster|date=15 August 1998|website=The Independent|access-date=22 December 2024}}
  • boogie rock{{cite web|url=http://www.fuse.tv/2013/07/beck-covers-michael-jackson-and-t-rex|title=Beck Covers Michael Jackson & T. Rex|last=Goodman|first=William|date=3 July 2013|website=Fuse|publisher=Fuse Media, Inc.|access-date=3 October 2015}}
  • rock and roll{{cite book|first= Pat|last= Long|editor-first= Robert |editor-last= Dimery |year= 2015 |title= 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die|chapter= T. Rex - "Bang a Gong (Get It On)|publisher= Universe|location= New York|page= 279}}
  • blues rock{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/t-rex-the-slider-2496102741.html|title=T. Rex: The Slider|last=Nelson|first=Dylan|date=9 December 2010|website=PopMatters|access-date=4 February 2025}}

}}

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=25}}

| label = *Fly (UK)

| writer = Marc Bolan

| producer = Tony Visconti

| prev_title = Hot Love

| prev_year = 1971

| next_title = Jeepster

| next_year = 1971

| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio|{{YouTube|FyzWDl0nz00|"Get It On"}}}}

}}

"Get It On" is a song by the English rock band T. Rex, featured on their 1971 album Electric Warrior. Written by frontman Marc Bolan, "Get It On" was the second chart-topper for T. Rex on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it was retitled "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" to avoid confusion with a song of the same name by the group Chase.{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_classic_tracks_rexs/index.html |title=Blair Jackson, "Classic Tracks: T. Rex's 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)'", Mix |access-date=2015-04-17 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830203639/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_classic_tracks_rexs/index.html |archive-date=30 August 2006 |df=dmy-all }}

History

Following the success of T. Rex's single, "Hot Love", the band went on a United States tour. While in New York in March 1971, Bolan asked drummer Bill Legend to help him brainstorm drum patterns for a song idea that would later become "Get It On".{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-t-rexs-get-it-on-launched-glam-rock-11554827860|title=How T. Rex's 'Get It On' Launched Glam Rock|last=Myers|first=Marc|date=2019-04-09|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=2019-12-13|language=en-US|issn=0099-9660}} Bolan claimed to have written the song out of his desire to record Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie", and said that the riff was taken from the Berry tune. In fact, a slightly edited line (And meanwhile, I'm still thinking) from "Little Queenie" is delivered during the fade of "Get It On".Paytress, Mark, Bolan: The Rise And Fall Of The 20th Century Superstar, p. 182, Omnibus Press (2003), {{ISBN|978-0-7119-9293-1}} According to producer Tony Visconti, this line was an unscripted ad-lib by Bolan during recording.

This was the song that virtually ended the once-solid friendship between Bolan and John Peel, after Peel made clear his lack of enthusiasm for it on air after playing his advance white label copy. Bolan and Peel spoke only once more before the former's death in 1977.Paytress, Mark, Bolan: The Rise And Fall Of The 20th Century Superstar, p. 182-3, Omnibus Press (2003), {{ISBN|978-0-7119-9293-1}}Peel, John, Margrave of the Marshes, p.236, 238–9, Bantam Press (2005), {{ISBN|978-0-593-05252-5}}

The track was recorded at Trident Studios, London, and the piano on the record was performed by either Rick Wakeman or Blue Weaver. Mark Paytress notes that both pianists may have played separate parts on the song, with Wakeman contributing only the piano glissandos that feature several times throughout the song. Wakeman, who was desperate for work at the time to pay his rent, had bumped into Bolan in Oxford Street, who offered him the session. Wakeman pointed out to Tony Visconti that the record did not actually need a piano player. Visconti suggested that he could add a gliss. Wakeman said that Visconti could do that, to which Bolan replied, "You want your rent, don't you?" Wakeman did, and earned £9 for his efforts.{{cite episode|title=The Birth of Glam|series=The Glory of Glam|network=BBC|station=BBC Radio 2|airdate=2010-06-29}}

Saxophones were played by Ian McDonald of King Crimson. Producer Visconti later recalled: "He played all the saxes, one baritone and two altos. I kept the baritone separate but bounced the altos to one track. I bounced the backup vocals to two tracks, making an interesting stereo image."{{cite web |url=http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_classic_tracks_rexs/ |title=Classic Tracks: T. Rex's 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)' |publisher=Mixonline.com |date=1 December 1999 |access-date=24 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113181505/http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_classic_tracks_rexs/ |archive-date=13 November 2013 |url-status=dead }} Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan (formerly The Turtles) provided back up vocals.{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1622 |title=Bang A Gong (Get It On) by T. Rex Songfacts |publisher=Songfacts.com |access-date=24 August 2013}}{{Cite web |url=https://recordcollectormag.com/articles/the-confessions-of-kaylan |title=The Confessions of Kaylan |publisher=recordcollectormag.com |date=17 June 2013 |first=Ken |last=Sharp |access-date=8 January 2022}}

During a December 1971 Top of the Pops performance, Elton John mimed playing a piano on the song.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/t/t_rex/clips/get_it_on.shtml|title=Video clip from 27 December 1971 Top of the Pops|date=27 December 1971|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 August 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00gf8n6|title=Top of the Pops 2 episode featuring this performance|date=23 December 2008|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 August 2013}}

Track listing and catalogue details

  1. "Get It On" (Marc Bolan) – 4:25
  2. "There Was a Time" (Marc Bolan) – 1:00
  3. "Raw Ramp" (Marc Bolan) – 4:14

Personnel

= T. Rex =

Chart performance

It spent four weeks at the top in the UK, starting 24 July 1971{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Iron%20Horse |title=The Official Charts Company – T.Rex – Get It On |website=Official Charts |access-date=12 July 2009}} ("Hot Love" was number one for six weeks from March to May),{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Back%20On%20The%20Road |title=The Official Charts Company – T.Rex – Hot Love |website=Official Charts |access-date=12 July 2009}} and it was the group's biggest hit overall, with Bolan claiming that it sold a million.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwwLBaH9488C&pg=PT442|title=1,000 UK Number One Hits|first1=Jon|last1=Kutner|first2=Spencer|last2=Leigh|date=26 May 2010|publisher=Omnibus Press|isbn=9780857123602|access-date=14 August 2017|via=Google Books}} It peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/277481/t-rex/chart |title=T. Rex - Chart History |magazine=Billboard |access-date=27 December 2016}} and at number 12 in the Cash Box Top 100{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720318.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 3/18/72|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023135349/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19720318.html|archive-date=23 October 2016|url-status=dead}} in March 1972, becoming the band's only major US hit.{{cn|date=August 2023}} The song reached No. 12 in Canada in March 1972.{{cite web |url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7597&volume=17&issue=5&issue_dt=March%2018%201972&type=1 |title=RPM Volume 17 No. 5, March 18, 1972 – RPM |access-date=12 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010155951/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7597&volume=17&issue=5&issue_dt=March%2018%201972&type=1 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable"
Chart (1971–1972)

! style="text-align:center;"|Peak
position

UK Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Australian Singles Chart

| style="text-align:center;"|14

Canadian RPM Top Singles

| style="text-align:center;"|12

German GfK chart{{cite web |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=T%2E+Rex&titel=Get+It+On&cat=s |title=dutchcharts.nl – T. Rex – Get It On |language=nl |access-date=12 July 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

Dutch Top 40{{cite web |url=http://www.top40.nl/index.aspx?week=36&jaar=1971 |title=Nederlandse Top 40 – Week 36, 1971 |language=nl |access-date=12 July 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|15

Irish Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=irishcharts.ie search results |access-date=2 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105231849/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=5 January 2010 |df=dmy}}

| style="text-align:center;"|1

Norwegian Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=T%2E+Rex&titel=Get+It+On&cat=s |title=norwegiancharts.com – T. Rex – Get It On |access-date=12 July 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|6

Swiss Singles Chart{{cite web |url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=T%2E+Rex&titel=Get+It+On&cat=s |title=T. Rex – Get It On – hitparade.ch |language=de |access-date=12 July 2009}}

| style="text-align:center;"|3

US Billboard Hot 100

| style="text-align:center;"|10

US Cash Box Top 100

|align="center"|12

{{col-2}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable"
Chart (1971)

! style="text-align:center;"|Rank

Australia

| style="text-align:center;"|89

UK

| style="text-align:center;"|11

class="wikitable"
Chart (1972)

! style="text-align:center;"|Rank

US Billboard Hot 100{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972|website=Musicoutfitters.com|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm|archive-date=27 April 2017|url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"|56

US Cash Box {{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html|title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html|archive-date=28 September 2018|url-status=dead}}

| style="text-align:center;"|58

{{col-end}}

Certifications

{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=T-Rex|title=Get It On|award=Platinum|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=14755-3042-1|access-date=12 May 2023}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

The Power Station version

{{Infobox song

| name = Get It On

| cover = Power Station Get It On single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = the Power Station

| album = The Power Station

| B-side = Go to Zero

| released = {{start date|1985|4|29|df=y}}{{cite magazine|date=27 April 1985|title=New Singles|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1985/Music-Week-1985-04-27-I.pdf|magazine=Music Week|page=14|access-date=17 August 2024}}

| recorded = 1984

| studio = Power Station, New York City

| venue =

| genre = Hard rock

| length = * 5:31 (LP version)

  • 3:43 (45 mix)

| label = * Parlophone

| writer = Marc Bolan

| producer = Bernard Edwards

| prev_title = Some Like It Hot

| prev_year = 1985

| next_title = Communication

| next_year = 1985

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|O2vHbXI2p4k|"Get It On (Bang a Gong)"}}}}

}}

"Get It On" was covered by the Power Station in 1985. Their version – referred to as "Get It On (Bang a Gong)" in the US – was released as the second single from their debut album. The track was a strong hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the single peaked at number nine (one place higher than the original) in the summer of 1985.{{cite web |url={{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5172/charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=allmusic ((( The Power Station > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ))) |access-date=12 July 2009}} Meanwhile, in the UK, the song reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Better%20Than%20Them |title=The Official Charts Company – Power Station – Get It On |website=Official Charts |access-date=12 July 2009}}

The band was originally going have a different guest vocalist on each song on their album and had brought in Robert Palmer first to sing a different song. When Palmer heard that the band had recorded a demo of "Get It On", he asked to try out vocals for it also. Afterward, the band then decided to record the entire album with Palmer.{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5172/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=allmusic ((( The Power Station > Biography ))) |access-date=12 July 2009}} Model Caroline Cossey, who had featured in their previous video for "Some Like It Hot", appeared again, alongside American dancer/singer-songwriter Sara Carlson.[http://saracarlson.net/my_story/ Sara Carlson music dance art|My Story @saracarlson.net] Retrieved 30 November 2012.

On 13 July 1985, the Power Station, as well as Duran Duran, participated in the Live Aid Philadelphia concert and performed the song with British singer Michael Des Barres on vocals.{{cite web |url=http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/kupMnltNcf8/search/live%20aid |title=Power station from Live Aid video |work=NME |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021183937/http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/kupMnltNcf8/search/live%20aid |archive-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead }} The band, again with Des Barres on vocals, performed it in a cameo on the Miami Vice episode "Whatever Works".[https://archive.today/20130205001422/http://www.tv.com/Miami+Vice/Whatever+Works/episode/124890/summary.html?tag=container;episode_guide_list]

=Track listings=

==7" vinyl single==

  • US: Capitol / B-5479
  • UK: Parlophone / R 6096
  • Australia: EMI / A1510
  • Europe: EMI / 20 0632 7

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Get It On

| writer1 = Marc Bolan

| length1 = 3:43

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Go to Zero

| writer1 = Guy Pratt, Robert Palmer

| length1 = 4:57

}}

==12" vinyl single==

  • US: Capitol / V8646
  • UK: Parlophone / 12R 6096
  • Europe: Parlophone / 1C K 060 20 0631 6
  • Canada: Capitol / V 75107

{{Track listing

| headline = Side one

| title1 = Get It On

| note1 = LP version

| writer1 = Bolan

| length1 = 5:31

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Side two

| title1 = Get It On

| note1 = 45 mix

| writer1 = Bolan

| length1 = 3:43

| title2 = Go to Zero

| writer2 = Pratt, Palmer

| length2 = 4:57

}}

=Charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
Chart (1985)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, NSW |date=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=235}}

|8

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

|9

scope="row"|US Billboard Top Rock Tracks

|19

scope="row"|US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales

|47

scope="row"|Irish Singles Chart{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |title=irishcharts.ie search results |access-date=12 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105231849/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement |archive-date=5 January 2010}}

|12

scope="row"|UK Singles Chart

|22

Other cover versions

  • Blondie recorded a live version of the song on 4 November 1978 at The Paradise Ballroom in Boston, MA, which can be found on their 1978 live album, Headlines, and also on the 2001 reissue of Parallel Lines.{{Cite web |website=Discogs |title=Bang A Gong – Blondie |year=1978 |url=https://www.discogs.com/Blondie-Headlines/release/3046344}}. Retrieved 24 September 2018
  • In 1979, studio disco group Witch Queen released a disco version of the song, titled "Bang A Gong". It peaked at number 8 on the disco charts,{{cite book |title= Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=282}} and crossed over to the US Hot 100 peaking at number 68.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=923}}
  • In 2020 U2 covered the song, with Elton John on piano.{{cite web |last1=John |first1=Elton |url=https://twitter.com/eltonofficial/status/1301852517123330048 |website=Elton John's Twitter account|title=Elton collaborated with @U2 on an interpretation of 'Bang a Gong (Get It On)' for the new album 'Angelheaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan & T. Rex'. It's out now on CD, Vinyl and Digital|access-date=13 September 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Graff |first1=Gary |title=U2, Elton John and other stars celebrate Marc Bolan and T. Rex in new tribute album |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2020/09/u2-elton-john-and-other-stars-celebrate-marc-bolan-and-t-rex-in-new-tribute-album.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=September 2020 |publisher=Cleveland.com / Advance Local Media LLC |access-date=14 September 2020}}
  • In 2023, Australian band Icehouse covered the song with the scottish rock band Simple Minds{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nwgYxUhftI&pp=ygUIaWNlaG91c2U%3D | title=ICEHOUSE, Simple Minds - Get It on (Lyric Video) | website=YouTube | date=25 November 2023 }}

Sampling and references

British dance act Bus Stop (known in the US as "London Bus Stop") sampled the vocals from the T. Rex original in their 2000 pseudo-cover of the song, which charted at No. 59 in the UK.{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Boom%20Selection |title=The Official Charts Company – Bus Stop Featuring T Rex – Get It On |website=Official Charts |access-date=12 July 2009}}

English rock band Def Leppard named their twelfth studio album, Diamond Star Halos, after a line in the song.{{Cite web |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |date=2022-05-25 |title=Def Leppard, 'Diamond Star Halos': Album Review |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/def-leppard-diamond-star-halos-album-review/ |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}}

See also

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{T. Rex}}

{{The Power Station}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1971 songs

Category:1971 singles

Category:1979 singles

Category:1985 singles

Category:T. Rex (band) songs

Category:The Power Station (band) songs

Category:UK singles chart number-one singles

Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Marc Bolan

Category:Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti

Category:Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards

Category:Fly Records singles

Category:Reprise Records singles

Category:Parlophone singles