Hot Love (T. Rex song)

Summary

"Hot Love" is a song by English glam rock band T. Rex, released as a standalone single on 12 February 1971 by record label Fly. It was the group's first number one placing on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained at the top for six weeks beginning on 14 March 1971.[2]

"Hot Love"
Cover of the original 7" vinyl single
Single by T. Rex
B-side
  • "Woodland Rock"
  • "King of the Mountain Cometh"
Released12 February 1971
Recorded21–22 January 1971
StudioTrident, London
GenreGlam rock[1]
Length4:53
LabelFly
Songwriter(s)Marc Bolan
Producer(s)Tony Visconti
T. Rex singles chronology
"Ride a White Swan"
(1970)
"Hot Love"
(1971)
"Get It On"
(1971)

The two performances of the song on Top of the Pops in March 1971, which saw Marc Bolan dressed for the first time on television in shiny satin stagewear and glittery make-up (the latter at the suggestion of his stylist Chelita Secunda) were a crucial trigger for the glam rock movement.[3] In a UK poll in 2015 it was voted eleventh on the ITV special The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One.[4]

Background and recording edit

"Hot Love" was recorded at Trident Studios on 21 and 22 January 1971. The single's B-sides, "Woodland Rock" and "The King of the Mountain Cometh", were recorded onto the same 16-track tape.[5]

The A-side, along with B side track "Woodland Rock", marks the first time a full drum kit appeared on a T. Rex song, after Bill Fifield participated in the session at Tony Visconti's suggestion. The single was issued and, due to its success, Fifield was invited to audition to join the band, adopting the stage name Bill Legend.[6] "King of the Mountain Cometh" was the only track ever on record by the Bolan/ Finn/ Currie trio, although officially they were the whole band for all three tracks on this record.

Personnel edit

Permanent band members:

Other:

Release edit

“Hot Love” was released as a single on 12 February 1971 by record label Fly.[7] It became the group's first number one placing on the UK Singles Chart, where it remained at the top for six weeks beginning in March 1971.[2] The single, however, did not fare as well in the US, where it peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100[8] and at number 54 on the Cash Box Top 100.[9] The song reached number 47 in Canada in June 1971, number 4 in Australia[10] and number 12 in South Africa.[11]

Use in advertising and films edit

“Hot Love” featured in the 1996 film Breaking the Waves and the 1998 film The Acid House.[citation needed]

The song featured in the Christmas 2020 advertising campaign for the on-line retailer Very.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ Savage, Jon (1 February 2013). "The 20 best glam-rock songs of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b Roberts 2006, p. 258–9.
  3. ^ Mark Paytress, Bolan - The Rise And Fall Of A 20th Century Superstar (Omnibus Press 2002) ISBN 0-7119-9293-2, pp 180-181
  4. ^ "The Nation's Favourite 70s Number One has been revealed, but here are some 70s classics which didn't make the cut | Metro News". metro.co.uk. 5 March 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  5. ^ Campbell, Irving (2007). A guide to the outtakes of Marc Bolan (1964-1977). Wellington, N.Z.: Great Horse Productions. ISBN 978-0-473-12076-4.
  6. ^ Paytress, Mark (2006). Bolan : the rise and fall of a 20th century superstar ([Rev.ed.]. ed.). London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84609-147-0.
  7. ^ Roberts 2006, p. 546.
  8. ^ "T. Rex". Billboard. Retrieved 11 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 6/12/71". tropicalglen.com. Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – 1971". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  11. ^ Currin, Brian Currin. "South African Rock Lists Website – SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (T)". rock.co.za. Retrieved 16 February 2015.

Other sources edit

External links edit

  • "Hot Love" at Discogs (list of releases)