An unheard T. Rex song called ‘I’m Dazed’ has been released, with a blue plaque also being unveiled at Marc Bolan’s former London home. Listen below.
English Heritage celebrated the late glam rock musician’s “extraordinary contribution to British music and culture” today (September 30) with a sign at 31 Clarendon Gardens, Maida Vale.
- READ MORE: Marc Bolan – 10 songs to remember him by
The ceremony, held on what would have been Bolan’s birthday, was led by legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman CBE. He was joined at the location by fans, fellow musicians, colleagues and friends to honour Bolan’s life and legacy.
To coincide with the unveiling of the blue plaque, Demon Music Group has shared a completely unheard T. Rex track, ‘I’m Dazed’, which was recorded in 1975. The song arrives along with a rare take of ‘Billy Super Duper’ from the band’s 1982 album of the same name.
Per a press release, these recordings “were recently discovered on forgotten studio tapes, giving a remarkable new window into Bolan’s musical world”.
‘I’m Dazed’ was first laid down at the famed Château d’Hérouville studios near Paris in March 1975. This unearthed second version was recorded the following month, on April 22, at Musicland Studios in Munich, Germany.
Bolan produced the song, with engineering coming from Reinhold Mack (Sparks, Queen, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones). The track features the classic mid-‘70s T. Rex lineup of Bolan, Steve Currie, Gloria Jones, Davey Lutton, and Dino Dines.
Martin Barden, consultant to Demon Music, who discovered the two songs, explained: “While cataloguing some old T. Rex tapes, I spotted tracks I’d never heard before. When we played the reel and Marc’s voice came through, it was magical.
“To unearth this completely unheard track, ‘I’m Dazed’, after 50 years, feels like finding hidden treasure and is a true gift for fans. This song was recorded when Marc was living an itinerant life, hopping across borders and continents – and producing some of the most innovative music of his life.”
Barden added: “It is such a pleasure to be sharing new music after all these years.”
Wakeman, PRS Members’ Fund patron, said: “I am pretty sure that if Marc is with us in spirit today he’d be absolutely thrilled to see the blue plaque and probably would write a song about it.
“Marc was a truly remarkable person, with an extraordinary clarity of vision about what he wanted to achieve – a quality that made him unique across so many musical, fashion, and artistic forms.
“To think that after all these years, we’re still discovering unheard T. Rex tracks like ‘I’m Dazed’ and ‘Billy Super Duper’ is just incredible and proves how deep and rich his creativity really was.”
BBC Radio 3 presenter and English Heritage blue plaques panel member, Petroc Trelawny, commented: “Marc Bolan was not just a hitmaker, he was a visionary who led a glitter-drenched revolution that transformed the sound – and style – of the ’70s, both in the music scene and beyond.
“His fusion of folk roots, electric rock, and decadent style opened the door to glam, and his fearless self-expression paved the way for future icons.”
Trelawny continued: “This plaque in Maida Vale marks the building he called home at the peak of his artistry: from here, he captured the imagination of a generation.”
‘I’m Dazed’ was mixed from master tapes by acclaimed musician and “T. Rex superfan” Steven Wilson. The track is available to stream and download now, with a limited edition 7″ single launching on November 7. Pre-order here.
Bolan’s legacy includes a run of hits with T. Rex, among them four UK Number One singles – ‘Hot Love’, ‘Get It On’, ‘Telegram Sam’ and ‘Metal Guru’ – as well as classics such as ‘Ride A White Swan’, ‘Children Of The Revolution’ and ‘I Love To Boogie’. Additionally, the band earned three Number One albums, including ‘Electric Warrior’ (1971).
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