Back catalogue: Rock

Review: Marc Bolan's first single of 1972, 'Telegram Sam,' also marked the debut release on his T Rex Wax Co label. The song is a tribute to his manager, Tony Secunda, who played a crucial role in securing the label and substantial earnings for Bolan. Recorded in Copenhagen, 'Telegram Sam' is a taut rocker brimming with power and excitement, driven by one of Bolan's most insistent riffs. It served as the public's first taste of what would become T. Rex's next album, the masterful The Slider. The single topped the U.K. charts effortlessly. This reissue, released on a 7" picture disc featuring rare photos of Marc Bolan, captures the single's historic and musical significance, making it a valuable addition to the collections of glam aficionados everywhere.

Review: 'Warlock' is the latest release to be pushed via Bob Stanley's Measured Mile imprint, and pulls two floor-friendly but still retrospective gems from the storied De Wolfe music library, based in the UK and widely known as the progenitor and originator of what has now become known widely as library music. To demonstrate the gestation times common to this corner of the music industry, these two tracks have never been heard before, and yet were recorded in 1983! First comes Reg Tilsley with 'Warlock', a full yet light-winged flight through linns of flute, funk bass and notes inegales. Meanwhile, 'Flashpoint' by Roger Jackson is a space-age tittup of booming, long-tailed proportions; it's tempered by the nagging nip of a clavichord and the formidable frown of the lowest piano note.

Review: This recording of the Philadelphia Orchestra performing Sergei Prokofiev's 1936 story and orchestral score Peter and the Wolf was recorded in 1977 and was originally released in 1978. The role of the narrator on the recording was initially offered to both Peter Ustinov and Alec Guinness who both turned it down, before David Bowie agreed to take on the role, supposedly as a Christmas present to his son. On the B-side is another equally as charming piece of recent classical history, Benjamin Britten's Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra as narrated by Hugh Downs.

Review: Demon Records celebrates the 50th anniversary of Marc Bolan and T Rex's Light Of Love with a special edition release. Originally a US-only album from late 1974, it first appeared on the Casablanca Records label. This edition honors its historical significance and offers a glimpse into Bolan's evolving artistry. Light Of Love features eight tracks recorded in the US, initially intended for the band's 1975 UK album Bolan's Zip Gun. To cater to the American market, Bolan included three tracks from the yet-to-be-released Zinc Alloy album: 'Teenage Dream,' 'Explosive Mouth,' and 'Venus Loon.' Among the new tracks is 'Till Dawn,' notable for being Bolan's final collaboration with Tony Visconti, who provided a lush string arrangement. This anniversary edition is pressed on 140-gram orange vinyl and it comes in the original sleeve design, accompanied by a new inner sleeve. Light Of Love exemplifies Bolan's blend of glam rock and inventive musicality, offering a nostalgic yet fresh listening experience.