20th Century Boy

1973 single by T. Rex

For the manga series, see 20th Century Boys.

"20th Century Boy"

Picture sleeve from Germany

Single by T. Rex
B-side| "Free Angel"
Released| 2 March 1973
Genre|

* Glam rock[1]
* hard rock[2]
* glam punk[3]
* rock and roll[4]

Length| 3:39
Label|

* T. REX (UK)
* Ariola (Germany)

Songwriter(s)| Marc Bolan
Producer(s)| Tony Visconti
T. Rex singles chronology
| "Solid Gold Easy Action"
(1972)  | "20th Century Boy"
(1973)  | "The Groover"
(1973)

|
|

"20th Century Boy" is a song by English rock band T. Rex, written by Marc Bolan, released as a stand-alone single on 2 March 1973.[5]

Although at first considered as its closing track, "20th Century Boy" was not featured on the album Tanx, released at the same time in early March. It was later added as a bonus track on the 1985 reissue of Tanx and on all versions released since.

## Recording

[edit]

### "20th Century Boy"

[edit]

"20th Century Boy" was recorded on 3 December 1972 in Toshiba Recording Studios in Tokyo, Japan at a session that ran between 3:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.[6][7] For possibly the first time, producer Tony Visconti was not present at a T. Rex session, with Marc and Mick O'Halloran assuming the role. Despite this, Visconti is still officially credited with production.[8] Backing vocals, hand claps, acoustic guitar and saxophones were recorded in England when T. Rex returned to the country after their tour.[6]

The single version of the track fades out at three minutes and 39 seconds; however, the multi-track master reveals that the song ended in nearly a full three minutes' worth of jamming.[6][7] A rough mix of the full-length version can be found on the Bump 'n' Grind compilation.[7]

According to Marc Bolan, the lyrics are based on quotes taken from notable celebrities such as Muhammad Ali. This can be seen through the inclusion of the line "sting like a bee", which is taken from one of Ali's 1969 speeches.[9]

### "Free Angel"

[edit]

"Free Angel" was recorded during the first sessions for the Tanx album, between 1 and 4 August 1972. The single was mixed for release at Air Studios on 16 December 1972.[7]

## Release and reception

[edit]

"20th Century Boy" was released on 2 March 1973. It entered the UK Singles Chart at number 3 on 10 March 1973 and peaked three weeks in a row at that position.[10] It stayed a total of nine weeks in the UK Chart while topping the charts in Ireland, although like most T. Rex singles it failed to chart in the US.[10]

The song was met with a warm reception in Bolan's home country, where Chris Welch of Melody Maker noted that "guitars tremble, Marc howls, and it's 'gang awa' with another in his series of rhythmic entertainments".[8] Charles Shaar Murray of NME thought it was the group's best since "Telegram Sam" with "Marc's thunder guitar majestically assaulting you." Peter Jones at Record Mirror wrote that it was "very, very good indeed" and predicted it would top the charts. However, Penny Valentine at Sounds, who had praised earlier T. Rex hits, now lamented that Bolan "hadn't extended his musical capabilities as far as he might have done."[8]

The song returned to the UK Top 20 in 1991, peaking at number 13,[11] after being used in a TV commercial for Levi's starring Brad Pitt.[12] A version of the song by British rockabilly band The Big Six was used in The Truman Show in 1998. The song was also used in the opening of the 2016 film The Purge: Election Year, it also is the name of Magent Magent's Stand in Steel Ball Run, seventh part of the manga JoJo's Bizarre Adventure by Hirohiko Araki, and it is the namesake of the manga series 20th Century Boys by Naoki Urasawa.

## Track listing

[edit]

1. "20th Century Boy" - 3:39
2. "Free Angel" - 2:14

## Charts

[edit]

| Chart (1973)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] | 57
Ireland (IRMA)[14] | 1
Norway (VG-lista)[15] | 9
Spain (AFE)[16] | 28
UK Singles (OCC)[17] | 3
West Germany (GfK)[18] | 8
| Chart (1991–1992)  | Peak
position

|

Denmark (IFPI)[19] | 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] | 13
Ireland (IRMA)[21] | 8
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] | 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] | 39
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] | 27
UK Singles (OCC)[11] | 13

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

United Kingdom (BPI)[25] | Silver  | 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## Covers and renditions

[edit]

### Girlschool version

[edit]

In 1983, British rock band Girlschool recorded the song for their fourth studio album, Play Dirty, and it was released by Bronze Records as the album's lead single in October 1983.[26] Girlschool's version was produced by Jim Lea and Noddy Holder of Slade.

Chart (1983)  | Peak
position

|

UK Heavy Metal Singles (MRIB)[27] | 8

### Chalk Circle version

[edit]

Canadian rock band Chalk Circle covered "20th Century Boy" in 1987.

Chart (1987)  | Peak
position

|

Canada (Cancon)[28] | 9
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[29] | 44

### Def Leppard version

[edit]

"20th Century Boy"

Single by Def Leppard
from the album  Yeah!
Released| 2006
Label| Mercury
Songwriter(s)| Marc Bolan
Producer(s)| Def Leppard
Def Leppard singles chronology
| "Rock On"
(2006)  | "20th Century Boy"
(2006)  | "Nine Lives"
(2008)

|
|

English hard rock band Def Leppard covered the song on their 2006 album, Yeah!, which features cover versions of 1970s rock hits. It was released as the third and final single from the album, on 21 August 2006.[30] The band used the song extensively as promotion for including two TV appearances and a regular rotation in the setlist of their 2006 Yeah! Tour. Def Leppard performed "20th Century Boy" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 23 May 2006[31] two days before performing the song with Queen's Brian May on VH1 Rock Honors broadcast on 31 May.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ The following sources describe the song as glam rock:
* Savage, Jon (1 February 2013). "The 20 best glam-rock songs of all time". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
* Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 822. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8. "Bolan (...) started writing manic chant-along glam-rock hits such as "Metal Guru," "20th Century Boy," "Solid Gold Easy Action," and "Children of the Revolution.""
* Deusner, Stephen (5 January 2017). "34 Essential Glam Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
* Rivadavia, Eduardo (17 March 2013). "Top 10 70's Glam Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
* Terich, Jeff (12 August 2012). "Treble's Top 200 Songs of the '70s". Treble. Retrieved 24 December 2024.
2. ^ Paytress, Mark (2009). Bolan: The Rise And Fall Of A 20th Century Superstar. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-1-8460-9147-6.
3. ^ M. Desuner, Stephen (5 February 2006). "T. Rex: Tanx / Zip Gun / Futuristic Dragon / Work in Progress \- Album Reviews". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 February 2025. "'20th Century Boy' is a wallop of glam-punk that remains one of the best singles of the decade."
4. ^ Raggett, Ned. "20th Century Boy - T. Rex / Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2025. "A stone-cold rock and roll classic, no matter how one slices it..."
5. ^ "T. Rex - 20th Century Boy", 45cat.com, retrieved 6 September 2022
6. ^ a b c Danielz (2000). Bump 'n' Grind (Media notes). Japan: Thunderwing Productions.
7. ^ a b c d Campbell, Irving (2007). A Guide to the Outtakes of Marc Bolan. Wellington, New Zealand: Great Horse Productions. pp. 66–67\. ISBN 978-0-473-12076-4.
8. ^ a b c McLenahan, Cliff (2019). Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 A Chronology. Helter Skelter Books.
9. ^ Peel, John (1973). "Review of 20th Century Boy". Disc Magazine.
10. ^ a b "20th Century Boy". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
11. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
12. ^ The Oxford Handbook of Music and Advertising. Oxford University Press. 2021. p. 457.
13. ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
14. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 20 th century boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
15. ^ "T. Rex – 20th Century Boy". VG-lista. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
16. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
18. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – T. Rex – 20th Century Boy" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 19 July 2013. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON T. Rex"
19. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 37\. 14 September 1991. p. 34. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
20. ^ "Forum – General – Finnish singles chart archive". Finnishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
21. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 20 th century boy". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
22. ^ "T. Rex – 20th Century Boy". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
23. ^ "T. Rex – 20th Century Boy". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
24. ^ "T. Rex – 20th Century Boy". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
25. ^ "British single certifications – T-Rex – 20th Century Boy". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
26. ^ "New Singles". Music Week. 1 October 1983. p. 24\. ISSN 0265-1548.
27. ^ "Singles". Kerrang!. No. 55\. 17 November 1983. p. 4\. ISSN 0262-6624.
28. ^ "Top Cancon Singles". RPM. Vol. 47, no. 3\. 24 October 1987. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
29. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0887." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
30. ^ "Def Leppard – 20th Century Boy". Defleppardworld.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
31. ^ Def Leppard 20th Century Boy 2006 on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

T. Rex

* Marc Bolan
* Mickey Finn
* Steve Currie
* Bill Legend

* Steve Peregrin Took
* Gloria Jones
* Jack Green
* Paul Fenton
* Davy Lutton
* Dino Dines
* Miller Anderson
* Herbie Flowers
* Tony Newman

Studio albums|

| As Tyrannosaurus Rex|

* My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows
* Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages
* Unicorn
* A Beard of Stars

|

As T. Rex|

* T. Rex
* Electric Warrior
* The Slider
* Tanx
* Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow (as Marc Bolan & T. Rex)
* Bolan's Zip Gun
* Futuristic Dragon
* Dandy in the Underworld

Posthumous albums|

* You Scare Me to Death (as Marc Bolan)
* Billy Super Duper
* Dance in the Midnight (as Marc Bolan)

Compilation albums|

* Bolan Boogie
* Light of Love

Film|

* Born to Boogie

Singles|

* "King of the Rumbling Spires"
* "Ride a White Swan"
* "Hot Love"
* "Get It On"
* "Jeepster"
* "Telegram Sam"
* "Metal Guru"
* "Children of the Revolution"
* "Solid Gold Easy Action"
* "20th Century Boy"
* "The Groover"
* "Truck On (Tyke)"
* "Teenage Dream"
* "Light of Love"
* "Zip Gun Boogie"
* "New York City"
* "Dreamy Lady"
* "London Boys"
* "I Love to Boogie"
* "Laser Love"
* "The Soul of My Suit"
* "Dandy in the Underworld"
* "Celebrate Summer"

Related articles|

* Discography
* John's Children
* Marc
* Mickey Finn's T-Rex

* v
* t
* e

Def Leppard

* Rick Savage
* Joe Elliott
* Rick Allen
* Phil Collen
* Vivian Campbell

* Pete Willis
* Steve Clark

Studio albums|

* On Through the Night
* High 'n' Dry
* Pyromania
* Hysteria
* Adrenalize
* Slang
* Euphoria
* X
* Yeah!
* Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
* Def Leppard
* Diamond Star Halos

Live albums|

* Mirror Ball – Live & More
* Viva! Hysteria
* And There Will Be a Next Time... Live from Detroit

Compilations|

* Retro Active
* Vault: Def Leppard Greatest Hits (1980–1995)
* Best of Def Leppard
* Rock of Ages: The Definitive Collection
* The Story So Far – The Best Of
* The Early Years 79–81
* Drastic Symphonies

EPs|

* The Def Leppard E.P.

Singles|

* "Wasted"
* "Hello America"
* "Let It Go"
* "Bringin' On the Heartbreak"
* "Photograph"
* "Rock of Ages"
* "Foolin'"
* "Too Late for Love"
* "Animal"
* "Women"
* "Pour Some Sugar on Me"
* "Hysteria"
* "Armageddon It"
* "Love Bites"
* "Rocket"
* "Let's Get Rocked"
* "Make Love Like a Man"
* "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad"
* "Stand Up (Kick Love into Motion)"
* "Heaven Is"
* "Tonight"
* "Two Steps Behind"
* "Desert Song"
* “Miss You in a Heartbeat”
* "Action"
* "When Love & Hate Collide"
* "Slang"
* "Work It Out"
* "All I Want Is Everything"
* "Breathe a Sigh"
* "Promises"
* "Paper Sun"
* "Goodbye"
* "Now"
* "Four Letter Word"
* "Long, Long Way to Go"
* "No Matter What"
* "Rock On"
* "20th Century Boy"
* "C'mon C'mon"
* "Undefeated"

Videography|

* Historia
* Live: In the Round, in Your Face
* Visualize
* Rock of Ages: The DVD Collection
* Mirror Ball – Live & More
* Viva! Hysteria
* And There Will Be a Next Time... Live from Detroit

Concert tours|

* Adrenalize World Tour
* Slang World Tour
* Viva! Hysteria
* Kiss 40th Anniversary World Tour
* World Tour 2015
* Def Leppard & Journey 2018 Tour
* The Stadium Tour
* The World Tour

Related|

* Discography
* Members
* Songs
* Awards and nominations
* Cybernauts
* Man Raze
* Down 'n' Outz
* Gogmagog
* Jeff Rich
* Frank Noon

* Category

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz work
* MusicBrainz release group

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