BMGA long-in-the-works all-star tribute album to T. Rex and the influential glam-rock band’s late frontman, Marc Bolan, will be released on September 4.
AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T. Rex is a 26-track collection that includes a rendition of the classic hit “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” by U2 and Elton John, and also features Joan Jett, Todd Rundgren, Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell, Soft Cell‘s Marc Almond, David Johansen, and, separately, John Lennon‘s sons Julian and Sean.
The record also includes guest appearances from Steely Dan‘s Donald Fagen, longtime David Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson, MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer and others.
The project was overseen by veteran tribute-album producer Hal Willner, who sadly died this month at age 64 of the COVID-19 virus.
Rachel Fox, the album’s supervising producer and longtime Willner collaborator, says, “Hal had a unique vision of Marc Bolan’s music, and working on AngelHeaded Hipster brought him great joy. Speaking for those closest to him, we will forever be heartbroken at the untimely loss of our beloved friend and irreplaceable creative engine.”
AngelHeaded Hipster can be pre-ordered now, and will be available as a two-CD set, a two-LP vinyl collection and digitally. The first single from the album, a version of “Cosmic Dancer” by veteran Australian singer/songwriter Nick Cave, has been released as a digital download and via streaming services. You also can check out an official performance video for the tune at T. Rex’s official YouTube channel.
The release of the album comes during the year that T. Rex is scheduled to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Bolan died in a car crash in September 1977 at the age of 29.
Here’s the AngelHeaded Hipster track list:
Disc 1
“Children of the Revolution” — Kesha
“Cosmic Dancer” — Nick Cave
“Jeepster” — Joan Jett
“Scenescof” — Devendra Banhart
“Life’s a Gas” — Lucinda Williams
“Solid Gold, Easy Action” — Peaches
“Dawn Storm” — BØRNS
“Hippy Gumbo” — Beth Orton
“I Love to Boogie” — King Khan
“Beltane Walk” — Gaby Moreno
“Bang a Gong (Get It On)” — U2 featuring Elton John
“Diamond Meadows” — John Cameron Mitchell
“Ballrooms of Mars” — Emily Haines
Disc 2
“Main Man” — Father John Misty
“Rock On” — Perry Farrell
“The Street and Babe Shadow” — Elysian Fields
“The Leopards” — Gavin Friday
“Metal Guru” — Nena
“Teenage Dream” — Marc Almond
“Organ Blues” — Helga Davis
“Planet Queen” — Todd Rundgren
“Great Horse” — Jessie Harris
“Mambo Sun” — Sean Lennon and Charlotte Kemp Muhl
“Pilgrim’s Tale” — Victoria Williams with Julian Lennon
“Bang a Gong (Get It On) Reprise” — David Johansen
“She Was Born to Be My Unicorn/Ride a White Swan” — Maria McKee
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