Marc Bolan and T Rex Capturing the Spark of “Easy Action” in 1972
In 1972, Marc Bolan and T Rex were operating at a creative velocity that few bands of their era could match. Glam rock was not yet a label fixed in history. It was something being invented in real time, and “Easy Action” stood near the center of that invention. The early rocking version of the song offers a rare and valuable glimpse into how Bolan shaped his ideas before they hardened into the polished singles that would define a generation.
This version of “Easy Action” feels alive in a way that finished studio takes sometimes cannot capture. It is raw, driven, and confident, yet still flexible. You can hear the song discovering itself as it moves forward. The rhythm has urgency. The guitar tone is sharp and immediate. Bolan’s vocal sits right on the edge between playful charm and commanding presence. This is T Rex not as a mythic glam institution, but as a working band pushing sound and attitude forward.
What makes this recording especially compelling is its sense of momentum. Nothing feels overthought. The performance leans into instinct, the same instinct that allowed Bolan to fuse rock and roll swagger with pop intuition. “Easy Action” in this form is less about glitter and more about drive. It shows just how heavy and direct T Rex could be at their best, long before the phrase glam rock became shorthand for style over substance.
Listeners familiar with later versions will notice how much is already in place here. The groove, the attitude, the shape of the song are all present. Yet this early take retains a looseness that adds character. It sounds like a band trusting its feel rather than chasing perfection. The outtake from take one, heard at the end, reinforces that impression. It is not a mistake to be hidden, but a window into the creative process itself.
There is also an eerie resonance in the lyric referencing a television show. In hindsight, the line feels almost prophetic, especially knowing how deeply Bolan would later become entwined with television culture. Years before his death, the image of performance, media, and identity was already embedded in his writing. It is a reminder that Bolan was not only chasing sound, but also exploring how rock stars existed within the modern world.
Seen today, this 1972 version of “Easy Action” stands as more than a work in progress. It is evidence of a band ahead of its time, confident enough to let its process be heard. Marc Bolan and T Rex were not just crafting hits. They were shaping a language of rock that would echo long after the final take faded out.