Get It on ( T. Rex song ) - wikipedia Get It on ( T. Rex song ) `` Get It On '' Single by T. Rex from the album Electric Warrior B - side `` There Was a Time '' / `` Raw Ramp '' Released 2 July 1971 Format 7 '' single Genre Glam rock boogie rock Length 4 : 25 Label Fly ( UK ) Reprise ( US ) Songwriter ( s ) Marc Bolan Producer ( s ) Tony Visconti T. Rex singles chronology `` Hot Love '' ( 1971 ) `` Get It On '' ( 1971 ) `` Jeepster '' ( 1971 ) `` Hot Love '' ( 1971 ) `` Get It On '' ( 1971 ) `` Jeepster '' ( 1971 ) `` Get It On '' is a song by the British glam rock group T. Rex, featured on their 1971 album Electric Warrior. Written by frontman Marc Bolan, `` Get It On '' was the second chart - topper for T. Rex on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it was retitled `` Bang a Gong ( Get It On ) '' to avoid confusion with a song of the same name by the group Chase. Contents 1 History 2 Track listing 3 Personnel 4 Chart performance 4.1 Weekly charts 4.2 Year - end charts 5 Power Station version 5.1 Track listings 5.1. 1 7 '' vinyl single 5.1. 2 12 '' vinyl single 5.2 Chart performance 6 Other cover versions 7 Sampling and references 8 References History Bolan claimed to have written the song out of his desire to record Chuck Berry 's `` Little Queenie '', and said that the riff is taken from the Berry tune. In fact, a line ( And meanwhile, I 'm still thinking ) of `` Little Queenie '' is said at the fade of `` Get It On ''. This was the song that virtually ended the once - solid friendship between Bolan and John Peel, after Peel made clear his lack of enthusiasm for it on air after playing his advance white label copy. Bolan and Peel only spoke once more before the former 's death in 1977. During a December 1971 Top of the Pops performance, Elton John mimed a piano on the song. This performance is usually the video clip for the song which has aired on various music - video outlets such as VH1 Classic. The track was recorded at Trident Studios, London and the piano on the record was performed by either Rick Wakeman or Blue Weaver. Mark Paytress notes that both pianists may have played separate parts on the song, with Wakeman contributing only the piano glissandos that feature several times throughout the song. Wakeman, who was desperate for work at the time to pay his rent, had bumped into Bolan in Oxford Street, who offered him the session. Wakeman pointed out to Tony Visconti that the record did not actually need a piano player. Visconti suggested that he could add a gliss ; Wakeman said that Visconti could do that, to which Bolan replied, `` you want your rent, do n't you ? '' Wakeman did and earned £ 9 for his efforts. Saxophones were played by Ian McDonald of King Crimson. Producer Visconti later recalled : `` He played all the saxes, one baritone and two altos. I kept the baritone separate but bounced the altos to one track. I bounced the backup vocals to two tracks, making an interesting stereo image. '' Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan ( formerly The Turtles ) provided back up vocals. Track listing US : Reprise / 1032 UK : Fly Records / BUG 10 Germany : Ariola / 10 327 AT Denmark : Stateside / 6E 006 - 92700 France : Columbia / CBS 7393 ( without `` There Was a Time '' ) `` Get It On '' ( Marc Bolan ) -- 4 : 25 `` There Was a Time '' ( Marc Bolan ) -- 1 : 00 `` Raw Ramp '' ( Marc Bolan ) -- 4 : 14 Personnel Marc Bolan : lead vocals, guitar Rick Wakeman and / or Blue Weaver : electric piano and Hammond organ Ian McDonald : baritone and alto saxophone Steve Currie : bass guitar Bill Legend : drums Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan : backing vocals Chart performance It spent four weeks at the top in the UK, starting 24 July 1971 ( `` Hot Love '' was number one for six weeks from March to May ), and it was the group 's biggest hit overall, with Bolan claiming that it sold a million. It peaked on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart at number ten and at # 12 in the Cash Box Top 100 in March 1972, becoming the band 's only major US hit. The song reached No. 12 in Canada in March 1972. Weekly charts Chart ( 1971 - 72 ) Peak position UK Singles Chart Australian Singles Chart 14 Canadian RPM Top Singles 12 German GfK chart Dutch Top 40 15 Irish Singles Chart Norwegian Singles Chart 6 Swiss Singles Chart US Billboard Hot 100 10 US Cash Box Top 100 12 Year - end charts Chart ( 1971 ) Rank Australia 89 UK 11 Chart ( 1972 ) Rank US Billboard Hot 100 56 US Cash Box 58 Preceded by `` Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep '' by Middle of the Road UK number - one single 24 July 1971 -- 14 August 1971 ( 1971 - 08 - 14 ) ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` I 'm Still Waiting '' by Diana Ross Preceded by `` Sometimes '' by Red Hurley Ireland number - one single 12 August 1971 -- 19 August 1971 ( 1971 - 08 - 19 ) ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Never Ending Song of Love '' by The New Seekers Power Station version `` Get It On ( Bang a Gong ) '' Single by The Power Station from the album The Power Station B - side `` Go to Zero '' Released 29 April 1985 Format 7 '' vinyl, 12 '' vinyl Recorded 1984 Genre Hard rock Length 3 : 43 ( 45 Mix ) 5 : 31 Label Parlophone Songwriter ( s ) Marc Bolan Producer ( s ) Bernard Edwards The Power Station singles chronology `` Some Like It Hot '' ( 1985 ) `` Get It On ( Bang a Gong ) '' ( 1985 ) `` Communication '' ( 1985 ) `` Some Like It Hot '' ( 1985 ) `` Get It On ( Bang a Gong ) '' ( 1985 ) `` Communication '' ( 1985 ) `` Get It On '' was covered by The Power Station in 1985. Their version -- titled `` Get It On ( Bang a Gong ) '' -- was released as their second single from their debut album. The track was a strong hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, where the single peaked at number nine ( one place higher than the original ) in the summer of 1985. Meanwhile, in the UK, the song reached number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. When Robert Palmer heard that the other Power Station members had recorded demos for `` Bang a Gong '', he asked to try out vocals for it. Before long, the band had decided to record the entire album with Palmer. This single, along with `` Some Like It Hot '', became The Power Station 's signature songs. On 13 July 1985, The Power Station ( as well as Duran Duran ), had a participation at Live Aid, on the Philadelphia concert, in which the band performed the song, this time, with the British singer Michael Des Barres on vocals. The female dancer featured in the video is American dancer / singer - songwriter Sara Carlson. The song also was performed live on the Miami Vice episode `` Whatever Works '', with Michael Des Barres on vocals, where all of the then - touring group had cameos. Track listings 7 '' vinyl single US : Capitol Records / B - 5479 UK : Parlophone / R 6096 Australia : EMI / A1510 Europe : EMI / 20 0632 7 Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Get It On '' Marc Bolan 3 : 43 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Go to Zero '' Guy Pratt, Robert Palmer 4 : 57 12 '' vinyl single US : Capitol Records / V8646 UK : Parlophone / 12R 6096 Europe : Parlophone / 1C K 060 20 0631 6 Canada : Capitol Records / V 75107 Side one No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Get It On '' Bolan 5 : 31 Side two No. Title Writer ( s ) Length 1. `` Get It On '' ( 45 Mix ) Bolan 3 : 43 2. `` Go To Zero '' Pratt, Palmer 4 : 57 Chart performance Chart ( 1985 ) Peak position US Billboard Hot 100 9 US Billboard Top Rock Tracks 19 US Billboard Hot Dance Music / Maxi - Singles Sales 47 Irish Singles Chart 12 UK Singles Chart 22 Other cover versions In 1979, studio disco group Witch Queen released a disco version of the song, simply titled, `` Bang A Gong ''. It peaked at number eight on the disco charts. Sampling and references British dance act Bus Stop ( known in the US as `` London Bus Stop '' ) sampled the vocals from the T. Rex original in their 2000 pseudo-cover of the song, which charted at No. 59 in the UK. The alt - country band Old 97 's referenced the line `` you got the teeth of the Hydra upon you '' on the track `` Singular Girl '' from the album Satellite Rides. References Jump up ^ Professor Sarah Niblock ; Professor Stan Hawkins ( 28 January 2013 ). Prince : The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon : The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. p. 44. ISBN 978 - 1 - 4094 - 9479 - 9. Retrieved 3 October 2015. Jump up ^ Goodman, William ( July 3, 2013 ). `` Beck Covers Michael Jackson & T. Rex ''. Fuse. Fuse Media, Inc. Retrieved 3 October 2015. Jump up ^ `` Blair Jackson, `` Classic Tracks : T. Rex 's ' Bang a Gong ( Get It On ) ' '', Mix ``. Archived from the original on 30 August 2006. Retrieved 17 April 2015. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) ^ Jump up to : Paytress, Mark, Bolan : The Rise And Fall Of The 20th Century Superstar, p. 182, Omnibus Press ( 2003 ), ISBN 978 - 0 - 7119 - 9293 - 1 Jump up ^ Paytress, Mark, Bolan : The Rise And Fall Of The 20th Century Superstar, p. 182 - 3, Omnibus Press ( 2003 ), ISBN 978 - 0 - 7119 - 9293 - 1 Jump up ^ Peel, John, Margrave of the Marshes, p. 236, 238 -- 9, Bantam Press ( 2005 ), ISBN 978 - 0 - 593 - 05252 - 5 Jump up ^ `` Video clip from 27 December 1971 ' ' Top of the Pops ' ' ''. BBC. 27 December 1971. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` ' ' Top of the Pops 2 ' ' episode featuring this performance ''. BBC. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` The Birth of Glam ''. The Glory of Glam. 2010 - 06 - 29. BBC. BBC Radio Two. Jump up ^ `` Classic Tracks : T. Rex 's ' Bang a Gong ( Get It On ) ' ''. Mixonline.com. 1 December 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2013. Jump up ^ `` Bang A Gong ( Get It On ) by T. Rex Songfacts ''. Songfacts.com. Retrieved 24 August 2013. ^ Jump up to : `` Chart Stats -- T. Rex -- Get It On ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Chart Stats -- T. Rex -- Hot Love ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ Kutner, Jon ; Leigh, Spencer ( 26 May 2010 ). `` 1,000 UK Number One Hits ''. Omnibus Press. Retrieved 14 August 2017 -- via Google Books. ^ Jump up to : `` T. Rex - Chart History ''. Billboard. Retrieved 27 December 2016. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box Top 100 3 / 18 / 72 ''. tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` RPM Volume 17 No. 5, March 18, 1972 -- RPM ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` dutchcharts.nl -- T. Rex -- Get It On '' ( in Dutch ). Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Week 36, 1971 '' ( in Dutch ). Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` irishcharts.ie search results ''. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 2 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` norwegiancharts.com -- T. Rex -- Get It On ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` T. Rex -- Get It On -- hitparade.ch '' ( in German ). Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box Top 100 3 / 18 / 72 ''. tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1972 / Top 100 Songs of 1972 ''. www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972 ''. tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017. Jump up ^ `` Chart Stats -- Middle of the Road -- Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep ''. Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Chart Stats -- Diana Ross -- I 'm Still Waiting ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` allmusic ( ( ( The Power Station > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles ) ) ) ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. ^ Jump up to : `` Chart Stats -- Power Station -- Get It On ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` allmusic ( ( ( The Power Station > Biography ) ) ) ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` Power station from Live Aid video ''. NME. Retrieved 21 October 2013. Jump up ^ Sara Carlson music dance art My Story @ saracarlson.net Retrieved 30 November 2012. Jump up ^ `` Miami Vice : Whatever Works - TV.com ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ `` irishcharts.ie search results ''. Archived from the original on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2009. Jump up ^ Whitburn, Joel ( 2004 ). Hot Dance / Disco : 1974 -- 2003. Record Research. p. 282. Jump up ^ `` Chart Stats -- Bus Stop Featuring T Rex -- Get It On ''. Retrieved 12 July 2009. T. Rex Marc Bolan Mickey Finn Steve Currie Bill Legend Steve Peregrin Took Gloria Jones Jack Green Dino Dines Davy Lutton 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 Light of Love 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 Film Born to Boogie Singles `` 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 '' Related articles Discography John 's Children Great Jewish Music : Marc Bolan Marc Mickey Finn 's T - Rex The Power Station Robert Palmer Andy Taylor John Taylor Tony Thompson Michael Des Barres Bernard Edwards Studio albums The Power Station Living in Fear Singles `` Some Like It Hot '' `` Get It On ( Bang a Gong ) '' `` Communication '' `` She Can Rock It '' Related articles Duran Duran Chic Distance Commando soundtrack Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Get_It_On_(T._Rex_song)&oldid=814493866 '' Categories : 1971 singles 1979 singles 1985 singles T. Rex ( band ) songs The Power Station ( band ) songs UK Singles Chart number - one singles Irish Singles Chart number - one singles Songs written by Marc Bolan Song recordings produced by Tony Visconti Song recordings produced by Bernard Edwards 1971 songs Fly Records singles Reprise Records singles Parlophone singles Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 German - language sources ( de ) EngvarB from June 2014 Use dmy dates from June 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats Track listings with deprecated parameters Talk Contents About Wikipedia Español Italiano Norsk nynorsk Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 9 December 2017, at 04 : 08. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: who sings get it on bang a gong
Answer: T. Rex