T-Rex – The Studio Albums 1970–1977 (8CD Box Set Review)
There are certain artists whose catalogues feel like sacred ground, and for many of us, Marc Bolan and T-Rex sit firmly in that space. In this episode of Now Spinning Magazine, I’m taking a proper look inside T-Rex – The Studio Albums 1970–1977, a new 8CD box set from Demon Records that brings together the band’s complete official studio output in one compact, affordable package.
This set covers every studio album from T-Rex through to Dandy in the Underworld, alongside a generous selection of non-album singles, all presented with original artwork and complete lyrics throughout. For fans old and new, it’s a fascinating snapshot of one of the most influential and charismatic figures British music has ever produced.
What’s Inside the Box
Straight away, this feels like a step forward in Demon Records’ approach to these career-spanning sets. The outer box is solid and properly protective, which may sound like a small thing, but collectors will know just how important that is.
Inside, the CDs are housed in two internal packs, each displaying the original album artwork on the inner panels. Crucially, the discs are now removed from the top rather than the side, making them far easier to extract — a welcome and very noticeable improvement based on past feedback from fans.
There’s also a substantial booklet, and this is one of the real strengths of the set. Each album is presented with:
The album artwork
Full track listings
Bonus tracks clearly identified
Complete lyrics for every song, including the standalone singles
It’s clean, well laid out, and genuinely useful — especially for an artist where words and imagery mattered just as much as the music.
The Albums & Bonus Tracks
The box includes all the official studio albums:
T-Rex
Electric Warrior
The Slider
Tanx
Zinc Alloy and the Hidden Riders of Tomorrow
Bolan’s Zip Gun
Futuristic Dragon
Dandy in the Underworld
Alongside these are key non-album singles, including:
Ride a White Swan
Hot Love
Children of the Revolution
Solid Gold Easy Action
20th Century Boy
Celebrate Summer
Albums like Tanx are particularly well served, with multiple bonus tracks that highlight just how strong and underrated parts of Bolan’s catalogue can be once you move beyond the obvious classics.
Packaging Thoughts – Listening to the Fans
I really want to acknowledge something important here: Demon Records have listened.
Previous releases in this series attracted criticism for flimsy outer sleeves and awkward disc removal. This T-Rex box shows a clear response to that feedback — sturdier materials, better disc access, and an overall feeling that collectors’ concerns have been taken seriously.
Could it be improved further? Possibly. A few additional photos, picture-sleeve singles, or even a short two-page career overview of Marc Bolan would have added extra context. A front-cover image of Bolan himself — surely one of the most photogenic pop stars of all time — might also have elevated the presentation.
That said, what is here has been done well, and it feels like a genuine upgrade.
Who Is This Set For?
This is an important point.
If you already own all these albums in multiple editions and are hoping for new remasters, unheard outtakes, or archival deep dives, this set probably isn’t aimed at you.
But if:
You’re a fan with only a “Best Of”
You own one or two classic albums
Or you’re discovering T-Rex properly for the first time
Then this box makes an enormous amount of sense.
For around £50–£60, you get:
Every studio album
All the key non-album singles
Complete lyrics
Consistent packaging
Everything in one place
It’s an accessible, respectful way to experience the full arc of Marc Bolan’s studio work — from the era-defining heights of Electric Warrior and The Slider through to the later, often overlooked albums.
Marc Bolan was a singular talent — a writer, performer, and visionary whose influence still echoes through rock, glam, punk, and beyond. This box set doesn’t try to reinvent his catalogue or oversell itself. Instead, it offers something arguably more important: clarity, completeness, and care.
So, thank you to Demon Records — not just for making these albums available again, but for listening to fans and improving the packaging in meaningful ways.
ORDER THE T-REX CD BOX SET HERE
ORDER THE T-REX VINYL SET HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
