Telegram Sam

"Telegram Sam"
Song

Telegram Sam was the third UK number one single for the British rock group T. Rex. It also appeared on their 1972 album The Slider.

Perhaps best known for bringing the term "main man" into popular culture[1], it was number one for two weeks, before being knocked off the top by "Son of My Father" by Chicory Tip (which also kept "American Pie" by Don McLean from reaching #1).

The lyrics feature numerous figures such as Bobby (who's a natural born poet who's just outta sight), Golden Nose Slim (who knows where you been), Jungle Faced Jake (make no mistake) and Purple Pie Pete. It also contains these lines Marc Bolan wrote to refer to himself: Me I funk / but I don't care/ I ain't no square / with my corkscrew hair, a line which industrial rock band KMFDM would borrow for their song, Me I Funk. The riff is similar in character to their massive hit from the previous year, "Get It On". The songs slashing guitar chords and slurred vocal style prefigure punk rock. Telegram Sam wasn't as successful as "Get It On" worldwide, and it only peaked at #67 in the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1980, it was covered by the gothic rock band Bauhaus as a single.