T REX - A BEARD OF STARS - 1970 UK REGAL ZONOPHONE w/INSERT
£
40
$
53
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Description
TYRANNOSAURUS REX
A Beard Of Stars
UK REGAL ZONOPHONE ?(SLRZ 1013) FIRST PRESSING (March 1970)
AN EXCELLENT COPY COMPLETE WITH THE ELUSIVE LYRIC INSERT
PRESSED WITH THE FIRST RED/SILVER *STEREO* REGAL ZONOPHONE LABELS
MATRIX: YCARX 65-1U / YCARX 66-3U (ONE OF THE FIRST COPIES EVER MADE)
HOUSED IN THE ORIGINAL FULLY LAMINATED, GARROD AND LOFTHOUSE PRINTED SLEEVE
COMPLETE WITH THE ORIGINAL LYRIC SHEET
Tyrannosaurus Rex's fourth album, A Beard of Stars, was the turning point where Marc Bolan began evolving from an unrepentant hippie into the full-on swaggering rock star he would be within a couple of years, though for those not familiar with his previous work, it still sounds like the work of a man with his mind plugged into the age of lysergic enchantment.
"A Daye Laye," "Pavilions of Sun," and the title tune sure sound like the writings of an agreeably addled flower child, and Bolan's vocals are playfully mannered in a manner that suits his loopy poetry. However, after shunning the corrupting influences of electric guitars on Tyrannosaurus Rex's early recordings, A Beard of Stars finds Bolan plugging in as he turns on, and he sounds like he's clearly enjoying it; the wah-wah solo that closes "Pavilions of Sun" demonstrates how just a little electricity gave this music a new lease on life, as do the guitar and bass overdubs on "Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart," and the lo-fi raunch that dominates "Elemental Child" was the first manifestation of the amped-up proto-boogie that defined Electric Warrior and The Slider.
A Beard of Stars was also the first Tyrannosaurus Rex album after Mickey Finn took over as percussionist from Steve Peregrine-Took, and his more straightforward approach (as well as his occasional basslines) gave this music a far more solid foundation than Peregrine-Took's expressive but frequently unpredictable rhythms, further setting the stage for the group's Grand Transformation.
A Beard of Stars holds on to the charm of Tyrannosaurus Rex's early work while letting Bolan's natural charisma and rock moves finally take hold, and it's a unique and very pleasing entry in their catalogue
Side 1:
Prelude
Daye Laye
Woodland Bop
Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart
Pavilions Of Sun
Organ Blues
By The Light Of A Magical Moon
Wind Cheetah
Side 2:
Beard Of Stars
Great Horse
Dragon's Ear
Lofty Skies
Dove
Elemental Child
LABELS: EXCELLENT+
Very clean, the odd spindle mark when tilted under light but nothing really.
VINYL: NEAR MINT
Barely any surface marks at all. Playtested and I can tell you it sounds amazing. Wonderful crisp tone. Stunning
SLEEVE: EXCELLENT
Glossy cover in lovely condition. The odd crease to laminate towards the spine but this is usual with age. Spine is still nice and legible.
INSERT: NEAR MINT
As crisp, clean, white and fresh as the day it was made
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