TYRANNOSAURUS REX/A BEARD OF STARS SLRZ 1013 (-70) UK

A transition album, somewhere between the fairy-tale psych of the earlier days and later T.Rex pop/rock fame. It was the last as "Tyrannosaurus Rex" and the first with Bolans new companion Micky Finn. Steve Peregrin Took had left in the middle of recordings after finishing some of the tracks - those were now re-made and overdubbed with Finn. Just before Bolan had changed from acoustic to electric guitar. Clearly he didn't master that transition yet which shows on a few of the tracks, sadly also including one of his best writings and vocal efforts ever - "Elemental Child" - pure magic...if it hadn't ended with one of the most disturbing guitar parts ever recorded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qU70uQRomk . But that's just a few out of fourteen. The other songs have the familiar approach - wierd vocals and incomprehensible lyrics to sparse arrangements with a potted atmosphere. Some are a little more pop orientated, but the feeling is a lot like the previous "Unicorn" LP. Favorite tracks - "Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart", "Wind Cheetah" and "Dove". First US on Blue Thumb (BTS 18) came with fold/out cover. Premiere UK had label as shown here, fully laminated cover and lyric/picture insert. (RÄX*)(RÄZ*)