Although issued under their new abbreviated name "T.Rex" as it was at time for release, this is actually the last Tyrannosaurus Rex album, recorded five months earlier while they still were a duo before the name change. The '45 "Ride A White Swan", made at the same sessions, became the first T.Rex issue in October 1970 and the follow-up single "Hot Love", released three months after this album, the first with the new group. Complicated circumstances, but the important thing is - this is a Tyrannosaurus Rex LP and has very little to do with T.Rex glam. Apart from a 8.50 remake of Marc Bolan's 1965 '45 A-side "The Wizard" (Decca F.12288) the songwriting is simple with short catchy tunes carried by sparse arrangements and lyrics having pastoral or fairytale motives. A lot like the previous "Beard Of Stars" album, but a few things pointing forward to the band's next incarnation, like some of the cuts having orchestral arragements and some actual drums instead of bongos or other assorted rythm instruments. It was also the first collaboration with former Turtles vocalists Mark Volman and Howard Keyland, who would be a big part of the future group's special sound. With exception of "The Wizard" and "The Children Of Rarn" portions opening and closing the album all tracks are around two minutes long and more like odd pieces of candy than heavy meals. Bizarrely sweet and impossible to resist. First US on Reprise (RS 6440) replaced pt. 2 of "Children Of Rarn" with "Ride A White Swan". Premiere UK had label as shown here, heavy vinyl and semi-gatefold sleeve. (RÄX*) (FXÖ*)
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