T. Rex Album: “Beard of Stars”

"A Beard Of Stars" followed hot on the heels of the extraordinary "Unicorn" and while very similar in lyrics and general musical style to that album, the addition of electric guitar and bass ended up making it the first of two transitional works from the early acoustic hippie purity of Tyrannosaurus Rex to the full-blooded glam rock of T.Rex. It is also an extremely beautiful and moving album with some of Bolan's best-ever melodies and playing; the replacement of Steve Took with the slightly less talented Mickey Finn shows, but not too noticeably.

Bolan's vocals took a slight step forward here for the first time toward comprehensibility, and the addition of electric guitar lines made his songs (which had always seemed like catchy pop/rock songs down deep, underneath the bizarre acoustic trappings) much more recognizably accessible and direct. Nearly every track is a highlight: the gorgeous opening anthem "A Day Laye" (with a stunning lyric and one of the most entrancing instrumental breaks of its time), the forceful rockers "Woodland Bop" and "Pavilions Of Sun" (which mix acoustic and electric guitars to great effect), the classically-tinged gothic "Wind Cheetah", tear-jerking ballads "Great Horse" and "Dove" and the maniacal closing track "Elemental Child"--with guitar work that, while still technically formative, emits a magical aura and intensity which makes it one of the greatest of all time--all contribute to make this the second masterpiece in a row from the man (of which three more--"T.Rex", "Electric Warrior" and "The Slider"--would follow), but one that is curiously overlooked.

It is unforgivable that the early Tyrannosaurus Rex albums have not been remastered and released domestically (the benefits of remastering having been seen on the stunningly loud and clear

From the Fairy Master himself Marc Bolan. Beautiful acoustic melodies permeate throughout the mystical morass as the elvish singing puts you away. Bolan here best capsulizes the whole hippie mythos and delivers it in short fantastical sonnets to love,eternity and spiritualism.

You either love Bolan or not.

He had me at Prelude.

Consider this, Billy joel is in the Rock n Roll hall of fame and Marc Bolan is not. SHUDDER!!! What are those people thinking. The only thing I can come up with is that Bolans music goes right over there little pea brains. Come to think of it, whats so great about being in the Hall of... if the Slider ain't there. Answer: It ain't that great.

Oh yeah the record Beard of stars. Well.... its like all of Bolans material, PURE DAZZLING GENIUS misunderstood except by a lucky minority. ROCK ON IN HEAVEN MARC!! LOVE ALWAYS

I love this album. It is one of my all time favorites. Marc Bolan (Guitar and Vocals) really knew what to put into an album and how to make it good. This album is mostly acoustic with a little electric guitar in it. If you are a fan of Marc this should be in your collection. Marc's talents were extraordinary. Him and Mickey Finn (Bongos) did a great job on this album. If you are wondering wheather or not you are going to get this album, I highly recommend it. Sit back and enjoy the fantastic music. RIP Marc and Mickey. You are missed

"Unicorn" war eine schöne akustische und auch erfolgreiche LP. Diese LP ist ähnlich, neu war damals die elektrische Gitarre und der neue Perussionist Mickey Finn. Die Covergestaltung ist wieder hervorragend, der junge Marc Bolan in seiner ganzen - etwas verschwommenen - Androgynität. Die Texte sind sehr märchenhaft, Anspieltips "Dove" "By the Lights of the Magical Moon". "Lofty Skies" klingt etwas traurig, man glaubt sich als Hörer auf der Suche nach einer alten ursprünglichen Welt à la Tolkien. Kritik oder gar Analyse der Texte ist tabu, nicht erlaubt und würde die mit edlen Gerüchen wie Patchouli oder Myrrhe veredelte Parallelwelt des Künstlers stören.

"Beard of Stars" ist nur eine Instrumentalnummer, sie klingt irgendwie schwermütig (ich fühle mich in die alte Zeit um 1970 zurückversetzt, der Track war sogar auf einem Best-Of album von 1972 mit drauf) und zeigt, daß Marc Felds Gitarrenspiel (obwohl oft kritisiert oder ignoriert) irgendetwas originelles, wehmütiges und charmantes innewohnte.

Anschaffenswertes Sammlerstück des britischen Undergrounds Ende der Sechziger. Auch Hörer, die T.Rex nicht schätzen sollten einmal reinhören. Diese Musik paßt gut in Shops mit Weihrauch, indischen Trommeln und Patchouli-Parfüms. Nicht nur in London, München oder Kopenhagen, auch in den USA! Thomas Richter