The Definitive Tyrannosaurus Rex

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Before they spawned the glam-rock movement, T. Rex was a quixotic acoustic duo popular on London's underground circuit. Billed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Marc Bolan and percussionist Steve Peregrine-Took (later replaced by Mickey Finn) supported their odd, quasi-mystical songs with spare acoustic guitar and bongo arrangements, fleshed out in the studio by producer Tony Visconti. Drawing from the group's four pre-T. Rex records, including Unicorn and Beard of Stars, Definitive features "Debora," "Salamanda Palaganda," "King of the Rumbling Spires," and other cult classics. Boasting comprehensive liner notes by Bolan biographer Mark Paytress and an awesome 31 tracks, including rare singles, this smartly conceived set truly lives up to its name, reinvigorating a legacy all too often ignored in favor of the group's subsequent superstar records. --James Rotondi

The Definitive Tyrannosaurus Rex
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Pretty Amazing!
  • Essential Bolan
  • BOLAN RULES!
  • The next best thing is to own them all...
 The Definitive Tyrannosaurus Rex
T. Rex
Manufacturer: Sequel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Proto PunkProto Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Pop | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Hard RockHard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
Album-Oriented Rock (AOR)Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
GlamGlam | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000074AU
Release Date: 1999-06-01

Tracks:

  1. Debora
  2. Child Star
  3. Wielder of Words
  4. Scenes Of
  5. Mustang Ford
  6. Chateau in Virginia Waters
  7. One Inch Rock
  8. Salamanda Palaganda
  9. Conesuela
  10. Stacey Grove
  11. Friends
  12. Eastern Spell
  13. Juniper Suction
  14. Pewter Suitor
  15. Warlord of the Royal Crocodiles
  16. Cat Black (The Wizard's Hat)
  17. Chariots of Silk
  18. Seal of Seasons
  19. Iscariot
  20. Misty Coast of Albany
  21. King of the Rumbling Spires
  22. Do You Remember
  23. Once upon the Seas of Abyssinia
  24. Blessed Wild Apple Girl
  25. By the Light of a Magical Moon
  26. Find a Little Wood
  27. Day Laye
  28. Pavilions of Sun
  29. Great Horse
  30. Lofty Skies
  31. Elemental Child

Amazon.com

Before they spawned the glam-rock movement, T. Rex was a quixotic acoustic duo popular on London's underground circuit. Billed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, Marc Bolan and percussionist Steve Peregrine-Took (later replaced by Mickey Finn) supported their odd, quasi-mystical songs with spare acoustic guitar and bongo arrangements, fleshed out in the studio by producer Tony Visconti. Drawing from the group's four pre-T. Rex records, including Unicorn and Beard of Stars, Definitive features "Debora," "Salamanda Palaganda," "King of the Rumbling Spires," and other cult classics. Boasting comprehensive liner notes by Bolan biographer Mark Paytress and an awesome 31 tracks, including rare singles, this smartly conceived set truly lives up to its name, reinvigorating a legacy all too often ignored in favor of the group's subsequent superstar records. --James Rotondi

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Pretty Amazing!.......2003-03-29

It's pretty amazing what Marc Bolan did with so little! In the early days, all he had was his voice, a rudimentary acoustic guitar and bongos, but he made it work. Some of the lyrics don't even make any sense, but it works! It's obvious that Marc didn't put any money into the production of these recordings which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I heard that he was pretty much broke at that time of his life, but he used everything he had. If anyone else would have wrote these songs, they would have been laughed at for sure! Later in this period, (around track #20) he added electric guitar, bass and an occasional keyboard....still very minimal instrumentation, no drums, just bongos and it all seems to make sense somehow. You can really hear the music progressing towards his more familiar, "Electric Warrior" period, Listen to "Elemental Child" for example. All in all, this is a very fun disc to listen to.....even if you're not an acoustic hippy from the sixties!

5 out of 5 stars Essential Bolan.......2002-02-14

I bought this collection in Croydon a few years back, and I still listen to it at least once a month. Contains all the early highlights, plus rare singles like "King of the Rumbling Spires" (electric-glam Bolan before T.Rex). "Debora" through "Elemental Child". What more do you need?

5 out of 5 stars BOLAN RULES!.......1999-07-19

& this is the collection to prove it on 1 cd! THE most prolific; THE most profound & fun; THE genius with his paw smack dab on the muse's Kit; THE great Jewish Messiah of rock-pop-magic-mystic-troubadouric-gushing-cosmic-blessed-wild impish laughter! -That's Marc Bolan & this collection culls his output at its freshest, early psyche-pop-folk incarnation, which, to these ears, holds up best of all...There's just enough nice production & playful exotic instrumentation; Bolan's mythic-sylvan Blakean poetic persona is already mature...there's such a sense of a Horn O'Plenty overflowing with great melodies, original visions, 'magical' energy, & genuine fun/genius present in the songs here that I'm moved to SHOUT! to anyone reading this to BUY THIS CD! At the price I see listed it's a great deal for a hard-to-find item (I got mine in NYCity several years ago & paid several $ more than this--haven't seen it since)... New/younger listeners could get lost in the T. Rex section (get TANX / ELECTRIC WARRIOR / SLIDER) especially among the slew of 'bootleg/demo/barrel scrapings' that have come out, which do contain some gems due to the inherent Bolan greatness!, but... this product DEFINITIVE TYRANNOSAURUS REX is a true 31 song masterpiece!!! RIP, MB! Your Legacy Shines On!

5 out of 5 stars The next best thing is to own them all..........1999-03-21

This is the best travelling kit. You'll have all the best Tyrannosaurus Rex songs, including some that are not on the original albums, on one single CD at the best price possible. It is the perfect compromise for travelling as you won't have to carry MY PEOPLE WERE FAIR, PROPHETS SEERS & SAGES, UNICORN and BEARD OF STARS. Imagine: 31 songs without having to change CD in your player! But don't be cheap! Owning this marvelous CD doesn't exempt you of the necessity to buy all Tyrannosaurus Rex albums as well. And then complete your collection with the T.Rex classics, from T.REX (Brown album) to DANDY IN THE UNDERWORLD. That is, if you really want your musical life to be complete...

Music:

  1. Think Tank [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics] [Limited Edition]
  2. {Though} The Moon Moves Faster {Than Us}
  3. Time Wants a Skeleton
  4. Totally 2 Tone [Import]
  5. Uncle Joe [CD-single]
  6. Viva! [Import] [Limited Edition] [Live] [Original recording remastered]
  7. Your Departure Left Me The Shelterless Victim of a Major Disaster (EP)
  8. Zero Ep
  9. 10
  10. 2'sday

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