Marc Bolan and T Rex / “T Rex” and “A Beard Of Stars” deluxe editions
Universal Music are putting out two T Rex deluxe editions in March as companion releases to Demon Music’s Tanx and Zinc Alloy deluxe set.
A Beard Of Stars (1970) is the last album issued under the Tyrannosaurus Rex moniker and the new two-CD reissue features an enormous amount of additional material, including 16 previously unreleased demos and alternates on disc two. In total the original 14-track album is transformed into a mammoth 47 track exploration of the original material with John Peel sessions appended to the first disc.
By the time of the eponymous T Rex album (released in December 1970), the band’s name had shrunk but they had become big news thanks to the chart success of Ride A White Swan (recorded during the sessions but not included on the album outside the US). That track features on the new two-CD deluxe edition twice, once in its standard A-side form, and then as a previously unreleased version recorded for a Top Of The Pops performance. In total 13 unreleased tracks are included (largely alternate takes) as well as further BBC Radio One sessions.
Both albums will also be released as 2LP vinyl sets which feature a selection of the bonus tracks on sides three and four. Single CD editions will also be available.
A Beard Of Stars and T Rex are both released on 3 March 2014.
T Rex – 2CD Deluxe
T Rex – Vinyl 2LP reissue
T Rex – single disc reissue (no bonus tracks except Ride A White Swan)
A Beard Of Stars – 2CD Deluxe
A Beard Of Stars – 2LP vinyl reissue
A Beard Of Stars – single CD reissue (no bonus tracks)
Track listings
T Rex 2CD deluxe
Disc 1
- 1. The Children of Rarn ( 0:53 )
- 2. Jewel ( 2:46 )
- 3. The Visit ( 1:55 )
- 4. Childe ( 1:36 )
- 5. The Time of Love Is Now ( 2:42 )
- 6. Diamond Meadows ( 1:58 )
- 7. Root Of Star ( 2:31 )
- 8. Beltane Walk ( 2:26 )
- 9. Is It Love ? ( 2:34 )
- 10. One Inch Rock ( 2:26 )
- 11. Summer Deep ( 1:43 )
- 12. Seagull Woman ( 2:18 )
- 13. Suneye ( 2:06)
- 14. The Wizard ( 8:50 )
- 15. The Children of Rarn ( 0:36 )
- 16. Ride A White Swan : Single A – Side ( 2:30 )
- 17. Summertime Blues : Single B – Side ( 2:42 )
- 18. Jewel ( 3:30 ) – BBC Radio One – Top Gear – TX : 13/11/1970
- 19. Woodland Bop Medley – BBC Radio One – In Concert – TX : 20/12/1970
- 20. Beltane Walk – Backing Track ( 2:23 ) – BBC Radio 1 Club – TX : 29/3/1971
- 21. Summertime Blues ( 3:30 ) BBC Radio One – DLT Show – TX : 9/12/1970
Disc 2
- 1. The Children of Rarn – Suite ( 15:21 )
- 2. Jewel – Alternate Take ( 3:34 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 3. The Visit – Alternate Take ( 2:14 )
- 4. The Time of Love Is Now – Alternate Take ( 2:45 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 5. Diamond Meadows – Alternate Take ( 2:09 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 6. Root Of Star – Alternate Take ( 2:34 )
- 7. Beltane Walk – Alternate Take ( 2:23 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 8. Is It Love ? – Alternate Take ( 2:36 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 9. One Inch Rock – Alternate Take ( 2:23 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 10. Summer Deep – Alternate Take ( 1:47 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 11. Seagull Woman – Alternate Take ( 2:23 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 12. Suneye ¬ – Alternate Take ( 2:01 )
- 13. The Wizard – Alternate Take ( 8:40 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 14. The Children of Rarn – Alternate Take¬ ( 0:52 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 15. Ride A White Swan ( 2:35 ) – TOTP – TX 10/11/1970 – Previously Unreleased
- 16. Dark Lipped Woman ( 1:29 ) Home Demo – Previously Unreleased
- 17. Deep Summer – Alternate Take ( 4:42 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 18. Meadows of the Sea ( 4:22 ) – Electric Demo
T Rex 2LP edition
Side 1
- 1. The Children of Rarn ( 0:53 )
- 2. Jewel ( 2:46 )
- 3. The Visit ( 1:55 )
- 4. Childe ( 1:36 )
- 5. The Time of Love Is Now ( 2:42 )
- 6. Diamond Meadows ( 1:58 )
- 7. Root Of Star ( 2:31 )
- 8. Beltane Walk ( 2:26 )
Side 2
- 1. Is It Love ? ( 2:34 )
- 2. One Inch Rock ( 2:26 )
- 3. Summer Deep ( 1:43 )
- 4. Seagull Woman ( 2:18 )
- 5. Suneye ( 2:06)
- 6. The Wizard ( 8:50 )
- 7. The Children of Rarn ( 0:36 )
Side 3
- 1. The Children of Rarn – Take 6 ( 1:01)
- 2. Jewel – Alternate Take ( 3:35 )
- 3. The Visit – Alternate Take ( 1:44 )
- 4. The Time Of Love Is Now – Alternate Take ( 2:45 )
- 5. Diamond Meadows – Alternate Take ( 2:09 )
- 6. Beltane Walk – Alternate Take ( 2:23 )
- 7. Summertime Blues – B – side ( 2:42 )
Side 4
- 1. One Inch Rock – Alternate Take ( 2:33 )
- 2. Summer Deep – Alternate Take ( 1:47 )
- 3. Seagull Woman – Alternate Take ( 2:23 )
- 4. Suneye -BBC Top Gear performance 26/10/1970 ( 2:00 )
- 5. Deep Summer – Alternate Take ( 4:42 )
- 6. Dark Lipped Woman ( 1:29 )
- 7. Is It Love ? – Alternate Take ( 2:39 )
A Beard Of Stars 2CD Deluxe
Disc: 1
- 1. Prelude ( 1:04 )
- 2. A Day Laye ( 1:59 )
- 3. Woodland Bop ( 1:39 )
- 4. Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart ( 2:45 )
- 5. Pavilions Of Sun ( 2:51 )
- 6. Organ Blues ( 2:46 )
- 7. By The Light Of A Magical Moon ( 2:51 )
- 8. Wind Cheetah ( 2:38 )
- 9. A Beard of Stars ( 1:37 )
- 10. Great Horse ( 1:45 )
- 11. Dragon’s Ear ( 2:35 )
- 12. Lofty Skies ( 2:54 )
- 13. Dove ( 2:05 )
- 14. Elemental Child ( 5:34 )
- 15. Find A Little Wood ( 2:05 ) – Single B – side
- 16. Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart ( 2:43 ) BBC Radio One – John Peel’s Top Gear Show 17/11/1969
- 17. Pavilions Of Sun ( 2:52 ) BBC Radio One – John Peel’s Top Gear Show 17/11/1969
- 18. A Day Laye ( 2:01 ) BBC Radio One – John Peel’s Top Gear Show 17/11/1969
- 19. By The Light Of A Magical Moon ( 2:47 ) BBC Radio One – John Peel’s Top Gear Show 17/11/1969
- 20. Wind Cheetah ( 2:33 ) BBC Radio One – John Peel’s Top Gear Show 17/11/1969
Disc 2
- 1. Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart – Home Demo Take # 1 ( 2:34 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 2. Organ Blues – Home Demo Take # 1 ( 2:52 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 3. A Day Laye – Home Demo Take # 1 ( 1:59 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 4. Lofty Skies – Alternate Home Demo ( 0:51 )
- 5. Organ Blues – Home Demo Take # 2 ( 1:35 )
- 6. Black Cat Sittin’ On My Shoulder – Home Demo Take # 1 ( 1:32 )
- 7. Instrumental – Guitar and Organ – Home Demo ( 1:23 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 8. Pavilions of the Sun – Home Demo # 1 ( 2:33 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 9. I Got The Blues So Bad – Home Demo ( 1:14 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 10. By The Light Of A Magical Moon – Home Demo ( 3:00 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 11. Find A Little Wood – Home Demo ( 2:05 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 12. Great Horse – Home Demo ( 2:04 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 13. Wind Cheetah – Home Demo ( 1:38 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 14. Pavilions of the Sun – Home Demo Take # 2 ( 2:31 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 15. Elemental Child – Home Demo ( 2:55 )
- 16. Black Cat Sittin’ On My Shoulder – Home Demo Take # 2 ( 1:35)
- 17. Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart – Home Demo # 2
- 18. Oh Baby – Home Demo ( 2:40 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 19. Prelude – Alternate Take # 1 ( 1.15 )
- 20. Dove – Alternate Take # 5 ( 2:08 )
- 21. Dragon’s Ear – Parts 1 & 2 – Take 2 ( 2:39 )
- 22. A Beard Of Stars – Alternate Take # 1 ( 1:44 )
- 23. Organ Blues – Alternate Take # 7 ( 3:40 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 24. Lofty Skies – Alternate Take # 1 ( 2:52 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 25. By The Light Of A Magical Moon – Instrumental Take #1 ( 2:51 ) – Previously Unreleased
- 26. Elemental Child – Part 1 – Alternate Take # 1 ( 2:23 )
- 27. Elemental Child – Part 2 – Alternate Take # 10 ( 3:30 ) – Previously Unreleased
14 Comments
14 thoughts on “Marc Bolan and T Rex / “T Rex” and “A Beard Of Stars” deluxe editions”
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The T.Rex and BOS re-issues have at least been released with bonus tracks and tracks/versions never before released. I (on behalf of Thunderwing Prods) was approached by Universal to supply some of the bonus tracks, and I was happy to do so. We have also supplied a couple of tracks that will be appearing on the ‘Electric Sevens Vol.2’ vinyl box set which will be released on record store day on 19th April. The packaging is very cool indeed and compliments Vol.1 very well.
Great double vinyl brown album of T.Rex arrived today; sounds great, and the alternate takes are revealing and full of energy, but there’s a sticker on the cover above the picture that’s awful and really spoils the album effect. Get rid of it please, it’s really not needed and looks cheap, which the timeless music isn’t.
Unsure whether to get these monday especially bos as i’ve been playing my 2004 expanded version which is jammed packed & i’m happy with that and i probably have the bbc tracks on bolan at the beeb.
I hope they do the same for Unicorn,Prophets Seers and Sages and My People Were Fair….
I have the ‘Bolan At The BBC’ 6 x CD box set and I can see that some of the BBC bonus tracks e.g. from BOS Top Gear sessions seem to duplicate those listed above but it’s a bit awkward to see if they all are. Not sure if I need these or not for that reason
Jack C may have posted on the wrong item, Beatles perhaps ?
Might be worth buying the 7” seperately from the Universal Music site & grabbing the double CDs/Vinyl from Amazon as a big price difference at the moment. Cheers everyone.
About the Seamonsters box, here’s what I found on another blog: “They are referring to The Wedding Present: Seamonsters reissue….God knows how they have got it mixed up with T Rex”.
ABOUT BEATLES US ALBUMS BOX: Why on Earth anyone would want these clearly inferior versions from the USA is beyond me. Capitol Records gutted everything up to Pepper as a cash grab at the expense of the fans. Now it’s being done again with this collection. How gullible are some people? Well, wait till they release all of these again but this time with all black & white covers! Bet some fools would be exited about that too.
Sorry????
The universal music site is also offering two limited edition 7″ singles to go with the deluxe cds.
I’m wondering what the Seamonsters Deluxe (3 cd/1 DVD) is which is on pre-order on Amazon, to be released in April….
I’m in for sure
Woohoo! The track listings sound very promising, especially the BOS demos!