📰 A Beard of Stars – Album Review: Apr. 1970
- Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Apr 15, 1970
- 2 min read
A brief, cool‑toned local‑press snapshot capturing Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn at the moment their sound was shifting — mystical, acoustic, and increasingly electric — as the ’60s gave way to something stranger and heavier.
📰 Publication Details
Publication: Birmingham Evening Mail
Date: April 15, 1970
Country: United Kingdom
Format: Album Review
📰 What the Clipping Shows
A short review of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s A Beard of Stars, printed in a compact news‑column layout. The typography is plain and functional, typical of regional newspapers. The reviewer notes the duo — Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn — and offers a concise judgement on the album’s sound and appeal.
This clipping matters because it documents early press reaction to the final Tyrannosaurus Rex album before the transformation into T. Rex later that same year.
📰 The Story Behind It
In spring 1970, Tyrannosaurus Rex were in transition. The review reflects a moment when their mystical folk‑rock was beginning to harden into something more rhythmic and electric, but still rooted in the duo’s earlier, more esoteric style.
“Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn with some nice sounds…”
The tone of the review is restrained, suggesting that while the album contains appealing textures, it may not convert listeners who aren’t already invested in the band’s heavier, more idiosyncratic approach.
“…but it’s rather tedious unless you are an avid supporter for the more heavy type of pop.”
This small regional notice captures the mixed critical reception that often accompanied Bolan’s pre‑glam work — admired by devotees, puzzling to casual listeners, and poised on the edge of a major stylistic shift.
📰 Quotes from the Article
“Marc Bolan and Mickey Finn with some nice sounds…”
“…but it’s rather tedious unless you are an avid supporter for the more heavy type of pop.”
📰 Related Material
• Melody Maker – Tyrannosaurus Rex Coverage – 1970
• Record Mirror – Early T. Rex Reviews
• Chronicle Entry – A Beard of Stars (1970)
Additional material connected to this entry is listed in the tag index at the foot of the page.
Short Birmingham Evening Mail review of A Beard of Stars, April 15, 1970.
📰 Closing Notes
This review preserves a fleeting moment just before Marc Bolan’s transformation into a chart‑dominating glam icon — a final glimpse of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s twilight era, captured in the understated language of a local newspaper.
📝 Copyright Notice
All newspaper scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments