Tyrannosaurus Rex (May 16 1969) Unicorn - Album

Unicorn – Album Overview

Tyrannosaurus Rex’s third studio album, Unicorn, arrived in May 1969 as their most intricate and mystical work to date — a dense tapestry of psychedelic folk, mythic storytelling and increasingly ambitious arrangements. Recorded at Trident Studios, the album captured Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took at the height of their acoustic, otherworldly partnership, just before their creative split later that year.

Released on 16 May 1969 by Regal Zonophone (LRZ 1007), it marked the duo’s final collaboration before Took’s departure. Produced by Tony Visconti, the album showcased a richer, more experimental sound, blending Bolan’s poetic lyricism with Took’s percussive inventiveness. It generated strong underground acclaim and became their highest‑charting album to date.

Label: Regal Zonophone

Catalogue Number: LRZ 1007

Format: LP (Mono/Stereo)

Release Date: 16 May 1969 (UK)

Track Listing — UK LP (LRZ 1007)

Side A  

Chariots Of Silk

’Pon A Hill

The Seal Of Seasons

The Throat Of Winter

Catblack (The Wizard’s Hat)

Stones For Avalon

She Was Born To Be My Unicorn

Like A White Star,

Tangled And Far,

Tulip That’s What You Are

Side B  

Warlord Of The Royal Crocodiles

Evenings Of Damask

The Sea Beasts

Iscariot

Nijinsky

Hind

The Pilgrim’s Tale

The Misty Coast Of Albany

Romany Soup

Writing Credits: Marc Bolan — all tracks Production: Tony Visconti

Recorded: 1968–1969, Trident Studios

Key Highlights

• Released 16 May 1969 • No lead singles • UK Chart Peak: #12   • Final album with Steve Peregrin Took • Recorded at Trident Studios • Notable collaborators: Tony Visconti, John Peel

The Story

By 1969, Tyrannosaurus Rex had become fixtures of the UK underground scene, performing at major festivals and cultivating a devoted cult following. Despite modest mainstream chart success, Bolan remained committed to acoustic psychedelic folk even as the wider musical landscape shifted.

Seeking to expand their sound, Bolan and Took entered Trident Studios at the end of 1968. The resulting album, Unicorn, broadened their sonic palette with harmonium, phonofiddle, African drums and layered vocal textures. Tony Visconti’s production added clarity and depth, while John Peel contributed a spoken‑word coda to “Romany Soup.”

The album’s artwork — photographed in John Peel’s kitchen — reflected the duo’s literary and mystical influences, featuring Blake volumes, Children’s Shakespeare and Cottingley Fairies imagery. The gatefold presented a unicorn painting, monochrome in the UK and colourised for the US edition.

Unicorn became their highest‑charting album, reaching #12 in the UK. It was also the final collaboration between Bolan and Took; tensions during their US tour led to Took’s departure later in 1969.

Personnel

Marc Bolan — vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, harmonium, organ, phonofiddle Steve Peregrin Took — drums, bongos, African talking drum, percussion, pixiphone, bass, piano, gong, backing vocals

Tony Visconti — production, piano (A5)

John Peel — narration (B8)

Malcolm Toft — engineering

Rob Cabel — engineering

Pete Sanders — photography

Chart Performance

UK Official Albums Chart   Peak Position: 12 First Chart Date: 1969

Discography Sequence

Prophets, Seers & Sages — 1968

Unicorn — 1969

A Beard of Stars — 1970

Related Material

T.Rex – Glam Slam Guide

My People Were Fair… – Album: Mono/Stereo Jul. 1968

Pewter Suitor – Single: Jan. 1969

Mini‑Timeline

1968 — Recording begins 16 May 1969 — Album released 1969 —

UK chart peak (#12)

Late 1969 — Took departs

UK Variants

LP, Stereo (Red Labels) — Regal Zonophone – SLRZ 1007 — 1969

LP, Stereo (Blue Labels) — Regal Zonophone – SLRZ 1007 — 1969

Issued in gatefold sleeve

Sleeve Notes

Primary sleeve photography by Pete Sanders, shot in John Peel’s kitchen. Back cover includes literary references, Blake volumes and Cottingley Fairies imagery. UK gatefold monochrome; US Blue Thumb edition features colour artwork.

Context & Notes

• Peak psychedelic folk era

• No singles released

• Final Took collaboration

• Reissued in 1972 as part of the Cube Records double‑album with A Beard of Stars (#44 UK)

Sources

Discogs

45cat Wikipedia

Regal Zonophone label documentation Original UK LP sleeve and gatefold notes Chart archives Session and studio notes

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Copyright Notice

All album artwork, photographs and original text excerpts 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.

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