Marc Bolan - "Pictures of Purple People" Vinyl, LP, Album, Remastered, 2019 (Easy Action)

A fascinating album of demos by a young Marc Bolan that shows him off as being very influenced by Bob Dylan, and then quickly he turns his obsessions to American cars and girls.  A road map that leads to T Rex.  The great majority of the songs here are just Marc with acoustic guitar, and it is also interesting to see how he used his voice in the early stages of his career.  For the T Rex obsessive, and those who want to study how Dylan influenced many artists. 

V.A. - "The Freakbeat Scene" 2 x Vinyl, LP, Compilation, 2019 (Decca)

I'm a firm believer in book publishers as well as record labels.  If the label has some history or vision, I will buy that record.  Decca, which is enormous, always been of some interest to me.  Especially anything released in the 1960s and British.   Decca this year and the previous 12 months have been releasing these compilations focusing on the Mod and Psychedelic British 45 rpm singles, that if one tries to trace down would be very expensive and time-consuming.  So, the Decca compilations are very good and overall excellent for the pocketbook.  "The Freakbeat Scene is 25 songs by various bands, that mostly failed in getting that hit.  This is a collection of songs that didn't even get close to getting airplay in the UK, or on the charts.

Still, genius is in the details, and there is a lot of brilliant series of moments on this double-album.  Some are so-so, but that only adds to the excitement when you hear an incredible song.  Freakbeat by definition is the crazy part of The Who when their guitar goes all feedback, Keith Moon is slashing at the drum cymbals, and distorted bass.  On the other hand, The Who is not on this compilation, but we do have The Small Faces, who are always magnificent.  Beyond that, everyone here is very obscure.   Which is not to say that their recording deserves a wider (and wilder) audience, but fate is sometimes someone asleep at the wheel or the entrance to success.

The genius track here is by a band called The Fairytale, and it's "Run & Hide."  A very ugly song lyric about a girl who is 'bad' and the male singer sounds psychotic, still a remarkable record.  I have their other three songs in other collections and formats since they only released two 45 rpm singles.  Then they disappeared.   In fact, most of the bands here disappeared, but there were some successes in later life, for instance, Chris Squire and Peter Banks who were members of Yes, but here they're The Syn.  And although there is no clue to the future sound of Yes, still an excellent record. Even a young Marc Bolan has a song here, but one would not recognize the Bolan vocal, until the chorus where you can hear that vibrato in his voice.

The mystery track here is by Shel Naylor, which one suspects is Dave Davies of the Kinks, with Jimmy Page on guitar.  Naylor himself is a phantom.  In fact, this album is full of ghosts and spirits.  "Come on Back" by Paul & Ritchie & The Cryin' Shames is a Joe Meek production.  So that's always good.   It's excellent that Decca, such a mega-label, still had the nerve to release somewhat weird records.

T. Rex -"T. Rex" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 1970/2016 (Reprise Records)

Where have I been for the last 40 or so years? I purchased "Electric Warrior" and "The Slider" numerous times over the years, yet, I somehow missed "T. Rex."   I just recently purchased it, and this album is incredible.   At the moment it's my favorite T. Rex album, and to hear something new from a band that I thought I knew... And to be honest I don't know the recordings Bolan made with Steve Took - so that's another avenue I need to explore.  But now...  What impresses me about the album is the songwriting is superb, as well as the performance.  The minimal sound of Bolan's guitar work, but with the added textures from Tony Visconti's production, is a great combination.   In fact, I think this may be Visconti's best work in the studio, sound wise.  Sun Records is surely the model to study from, and Bolan, Mickey Finn, and Visconti studied very well under the beauty of that Memphis label.   Also noted the king of the big sound (for Queen among others) Roy Thomas Baker was the engineer.  

Also, as far as I know, I don't think there are any drums on this album, just percussion work from Finn.   Yet, the sound is full, and Visconti's tasteful use of strings here and there is a loving campanion to Bolan's croon.   If like me, and you overlooked this album, get it now.  Bolan is the real deal. 

Twink - "Think Pink" Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono, Reissue, 2017/1970 (Noiseagonymayhem Records)

One of the most insane or demented albums released in 1970.  Twink's very presence in the late 1960s to the 1970s is a badge of honor for pre-punk rock that lived on the outskirts of one's sensibility.  As I listen to this album, and if you look at my face, it looks like I'm trying to answer a question that I have no understanding whatsoever.  "Think Pink" is an album of mayhem and I suspect an exotic amount of drugs that went into the kitchen that made this aural meal.  Twink is a drummer who eventually joined The Pink Fairies and The Pretty Things.  The other musicians that make a creative mark on this album are Paul Rudolph, who became a member of The Pink Fairies as well as ending up backing up Eno on his first solo album and live tour.  The other musician is Steve Took, who was once a member of Marc Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex (T Rex).  Together with Twink's girlfriend 'Silver' they made this anarchy in the studio into an interesting album. 

The most conventional songs are "Suicide" and "The Sparrow is a Sign."  Overall "Think Pink" can be the chosen iconic album for Psych-rock of that era.  In spots, it reminds me of the French band Red Noise, featuring the talents of Patrick Vian, Boris Vian's son.   While that band is Frank Zappa influenced, "Think Pink" is truly a unique album where I feel the major influence was Twink's everyday life at the time.  I can't imagine a serious record collector not having this album in their collection. They don't have to like or enjoy it, but it is a representation of a life that one is not exposed to anymore.  At least on that level that is Twink and his friends' sense of abandonment and fun. 

T. Rex - "T. Rextasy: The Best Of T. Rex, 1970-1973" (Warner Brothers) Vinyl 1985

A compilation or even a best of an album is making soup.  The ingredients have to be there, but you have to taste it to make sure that all the herbs and spices work together to give you that 'ah-ha' moment.  "T. Rextasy" for me, is the perfect meal that is T. Rex.   My two favorite T. Rex albums are "Electric Warrior" and "The Slider."  As his work goes, and he made a lot more albums before and after those - give the classic T. Rex sound and aesthetic.  What makes "T. Rextasy" so good is that it's an album of great pieces, and selected very well for a one-disc record.  There are the hits of course, but more important the obscure songs are brought out to the listener.  Which means b-sides to singles and great tunes like "Solid Gold Easy Action" and Marc Bolan's version of "Summertime Blues."

Bolan was never a consistent record maker, especially after Tony Visconti left the fold, but his genius was always right on the button.   The Visconti touch is very much part of the recordings greatness, but Bolan had that 'it' quality that I think his material would have been great no matter who recorded him.   His love of 1950s rock, and mixed in with the glam sensibility is the perfect marriage.   Also, Bolan's ridiculous lyrics are incredible literature.   Again, like a great chef, he mixed Tolkien fairy tales with cars and an Eddie Cochran attitude.  A winning recipe of superb college making and aural pleasure.