Here’s a title that might be a tongue in cheek swipe at Bolan’s early
preference for long album names.
Breathe in, here it comes, “Last of the Great Underground Groups, the
Definitive Tyrannosaurus Rex, (31 tracks including rare A and B sides)”.
The Underground in this instance isn’t the world’s oldest underground
railway. This was the late sixties
counter culture movement that in the UK took its roots from California
hippydom, English ‘mend and make do-ism’ and foreshadowed the DIY ethic of
seventies UK punks.
The cover artwork sends conflicting messages. The front has an authentic 60’s underground buzz about it. However, the rear cover suffers bad colour
definition and almost unreadable writing.
More like poor pirate copy than modern retro, but don’t let that put you
off. The DIY feel is reinforced with
what would be a twelve-page booklet printed on one fold out page. For a real underground look of course, it
would be badly photocopied as well!
Get inside and in fact this is a thorough going Tyrannosaurus Rex
compilation with all the official rarities present and correct. All four albums are represented in equal
measure with the tracks taken for B or A sides included. We are spared any outtakes, ‘remixes’ or
T.Rex titles.
The heavy paper glossy fold out has copious sleeve notes that refer to
the selections presented in a brisk and effective manner. There is a full Tyrannosaurus Rex
discography and enticing fragments of photo memorabilia are scattered around
the page. The choice of album cuts is
fairly good - nearly all the usual suspects are present. Whether they are ‘Definitive’ or not is a
subjective decision, but personally I’d say there were few omissions.
This collection really scores on the completeness of rare and hard to
find tracks and the accompanying notes by Mark Paytress. It is an ideal choice for the casual
collector seeking Tyrannosaurus Rex hits with a decent supporting cast of album
tracks. And it is just as essential for
the more serious enthusiast because all the rarities are present. In my case I had not heard ‘Do you Remember’
before I bought this album.
On the downside ‘Definitive’ is let down by a rather academic, almost
stern, approach to its subject and a running order that tires more than
inspires over its full seventy five minutes.
Reprogramming is required for this must have CD.
‘Debora’ single
A side,
‘One Inch Rock’, single
A side,
‘Pewter Suitor’, single
A side,
‘King of the Rumbling Spires’, single
A side,
‘Do you Remember’, B
side of ‘King of the Rumbling Spires’,
‘Find a little Wood’, B
side of ‘By the Light of a Magical Moon’,
‘Blessed Wild Apple Girl’, first
released 1971 on ‘Best of T.Rex’,
‘Once Upon the Seas of Abysinnia’, first
released 1971 on ‘Best of T.Rex’.
‘Mustang Ford’, ‘Child Star’, ‘Salamanda Palaganda’, ‘Stacey Grove’,
‘Cat Black (the wizards hat)’, ‘Warlord of the Royal Crocodiles’, ‘By the Light
of a Magical Moon’, ‘Elemental Child’.
‘Strange Orchestras’, ‘She was born to be my Unicorn’, ‘Demon Queen’.