TYRANNOSAURUS REX - 1968 1st UK Press PROPHETS, SEERS .. Regal Zonophone Insert

	£		46
	$		61

With Bolan singing and playing guitar, and Took on bongos and assorted percussion, the group's approach was simple but effective. Parking themselves somewhere between the Incredible String Band and Donovan, Tyrannosaurus Rex sounded like few other artists at the time, thanks to Bolan's distinct vocal style and his ethereal but catchy songwriting. 'Deboraarobed' kicks off the album with the same basic elements Bolan would employ to get to the top of the U.K. charts. (The song's title would be shortened 'Debora' for a single, which made it to the U.K. Top 40.)

Bolan's semi-mystical lyrics, washed in trippy harmonies and gentle acoustic guitars, are featured prominently in 'Stacey Grove' and 'Wind Quartets.' In a way, they keep the hippie dream alive. "Steve was a hippie, but Marc was playing at it," noted producer Tony Visconti in the liner notes to the album's 2004 remaster. "Most hippies practiced free love and took a lot of drugs, especially acid. Marc abhorred drugs in those days, and he certainly wasn't into free love. He was a mod dressed up as a hippie."

Bolan's quasi-fantasy lyrics in songs like 'Salamanda Palaganda' and 'Juniper Suction' were products of his vivid imagination rather than chemical excursions, which makes them slightly more interesting than the usual Tolkien-inspired ramblings of his contemporaries. "Marc was both prolific and dedicated," said Visconti, "He had a school notebook full of lyrics, and I'd always notice there were more. The group was his life. He thought about nothing else."

The album -- released in October 1968 -- was preceded by the single 'One Inch Rock.' which hints at the bubblegum-pop the group would explore after their shortened name change to T. Rex. It fared better on the charts than 'Debora,' but the album stalled out cold.

Unlike the debut, which hit No. 15 in the U.K., 'Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages' failed to chart at all. Two more Tyrannosaurus Rex albums would follow over the next 15 months. After that, Bolan would change the course of his sound and vision on his way to becoming one of the most influential artists of the '70s.

Vinyl: VG++ to EX.  This has not had much play at all. Audio is sublime and this vinyl sounds out of this world, a majestic album that went unnoticed. The vinyl is very heavy at 147 gr. It has a few paper retraction traces when viewed under a strong light. No marks or hairlines at all. The audio has beautiful separation and there is hardly any background noise. I played this twice in full and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a crime so few people know about this gem!! I was even tempted to keep this as it will be very hard to find this again, it is indeed mega rare now and always has been. Needless to say NO jumps, clicks or ticks. This will be an upgrade for most long time collectors!!

 Sleeve: VG+.  Looked after heavily textured sleeve without damage and just storage wear esp. on the top and bottom edge.  Two small corner creases. A fully legible spine with just light wear. No writing, no marks!! The flipbacks are fully intact. This is so very rare as it was barely sold at all!! 

Lyric Insert: EX. The very rare original insert is still there. It is a very elusive item. Most albums offered for sale do not contain the sheet. It's got one tiny crease.

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