Tyrannosaurus Rex (March 13, 1970) A Beard of Stars Album (UK)

Tyrannosaurus Rex’s fourth studio album A Beard of Stars marked a pivotal transition from acoustic psychedelic folk toward an emerging electric sound, featuring the arrival of Mickey Finn and Marc Bolan’s growing confidence with electric guitar.

RELEASE / PUBLICATION DETAILS Artist: Tyrannosaurus Rex

Title: A Beard of Stars

Date: March 13, 1970

Label: Regal Zonophone Format / Type: Album

Country: United Kingdom Catalogue: SLRZ 1013

THE STORY Recorded at Trident Studios with producer Tony Visconti, A Beard of Stars was the first album to feature Mickey Finn after Steve Peregrin Took’s departure. The record blends the duo’s established mystical folk sound with Bolan’s increasing use of electric guitar, marking a clear step toward the electric glam rock that would define T. Rex.

CONTEXT & NOTES This album represents the final chapter of the Tyrannosaurus Rex era before the name was shortened to T. Rex. It reached #21 on the UK Albums Chart and was praised for its tasteful electric elements. The cover photography by Pete Sanders is iconic of the band’s woodland-mystic aesthetic.

PERSONNEL

• Marc Bolan – lead vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, chord organ, bass

• Mickey Finn – Moroccan clay drums, tabla, finger cymbals, bass, backing vocals

PRODUCTION Produced by: Tony Visconti Engineered by: Malcolm Toft Photography by: Pete Sanders

CHARTS

• UK Albums Chart: Peak #21

• Australia (Kent Music Report): Peak #27

PACKAGING / ARTWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• Pete Sanders photography of Bolan (front) and Finn (back)

• Fully laminated sleeve with lyric insert

• Regal Zonophone label

TRACK LIST 

Side A

• Prelude

• A Day Laye

• The Woodland Bop

• Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart

• Pavilions Of Sun

• Organ Blues

• By The Light Of A Magical Moon

• Wind Cheetah

Side B

• A Beard Of Stars

• Great Horse

• Dragon’s Ear

• Lofty Skies

• Dove

• Elemental Child

WHAT THE SLEEVE SHOWS 

The front cover features a striking black-and-white photograph of Marc Bolan, while the back shows Mickey Finn. The sleeve includes a lyric insert and maintains the band’s mystical, fairy-tale imagery.

RELATED MATERIAL 

See tags at foot of page.

SOURCES Discogs, 45 Worlds, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Regal Zonophone archives

All album artwork, photographs, labels, and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.