Tyrannosaurus Rex (July 5, 1968) My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... LP (Mono / Stereo)

Tyrannosaurus Rex (July 5, 1968) My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows LP (Mono / Stereo)

RELEASE / PUBLICATION DETAILS Artist: Tyrannosaurus Rex

Title: My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows

Date: July 5, 1968

Label: Regal Zonophone Format / Type: LP Vinyl Album (Mono & Stereo editions)

Country: United Kingdom

Catalogue:

• Stereo: SLRZ 1003

• Mono: LRZ 1003

TRACK LIST 

Side A

• Hot Rod Mama

• Scenescof

• Child Star

• Strange Orchestras

• Chateau in Virginia Waters

• Dwarfish Trumpet Blues

Side B

• Mustang Ford

• Afghan Woman

• Knight

• Graceful Fat Sheba

• Weilder of Words

• Frowning Atahualpa (My Inca Love)

THE STORY Recorded in early April 1968 at Advision Studios over just four days, this album marked the recording debut of the acoustic duo Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took. Produced by Tony Visconti, it features Bolan’s poetic, fantasy-filled lyrics and Took’s eclectic percussion (bongos, pixiphone, Chinese gong). The album’s long title and George Underwood’s striking cover art perfectly encapsulated the psychedelic counterculture of the era.

PACKAGING / ARTWORK HIGHLIGHTS

• George Underwood’s vivid fantasy illustration on the front cover

• Laminated flipback sleeve with lyric insert

• Red Regal Zonophone labels (Mono & Stereo variants)

WHAT THE SLEEVE SHOWS The front cover displays a colorful, intricate illustration by George Underwood featuring mythical figures and woodland imagery. The back cover includes John Peel’s poetic liner notes about the band. The labels are classic red Regal Zonophone design, with both mono (LRZ 1003) and stereo (SLRZ 1003) pressings existing.

CONTEXT & NOTES Released just months after Bolan left John’s Children, the album reached #15 on the UK Albums Chart and earned strong praise in the underground press. John Peel contributed spoken word on the closing track (one of the earliest Hare Krishna references in British pop) and wrote liner notes. The record is widely regarded as one of the longest-titled albums to chart in the UK and remains a cult classic of British psychedelic folk.

PERSONNEL

• Marc Bolan – vocals, guitar

• Steve Peregrin Took – vocals, bongos, Chinese gong, pixiphone, assorted percussion

• John Peel – spoken word (closing track)

PRODUCTION Produced by: Tony Visconti Engineered by: Gerald Chevin Artwork by: George Underwood

CHARTS

• UK Albums Chart: Peak #15 (9 weeks on chart)

RELATED MATERIAL See tags at foot of page.

SOURCES Discogs, 45 Worlds, Wikipedia,

Regal Zonophone, BBC Official Charts

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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.