Marc Bolan (August 22,1974) – “The Beginning of Doves” Album Review – Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette
This Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette review from August 1974 examines Marc Bolan’s compilation album The Beginning of Doves, reflecting on his early recordings and distinctive vocal style. The critic questions Bolan’s fading myth while praising the simplicity and charm of these formative tracks.
Publication: Hammersmith and Shepherds Bush Gazette / Hammersmith Post Date: August 22 1974 Country: United Kingdom
The review opens by asking whether “the myth of Marc Bolan has finally been shattered,” before describing The Beginning of Doves as a compilation of Bolan’s earlier, stripped‑down material. The writer notes the absence of “crashing guitars and heavy production,” highlighting instead Bolan’s “thin warbling voice, a guitar, bongos and a few odds and ends.” Bolan’s unusual vocal tone is humorously likened to “an adenoidal sheep being slowly strangled,” yet the critic acknowledges its uniqueness as the defining feature of his sound.
The piece speculates that Steve Peregrin Took may have contributed percussion, and expresses a preference for these early songs — including Jasper C. Debussy, Mustang Ford, and Hippy Gumbo — over Bolan’s later chart hits. The review concludes with irony, calling The Beginning of Doves “the best Bolan album I have heard for a long time,” suggesting that the simplicity of his early work surpasses his more polished glam‑rock productions.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Released in 1974 on Track Records, The Beginning of Doves compiled Bolan’s pre‑T. Rex demos from 1966–67, offering fans a glimpse of his folk‑psychedelic roots.
This review captures the transitional moment when Bolan’s fame was waning after the peak of the glam era, and critics began reassessing his artistry beyond commercial success. The tone blends skepticism with admiration, typical of mid‑1970s British music journalism, reflecting both the cultural fatigue with glam rock and enduring respect for Bolan’s originality.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS Event: Review of Marc Bolan’s album The Beginning of Doves
Era: 1974 – Post‑Glam / Retrospective Compilation EraTone: Wry, reflective, and analytical Photography: None – text‑only review column
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Critical review of Marc Bolan’s The Beginning of Doves album
Commentary on his distinctive voice and early recordings
Comparison between his 1960s material and later glam‑rock hits
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