T. Rex (2016) – Catch A Bright StarLP/CD
Cockpit Theatre (Music In The Round 1971) was released by Easy Action Records on November 1, 2016. The release presented the long-lost and previously unedited London Weekend Television broadcast recorded at the Cockpit Theatre on December 8, 1971.
Released: 2016
BACKGROUND
Catch A Bright Star is a limited-edition archival live release issued by Easy Action Records in 2016. The album documents T. Rex during June 1972, a period when Marc Bolan and his band stood at the absolute centre of British popular culture.
The recordings originate from Marc Bolan's own quarter-inch tape reels and capture performances from the summer tour that followed the explosive success of Electric Warrior and coincided with the peak of the phenomenon known as "T. Rextasy." By this point, T. Rex had become one of the most successful acts in Britain, drawing huge audiences and generating levels of fan devotion comparable to Beatlemania a decade earlier.
Unlike larger archival collections that present complete concerts, Catch A Bright Star focuses on a concise selection of performances that showcase the group's power as a live act. The result is a snapshot of T. Rex at the precise moment when Marc Bolan's influence on British rock culture was at its greatest.
RECORDING
The recordings featured on Catch A Bright Star were sourced directly from Marc Bolan's own ¼-inch tape reels.
Captured during the June 1972 tour, the performances document the group shortly after the release of The Slider and during a period when T. Rex dominated the singles charts and concert halls throughout Britain.
The importance of these recordings lies not only in their historical value but also in their provenance. Being sourced from Bolan's own tapes gives the release particular significance within the T. Rex archive and provides a direct connection to one of the most celebrated periods of the band's career.
THE T. REXTASY ERA
By the summer of 1972, Marc Bolan had become the leading figure of the glam rock movement.
The success of songs such as Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru had elevated T. Rex from cult favourites to national superstars. Every appearance, interview and concert generated extraordinary media coverage and enthusiastic audience response.
The performances preserved on Catch A Bright Star reflect this remarkable moment. The band sound confident, energetic and entirely comfortable performing before audiences who knew every song.
The atmosphere captured throughout the album serves as a reminder of how powerful T. Rex had become as a live attraction during their commercial peak.
STYLE & PERFORMANCE
The performances reveal a tougher and more expansive approach than the corresponding studio recordings.
While Marc Bolan's studio work was often concise and economical, the live versions allow the band greater freedom. Songs are stretched, guitar passages are expanded and the rhythm section is given more room to drive the performances forward.
Steve Currie's bass playing provides a powerful foundation throughout the recordings, while Bill Legend and Mickey Finn contribute the distinctive rhythmic style that helped define the classic T. Rex sound.
The result is an energetic live document that balances tightly constructed pop songs with the excitement of concert performance.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Jeepster — One of T. Rex's defining recordings and a reliable live highlight that demonstrates the band's ability to transform a familiar hit into a larger concert experience.
• Cadilac — The Tyrannosaurus Rex-era composition becomes a powerful glam-rock showcase, illustrating Bolan's connection to his earlier material.
• Baby Strange — A fast-paced favourite featuring the confidence and swagger that characterised T. Rex at their peak.
• Debora — A link to Marc Bolan's psychedelic folk origins and one of the oldest songs retained in the live repertoire.
• Spaceball Ricochet — One of the most atmospheric pieces in the set and a reminder of the continuing influence of The Slider material in concert.
• Telegram Sam — A major crowd-pleaser and one of the band's most recognisable performances of the early 1970s.
SIGNIFICANCE
Although relatively brief compared with larger live collections, Catch A Bright Star occupies an important place within the T. Rex archive.
The release captures the group during the most commercially successful period of their existence and presents performances sourced from recordings directly associated with Marc Bolan himself.
For collectors and long-time followers, the album provides another valuable glimpse into the reality of T. Rex on stage during the height of their fame, complementing releases such as Born To Boogie and other concert documents from the period.
It also highlights the remarkable strength of the band's live performances, an aspect of T. Rex often overshadowed by their extraordinary chart success.
RELEASE HISTORY
Released in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Easy Action Records.
The album was issued as a limited-edition clear vinyl LP and included a photographic insert.
The release formed part of Easy Action's continuing programme of archival Marc Bolan and T. Rex recordings.
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar
Steve Currie — bass
Bill Legend — drums
Mickey Finn — percussion
PRODUCTION
Label: Easy Action
Catalogue Number: EARS072LP
Format: LP
Country: UK
Edition: Limited Edition Clear Vinyl
Source: Marc Bolan's Original ¼-Inch Tape Reels
NOTES
• Limited-edition clear vinyl release.
• Issued by Easy Action Records in 2016.
• Recordings sourced from Marc Bolan's own ¼-inch tape reels.
• Recorded during the June 1972 tour.
• Documents T. Rex during the height of "T. Rextasy."
• Includes photographic insert.
• Features live recordings from the classic T. Rex line-up.
• One of several Easy Action archival releases devoted to previously unavailable T. Rex recordings.
TAGS
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
T. Rex | Catch A Bright Star | Easy Action | UK | EARS072LP | 2016 | LP, Limited Edition, Clear Vinyl |
TRACKLIST TABLE
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
LP | EARS072LP | Side One • Jeepster • Cadilac • Baby Strange |
LP | EARS072LP | Side Two • Debora • Spaceball Ricochet • Telegram Sam |
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments