T. Rex (October 1, 1974) – Precious Star Promo Single: US
Released in October 1974 on Casablanca Records as catalogue number NB 810, Precious Star was issued in the United States as a promotional single to support the recently released American album Light Of Love.
Unlike a standard commercial release, the promotional edition featured the same song on both sides of the record, with one side presented in mono and the other in stereo. Both sides were identified as "A" sides and carried "Promotion Not For Sale" designation.
The single formed part of T. Rex's attempt to strengthen their presence in the American market during the Casablanca Records era.
"Precious Star" was recorded at Music Recorders Inc., Hollywood.
The recording was produced by Marc Bolan and was drawn from sessions for the American release Light Of Love.
Mastering was carried out by Allen Zentz, whose initials "AZ" appear in the run-out grooves.
STYLE & THEMES
"Precious Star" represents the polished mid-1970s T. Rex sound, combining glam rock with the smoother production style that characterised Bolan's American recordings.
The track blends melodic hooks with concise songwriting and reflects the increasingly sophisticated production techniques Bolan was employing during the Light Of Love period.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Precious Star (Mono) (2:29) – Promotional radio version prepared for AM radio airplay.
• Precious Star (Stereo) (2:29) – Stereo version presented on the reverse side of the promotional pressing.
• Space Boss (2:49) – Featured as the B-side of the commercial American single release.
RELEASE HISTORY
The promotional single was released during October 1974 in the United States.
Issued by Casablanca Records, it was intended to promote the American LP Light Of Love and was distributed exclusively to radio stations and industry contacts.
Alongside the promotional mono/stereo pressing, Casablanca also issued a standard commercial single pairing "Precious Star" with "Space Boss".
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar, songwriter, producer
PRODUCTION
Producer: Marc Bolan
Studio: Music Recorders Inc., Hollywood
Label: Casablanca Records
Catalogue Number: NB 810
Publishing: Wizard (Delaware) Ltd.
℗ Wizard Artists (Delaware) Ltd.
Manufactured & Distributed By: Casablanca Records, Inc.
NOTES
• Released during October 1974.
• Issued exclusively in the United States.
• Promoted the recently released American album Light Of Love.
• Produced by Marc Bolan.
• Recorded at Music Recorders Inc., Hollywood.
• Both sides of the promotional pressing are labelled as A-sides.
• One side contains a mono mix and the other a stereo mix.
• The commercial release paired "Precious Star" with "Space Boss".
• Manufactured and distributed by Casablanca Records, Inc.
• Represents part of Bolan's continued effort to establish T. Rex in the American market.
• One of the few T. Rex promotional singles issued in dedicated mono/stereo radio format.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Country | Catalogue Number | Format | Track Configuration |
USA | NB 810 | 7", 45 RPM Promo | Precious Star (Mono) / Precious Star (Stereo) |
USA | NB 810 | 7", 45 RPM Commercial Single | Precious Star / Space Boss |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Tracklisting |
Promotional Single | Side 1: Precious Star (Mono) – 2:29 Side 2: Precious Star (Stereo) – 2:29 |
Commercial Single | Side 1: Precious Star – 2:29 Side 2: Space Boss – 2:49 |
RUN-OUT ETCHINGS
Side | Matrix Information |
Promo Side 1 (Mono) | NB-810-A-M-1B / AZ / ∫ |
Promo Side 2 (Stereo) | NB-810-A-S-1B / AZ / ∫ |
MASTERING NOTES
• The "AZ" initials found in the run-out grooves belong to mastering engineer Allen Zentz.
• Allen Zentz mastered the album from which the single was drawn.
SPECIAL PRESSINGS
Variant | Notes |
Promotional Mono/Stereo Edition | Both sides designated as A-sides for radio use |
Commercial Release | Featured "Space Boss" as the B-side |
Promotion Not For Sale Edition | Distributed to radio stations and industry personnel |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 Worlds, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Demon Records, Rockfiles, Official Marc Bolan 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.
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