T. Rex (March 6, 1971) "The Best of T. Rex" - Disc and Music Echo

Disc and Music Echo review of the budget compilation The Best of T. Rex, assessing its value as a snapshot of the band’s early underground era while noting their rapid rise to mainstream success.

Publication: 

Disc and Music Echo

Date: 

March 6, 1971

Country: United Kingdom Section: 

Album Review

The review opens by noting how quickly T. Rex had shifted from underground favourites to chart contenders. With interest in the band surging, Fly Records issued The Best of T. Rex as a budget‑priced introduction to their earlier work.

The compilation begins with “Debora,” the duo’s breakthrough single, and includes “One Inch Rock” as the only other chart‑recognised track. The rest of the selection is described as subjective — a curated wander through the group’s mystical, acoustic era rather than a definitive anthology.

Two new tracks, “Once Upon the Seas of Abyssinia” and “Elemental Child,” are highlighted for featuring both Mickey Finn and Steve Peregrine Took, bridging the group’s shifting line‑ups and sonic identities. The reviewer recommends “Cat Black (The Wizard’s Hat)” and “Salamanda Palaganda” as essential listening for anyone seeking the band’s early woodland enchantment.

THE STORY	WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Review of Fly Records’ budget compilation The Best of T. Rex (TON 2). The album features early material from “Debora” onward, with “One Inch Rock” as the only other single included. Two new tracks feature Mickey Finn and Steve Peregrin Took. The reviewer describes the compilation as uneven but good value for money.	• Photo of Mickey Finn of T. Rex • Review text discussing the band’s evolution from underground to chart success • Mention of specific tracks like “Debora”, “Cat Black”, and “Salamanda Palaganda”

CONTEXT AND NOTES	RELATED MATERIAL
This March 6, 1971 review appears as T. Rex were transitioning from cult favourites to mainstream stars. With “Ride a White Swan” climbing the charts and “Hot Love” about to be released, the compilation served as a timely introduction to their earlier, more mystical sound for a rapidly expanding audience.	For more similar posts, check out the tags at the bottom of the page.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS	SOURCES
Event: Album review Era: 1971 (Glam breakthrough) Tone: Appreciative, reflective Photography: Portrait of Mickey Finn	• Disc and Music Echo, March 6, 1971

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.