Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 16, 1968) – My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair, but Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows Acetates (Single-Sided Emidisc Mono)
These are single-sided Emidisc recording blank acetates for Tyrannosaurus Rex’s debut album My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair, but Now They’re Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows. The disc shown is Side II, marked in green ink with the artist name, side designation, date “16 4 68”, “MONO”, and “33⅓ rpm”. Manufactured in Great Britain as a recording blank by E.M.I. Tape Limited, Hayes, Middlesex.
RECORDING
Recorded at Advision Studios, Gosfield Street, London.Produced by Tony Visconti. Date associated with these acetates: 16 April 1968.Mono edition on Emidisc single-sided acetates.
STYLE & THEMES
Early Tyrannosaurus Rex material in the duo’s characteristic acoustic psychedelic folk style, featuring Marc Bolan’s distinctive vocal delivery and poetic, mythic imagery alongside Steve Peregrin Took’s percussion and backing.
RELEASE HISTORY
Original acetate pressing dated 16 April 1968. Single-sided Emidisc mono acetates manufactured in Great Britain.
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, guitarSteve Peregrin Took — percussion, backing vocals
PRODUCTION
Produced by Tony Visconti
Recorded at Advision Studios, Gosfield Street, London
Label: Emidisc (recording blank)
Catalogue Number: (acetate / none commercially assigned)
Recorded At: Advision Studios, Gosfield Street, London
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
Tyrannosaurus Rex | My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair, but Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows (Acetates) | Emidisc | UK | — | April 16, 1968 | Single-sided mono acetate |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
Single-sided acetate (Side 1) | — | Hot Rod Mama • Scenescof • Child Star • Strange Orchestras • Chateau in Virginia Waters • Dwarfish Trumpet Blues |
Single-sided acetate (Side 2) | — | Mustang Ford • Afghan Woman • Knight • Graceful Fat Sheba • Weilder of Words • Frowning Atahuallpa (My Inca Love) |
NOTES
• Single-sided Emidisc recording blanks.
• Mono only.
• Handwritten labels in green ink (artist, side, date 16 4 68, mono, 33⅓ rpm).
• Manufactured by E.M.I. Tape Limited, Hayes, Middlesex, England.
• “Keep surface clean – use lightweight pick up” instruction printed on label.
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
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.
Comments