Legend Lives, The - Marc Bolan

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Great for Bolan fans
Disadvantages:	none

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

From his early days as Marc Feld to his name change to Marc Bolan he had dreamt of being the Superstar he eventually climbed to be, almost since he left the womb. From John's Children ( his first band ) to Tyrannosaurus Rex in the late sixties, he slumbered with the elves and danced with legendary creatures on camomile lawns. He saw his destiny on a silver cloud and sliver clouds don't lie. He was by no means your contemporary Rock Star, he almost lived in the fantasy worlds he had read about in the early years, fixated on dreams and things that couldn't be, but then don't we all a little. He certainly didn't lack in the ego stakes either, but that can be said for pretty much most Rock Stars. This album takes you on Marc's Trip from the soft acoustics of Tyrannosaurus Rex to the much more raunchy electronic tones of T.Rex, from 1969 to 1977 at times the trip is somewhat stormy and others the quietness is a little surreal, but overall it's one heck of a journey and a tale which must be told.

Track Listing

1. Children Of The Revolution
2. Telegram Sam
3. Ride A White Swan
4. Debora
5. 20th Century Boy
6. Salamanda Palaganda
7. Child Star
8. Metal Guru
9. Get It On 10. Solid Gold Easy Action
11. By The Light Of The Magical Moon
12. Jeepster
13. Life's An Elevator
14. Hot Love
15. Ain't No Square With Corkscrew Hair

1. Children of the Revolution

This first track is perhaps one of Bolan's best know works, since it has been used in numerous commercials and is instantly recognisable, although there a re many who know the track they might not be able to link it to Bolan. This is a little ego trip for Bolan and was a mid 70's mega hit for T.Rex, it's very raunchy and very 70's but having said this it has lasted the test of time as many commercials will testify too.

2. Telegram Sam

Not quite a vibrant or as raunchy as Children of the Revolution, more poetic and relaxing if rock can be so. Telegram Sam only reached number 2 in the charts and was stopped from top spot by none other than Benny Hill any one know his famous number one answer at the end. If Telegram Sam had reached number one Bolan would have been the first artist to have three consecutive numbers one's since The Beatles.

3. Ride a White Swan

One of my favourite Bolan tracks ever and I never tire of it. Mystical and captivating Bolan draws you into his mysterious world and lets you chill a bit on the back of a white swan. Many references are made here to druids and olden times to which Marc was particularly drawn.

4. Debora

A jump back to pre T.Rex and Debora is a very early indication of the direction in which Marc was preferring to go, soft acoustics and bongo's, and Marc's impish charm. It's a simple number with not to many complications and a pleasant listen. It is also the track that apparently first introduced John Peel to Marc's music, which led to much more airplay on Radio 1. Again there are several mystical references many of which I have still not been able to decipher.

5. 20th Century Boy

One of Marc's later hits and another used on numerous commercials, a true Bolan masterpiece with a bit of everything , but mainly a bit of self observation where Bolan was just starting to believe in invincibility.

6. Salamanda Palaganda
From the Tyrannasaurus period and is a somewhat strange song with slightly more mystic and legendary tones than usual, it is also strangely captivating in that it draws you into Marc's world for all of it's 2 point something minutes of playing time. More druid chanting and further cryptic references. This is a soft tranquil trip through Bolanland.

7 Child Star

This is a really catchy number about the death of a young composer, and Marc's wonderings as to how his brilliance was achieved. It is perhaps just a shade repetitive but entertaining none the less.

8. Metal Guru

Is a massive jump back to the early mid 70's when Bolan was King. It's fast tempo and simple lyrics about his car, helped romp it to number one and establish Bolan and T.Rex firmly on the Glam rock map.

9. Get it On ( Bang a Gong in the US )

Another very simple yet effective number which is very catchy . It is a typical example of Bolan's infatuation with his new found electronic and raunchier guitar sound. For all that this new idea infatuated Bolan it was his love of acoustics' and the transformation of his composing from this to electric that was rally his new baby.

10. Solid Gold Easy Action

Definitely one of the weakest tracks and I sometimes think it was just rushed out to soon in an effort to try rekindle what was rapidly becoming a flagging career. It did not do too well chart wise and failed to rekindle the spark.

11. By the light of the magical moon

Yet another journey back to pre T.Rex times, and a pleasant little number which although still contains some references, also shows signs of marc's move from acoustic.

12. Jeepster

A sexy vibrant and rocky number which gets you really going, there are however some very strange pronunciations going or should I say word play. Basically a love song Marc is his usual manor manages to involve you in it once again.

13. Life's an Elevator

A track which holds little enjoyment for me and one which is present of a few of his albums, probably just to make up the numbers since I fail to see how it actually merits addition anywhere. I guess there are a few of these just lying about.

14. Hot Love

Marc's greatest hit the one that he shall probably truly be remembered for, simple……………..very simple yet the feet are tapping from the outset. This was Marc's first number one, and one of the most popular songs of the entire 70's.

15. This is Marc having another self look, but it is quite weak and would not have been one of my choices to put on such a compilation. It is one I seldom listen to and not one which even remotely entices me into the world that is Marc Bolan

There are of course many stars who have impacted on our culture and our way of life, but there can be only a few who have actually changed the way we think of music and the way it is composed. Marc has not only influence the 70's generation his impact can still be seen today as many current musicians will admit to having been lead a certain way by listening to the music of such an Icon. If you are a musician and even if you are a huge success then you have achieved , if you have the impact and charisma such as Bolan then you don't simply succeed you change things. This album is a tribute to the work of such a musician and as such deserves it's place.

This is currently available on Amazon for £5.98 but is worth much more to any Bolan fan.

Legends don't die

ANSWER
Ernie ( he drove the fastest milk cart in the west )