Customer Reviews

Whole Zinc of Finches (W/Dvd)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have to admit I was disappointed. For as many discs as this box set holds, I didn't find much I didn't already own. Then there is the horrific sound quality. There was no attempt to re-master the demos on the CD. Much of it is unlistenable. I am a huge Marc Bolan fan and own well over 20 of his various works. My advice would be to pass on this one though.

These are demos; tons and tons of demos. Some available on other comps , some not.....Bolan must have had a tape recorder going every moment of his life , with all the stuff that is out there. Hey , look , if you can get over the sound , you will find a veritable treasure-trove of rarities here. No worse than the bootleg vinyls of LP days. Plus it gives you one more opportunity to hear a sorely-missed performer. Truck on (tyke) !

An excellent product and well worth the money. The live sets are very raw but being 40 years old they can be forgiven that slight niggle. The demos and work in progress material are exiting and show what Marc was thinking in those early days even if they again are slightly raw sounding. The DVD is full of rare footage especially the Kempton Race Course material. Overall I'm very happy with the set.

First, this package is mostly for rabid Tyrannosaurus Rex fans or musicologists studying the late 1960s London music scene. The quality of the recordings ranges from very good to very poor, but it is more WHAT is available than the overall quality that is the draw here. For Rex fans like myself who never got to see them live, hearing the old, murky concert recordings gives us some idea of what that experience was like. The demos of familiar songs are a great glimpse into the creative process of Marc Bolan and Steve Took. The videos, while short and crude, are another chance to really experience something of the magic of that late 1960s music scene and vibe. Overall, the material and the great packaging make for a wonderful experience, plus Amazon is selling this at a SUPER LOW PRICE of $21.97...this regularly sells for around $55 dollars on most sites, so GRAB IT NOW!!!

This release somehow slipped under my radar.

I was on a major Tyrannosaurus Rex obsession a couple years ago.
Now I'm back - and this release is like a fat christmas present.

I'll go with bad news first: actually, no bad news!
If you understand that some recordings are primitive,
as in the live recordings. They are still listenable.
It's amazing they exist at all.

The box is heavy and colorful. Pictures of Purple People.
6 discs. Google the box set for some easy access to details.
A labour of love. I'm happy others caer enough to obsess over
collecting this stuff...and instead of hoarding it,
they organize it and release it!

And more vintage recordings are found every year.

As far as I know, most of this box is newly found material.
You may have had bootlegs...probably not even.
The notes state most of this is recently unearthed.

Disc 1 is a time capsule: John Peel's last broadcast for Pirate Radio,
before he joined the BBC. 1967. Tyranno/Peel history.

Disc 2 is 99% stellar quality, studio and home demos.
I can easily see confusion over these. There are studio and home
demos spread over many different Bolan releases. However, many of
those (if not most) are new to collectors.

Disc 3 has been released in various forms: Lyceum Ballroom April 11 1969.
It is coupled here with Jan 13 1969 QE Hall. Not sure if the QE Hall show
has seen many releases.

Disc 4 is from NYC August 1969. This seems to be new to collectors.
At least new to commercial release.

Disc 5 has a 50 minute Chicago 1969 interview that has been released before.
Also some rare Bolan recordings as Dib Cochran & Earwigs.
Long story. Google it....

Disc 6: A DVD of rare Tyranno filmed performances.
About 18 minutes of footage. We're lucky this stuff exists at all.

Most artists estates don't have the balls to cobble this stuff together
and release it. Love it. Credit to Rolan BOlan

Full color fat booklet, a 2nd booklet/tour programme.

And, for $35-$45...well worth it.