Marc Bolan & T.Rex - Interstellar Soul

Demos, interviews and timeless cuts; a great post-71 overview

Tracing Bolan’s career from Electric Warrior glam guitar hero to soulful space cadet and putative punk godfather, Interstellar Soul is a perfect one-stop for the more intermediate glitterpuss. If you’ve got a greatest hits but need some sort of context, this chronological set will fill plenty in.

The masterstroke is having Bolan guide you through it himself, with interview snippets either introducing the demo cuts by way of explaining where he was headed at that time, even touching on how he’s trying to incorporate the new wave into his TV show, Marc. Bolan talking to Roy Wood about how he used to rip off The Beatles, only to later have John Lennon turn around and play Jeepster to him, when Lennon thought he was playing Mystery Train as an example of where The Beatles nicked their licks, is a great touch.

There are enough well-known A- and B-sides to keep you afloat, and it’s all mixed up with live cuts, a fan club Christmas flexi-disc recording and outtakes and demos such as an acoustic Metal Guru. Perfectly compiled, this is a great alternate best of for long-time fans, and something for newcomers to get well acquainted with.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Edsel | EDSB 4001 (3-CD)

Reviewed by Jason Draper
<< Back to Issue 345

You might also like:

Login Here

Free Newsletter


Subscribe to
our email newsletter by emailing:

anna.bowen@
metropolis.co.uk