T.Rex: Marc's Mystical Musings Article (1970)

T. Rex recorded a special radio concert for the new BBC Radio One program, John Peel’s Sunday Show, on January 1, 1970.

On Jan. 1, 1970, Marc Bolan, along with new partner Mickey Finn, performed a live show in the studio for the BBC. The concert was actually recorded for the first installment of John Peel's "Sunday Show," a forerunner to the "Live in Concert" series. Broadcast three days later, this 30-minute gig showcases Bolan's acoustic guitar work and delicate vocals (as in the love song "Dove") and Finn's flair with the bongos ("The Wizard"). A large part of the show covers A Beard of Stars, but also includes material from the earlier My People Were Fair and Prophet Seers and Sages, as well as the later T. Rex.

A spare performance, Bolan stirs it up with two electric guitar pieces originally found on the superb A Beard of Stars: the excessive "Elemental Child," spotlighting Bolan's raw soloing, and a slightly altered version of "By the Light of a Magical Moon," Bolan's signature piece and the highlight of the show. The duo's energetic, spirited performance of "Debora" is an acoustic standout. Unfortunately, Bolan's compositions and playing, however groovy, were often elementary and overly repetitive. "Debora" is such a tune, musically and lyrically, as is the finale, "The Wizard." At over eight minutes, the excesses and redundancies of this acoustic piece render it simply annoying. While most of the recordings on BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert are solid, they aren't on a par with the studio album versions, failing to improve or expand upon them. At under 30 minutes, the release is also hampered by its brevity. Listen for Marc's mystical musings on God between two of the songs. AllMusic Review by David Ross Smith

The songs performed were:

"Hot Rod Mama" – Live (2:17)

"Deborah" – Live (3:44)

"Pavilions of Sun" – Live (3:36)

"Dove" – Live (4:27)

"By the Light of the Magical Moon" – Live (3:49)

"Elemental Child" – Live (7:05)

"The Wizard" – Live (9:21)

Deborah – Live ( 3:44 )

Pavilions Of Sun – Live ( 3:36 )

Dove – Live ( 4:27 )

By The Light of the Magical Moon – Live ( 3:49 )

Elemental Child – Live ( 7:05 )

The Wizard – Live ( 9:21 )