Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn Album (1972)

A Doubleback Psychedelic Dream

Tyrannosaurus Rex’s A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn double LP, was released in the UK on November 10, 1972, on Cube Records (catalogue: TOOFA 9) as part of the Doubleback Series. This reissue paired the 1970 A Beard Of Stars (with Mickey Finn) and 1969 Unicorn (with Steve Peregrin Took), both produced by Tony Visconti at Trident Studios. Featuring Marc Bolan’s whimsical lyrics, acoustic guitars, and ethereal vocals—plus John Peel’s narration on The Misty Coast Of Albany—it peaked at No. 44 on the UK Albums Chart for 2 weeks. Issued in a gatefold cover with brown Fly inners and one sleeve printed upside down, it’s a budget-priced psychedelic treasure.

Album Overview

Release Details:

Label: Cube Records (UK).

Formats: 2 x Vinyl LP (reissue compilation).

℗ & ©: 1969/1970. Recorded at Trident Studios. Published by Essex Music International / Lupus Music. Produced for Straight Ahead Productions.

Notes: Gatefold cover with reproduced original sleeves (one upside down). Number 2635 008 under TOOFA 9 inside cover.

UK Release Formats and Track Listings

A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn was released in the UK in 1972 as a double LP reissue:

2 x Vinyl LP, Compilation (Catalogue: TOOFA 9):

A Beard Of Stars (Side A & B):

A1. Prelude

A2. A Day Laye

A3. The Woodland Bop

A4. Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart

A5. Pavilions Of Sun

A6. Organ Blues

A7. By The Light Of The Magical Moon

A8. Wind Cheetah

B1. A Beard Of Stars

B2. Great Horse

B3. Dragon's Ear

B4. Lofty Skies

B5. Dove

B6. Elemental Child

Unicorn (Side C & D):

C1. Chariots Of Silk

C2. 'Pon A Hill

C3. The Seal Of Seasons

C4. The Throat Of Winter

C5. Catblack (The Wizzard's Hat) – Piano – Tony Visconti

C6. Stones For Avalon

C7. She Was Born To Be My Unicorn

C8. Like A White Star, Tangled And Far, Tulip That's What You Are

D1. Warlord Of The Royal Crocodiles

D2. Evenings Of Damask

D3. The Sea Beasts

D4. Iscariot

D5. Nijinsky Hind

D6. The Pilgrim's Tale

D7. The Misty Coast Of Albany – Narrator – John Peel

D8. Romany Soup

Packaging: Gatefold cover with brown Fly inners.

D7 The Misty Coast Of Albany

Narrator [Children's Story Read By] – John Peel

D8 Romany Soup

Produced For – Straight Ahead Productions

Recorded At – Trident Studios

Published By – Essex Music International

Published By – Lupus Music

Backing Vocals, Drums [Moroccan Clay Drums], Tabla, Bass, Finger Cymbals – Mickey Finn (3) (tracks: A1 to B6)

Bongos, Vocals, Drums [African Talking Drums], Bass Guitar, Piano, Percussion, Drums, Gong – Steve Peregrin Took (tracks: C1 to D8)

Engineer – Malcolm Toft, Rob Cabel* (tracks: C1 to D8)

Guitar, Written-By – Marc Bolan

Lead Vocals, Organ, Bass – Marc Bolan (tracks: A1 to B6)

Organ [Lip Organ], Fiddle [Fonofiddle], Harmonium, Vocals – Marc Bolan (tracks: C1 to D8)

Photography – Pete Sanders

Producer – Tony Visconti

Issued With Brown Fly Inners

Gatefold cover

℗ 1969 and ℗ 1970 on labels

The number (2635 008) appears under TOOFA 9 inside the cover

Country Variations

The double LP was released in several countries:

UK (Cube TOOFA 9): Released November 10, 1972.

Germany (Cube 2635 008):

Italy (Cube 2635 008 S / 2338 017 / 2338 018):

Japan (Cube MW 9027/8):

Australia (Cube 2635 008):

Production and Context

Produced by Tony Visconti. Musicians: Marc Bolan (guitar, vocals, organ, bass), Mickey Finn (backing vocals, drums, tabla, bass, finger cymbals on A Beard Of Stars), Steve Peregrin Took (bongos, vocals, drums, bass, piano, percussion, gong on Unicorn), John Peel (narrator on The Misty Coast Of Albany). Engineered by Malcolm Toft. A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn was a budget reissue of Bolan’s folk-psych era before T. Rex’s glam explosion. Released amid The Slider success, it competed with David Bowie and Roxy Music.

Album Chart Performance

A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn charted briefly:

UK:

Peak: No. 44.

Weeks on Chart: 2 (December 9–16, 1972).

Chart Run: No. 44 (Dec 9), No. 44 (Dec 16).

Legacy and Collectibility

A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn is Tyrannosaurus Rex’s psychedelic double, with Elemental Child and Catblack fan favorites. Original UK double vinyls fetch £15–£40 on eBay/Discogs. Verify catalogue TOOFA 9.

Streams on Spotify via reissues preserve the analog whimsy. This reissue is a must-have for Bolan fans and psych-folk collectors.

Do you have A Beard Of Stars / Unicorn in your vinyl stack? Which side enchants you? Share in the comments!

Sources

Information is drawn from my personal knowledge and supplemented by web sources, including Prince Vault, Discogs, 45cat, AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts Company, Billboard Chart History and YouTube

---