My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows
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My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows is the 1968 debut album by Tyrannosaurus Rex (later known as "T. Rex"). The album reached number 15 in the UK Album Chart upon initial release, but later reached number 1 when it was paired with the second Tyrannosaurus Rex album Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages as the compilation album Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Beginning in 1972. This double LP set was released in the United States on A&M Records, and was the first time the album was available there.
Background
The record features Marc Bolan on vocals and guitars, and Steve Peregrin Took on backing vocals, drums, pixiphone, and percussion. It also features disc jockey John Peel, who reads a children's story written by Bolan for the album's closing track, "Frowning Atahuallpa (My Inca Love)," which also includes a lengthy Hare Krishna chant.
The album's music represented for Bolan a rejection of the electric guitar–led music he'd been playing with his previous band, John's Children. The cover art and subject matter of many of the songs dealt with the fantasy themes that would pervade much of the subsequent Tyrannosaurus Rex catalogue. It was recorded at Advision Studios in London in early 1968. Advision was the first studio in the UK with eight-channel recording equipment. This Advision eight-channel machine was a model 280 made by Scully Recording Instruments, which allowed for far greater recording flexibility than the standard 4-track recorders of the era.
Recordings of the songs "Mustang Ford" (released as a single entitled "Go Go Girl")[1] and "Hot Rod Mama" (live BBC radio session[1]) exist by Bolan's pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex band John's Children. Early versions of some of the tracks appear on the collection of demos and early tracks released in 1974, The Beginning of Doves.
My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair... But Now They're Content to Wear Stars on Their Brows was paired with Tyrannosaurus Rex's follow-up album Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the Ages (1968) and released in 1972 as the double album Tyrannosaurus Rex: A Beginning, following the success of T-Rex's Electric Warrior (1971) and The Slider (1972) albums. In 1985 it was re-released on Sierra Records (Replay series) FEDB 5013.
Track listing
All tracks written by Marc Bolan
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Rod Mama" | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Scenescof" | 1:41 |
| 3. | "Child Star" | 2:52 |
| 4. | "Strange Orchestras" | 1:47 |
| 5. | "Chateau in Virginia Waters" | 2:38 |
| 6. | "Dwarfish Trumpet Blues" | 2:47 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mustang Ford" | 2:56 |
| 2. | "Afghan Woman" | 1:59 |
| 3. | "Knight" | 2:38 |
| 4. | "Graceful Fat Sheba" | 1:28 |
| 5. | "Wielder of Words" | 3:19 |
| 6. | "Frowning Atahuallpa (My Inca Love)" | 5:55 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hot Rod Mama" | 3:11 |
| 2. | "Scenescof" | 1:04 |
| 3. | "Child Star" | 2:51 |
| 4. | "Strange Orchestras" | 1:48 |
| 5. | "Chateau in Virginia Waters" | 2:40 |
| 6. | "Dwarfish Trumpet Blues" | 2:46 |
| 7. | "Mustang Ford" | 3:01 |
| 8. | "Afghan Woman" | 3:01 |
| 9. | "Knight" | 2:41 |
| 10. | "Graceful Fat Sheba" | 1:29 |
| 11. | "Wielder of Words" | 3:19 |
| 12. | "Frowning Atahualpa (My Inca Love)" | 5:55 |
| 13. | "Debora" | 3:07 |
| 14. | "Hot Rod Mama" | 3:10 |
| 15. | "Scenescof" | 1:39 |
| 16. | "Child Star" | 2:19 |
| 17. | "Strange Orchestras" | 1:45 |
| 18. | "Chateau in Virginia Waters" | 2:37 |
| 19. | "Dwarfish Trumpet Blues" | 2:46 |
| 20. | "Mustang Ford" | 2:57 |
| 21. | "Afghan Woman" | 1:56 |
| 22. | "Knight" | 2:36 |
| 23. | "Graceful Fat Sheba" | 1:27 |
| 24. | "Wielder of Words" | 3:18 |
| 25. | "Frowning Atahualpa (My Inca Love)" | 5:54 |
| 26. | "Child Star" (Take 2) | 2:40 |
| 27. | "Chateau in Virginia Waters" (Take 2) | 2:54 |
| 28. | "Debora" (Take 2) | 3:09 |
There is also a short, unlisted title track at the end of side two.