Originally released as separate records in 1968, the group’s debut and follow on collection of psychedelic folk, the double-album reissued by T. Rex (see previously) and reaching the top of the UK charts on this day in 1972 and retains the distinction of the longest title of any number one hit. Tracks from the combined project by Marc Bolan on guitar and vocals with Steve Peregrin Took on percussions, kazoo and pixiephone (a kind of toy glockenspiel) showcased experimentation (like the boustrophedonic and backmasking reprise of their hit “Debora” as “Deboraarobed” as an opener well before The Beatles dared lead with such radical departures) and linguistic invention, half word play and half speaking in tongues.
one year ago: symbols of state for the coronation of Charles III, illustrated congratulatory letters to box office winners plus assorted links worth revisiting
two years ago: more links to enjoy, architect John Outram plus a visiting peacock
three years ago: more marginal maps, the Flash Crash of 2010, a vigilant prosthetic eye, Lego lost ships, a holographic Star Trek dogfight plus a treasury of optical illusions
four years ago: a survey of timekeeping, vintage Polish computing plus more Brutalist architecture
five years ago: the opening of the Chunnel plus botanical misogyny
