A Beard of Stars, a more accessible and streamlined outing than previous Tyrannosaurus Rex releases turned out to be Marc Bolan’s farewell to his late ’60s hippie duo and was the first to feature photogenic new sidekick, the bongo-playing Mickey Finn. The tie-in single, By The Light Of A Magical Moon, was as charming as its title, and the entire set is woven with mysticism and melody.
A Beard Of Stars also marked the first real stirrings of electricity, with album closer Elemental Child clocking in at five-and-a-half-minutes, thanks to some extended Hendrix-style guitar soloing.