BMG have announced the release of AngelHeaded Hipster, an all-star tribute album to Marc Bolan and T.Rex. The album was put together by American producer Hal Willner, who died earlier this month from COVID-19.
“I became immersed in this artist by listening to everything, talking to Bolan experts and fans, researching his reviews and interviews,” said Willner. “And I found that Bolan was hardly ever talked about as a ‘composer’. It was all about what a great rocker he was, how innovative he was, how David Bowie took his essence and Bolan was in his shadow.
“But I put him in the same pantheon as other composers that I’ve explored before. So, the concept for the album became to show Bolan as a composer with our typical cast of artists from different worlds that one rarely sees in the same place.”
Willner had previously compiled tribute albums dedicated to artists as
“Hal had a unique vision of Marc Bolan’s music, and working on AngelHeaded Hipster brought him great joy,” says Willner collaborator Rachel Fox. “Speaking for those closest to him, we will forever be heartbroken at the untimely loss of our beloved friend and irreplaceable creative engine.
“Hal, who referred to AngelHeaded Hipster as his White Album, was eager for everyone to hear these beautiful songs and to start thinking about Bolan and T. Rex again. This album is a testament to Hal’s spirit.”
The first release from the album is Nick Cave‘s mournful take on T.Rex’s 1971 song Cosmic Dancer, while other artists contributing to the album include U2 with Elton John, Perry Farrell, David Johansen, Todd Rundgren, Joan Jett and Lucinda Williams. Full tracklist below.
AngelHeaded Hipster tracklist
1. Children Of The Revolution – Kesha
2. Cosmic Dancer – Nick Cave
3. Jeepster – Joan Jett
4. Scenescof – Devendra Banhart
5. Life’s A Gas – Lucinda Williams
6. Solid Gold, Easy Action – Peaches
7. Dawn Storm – Børns
8. Hippy Gumbo – Beth Orton
9. I Love To Boogie – King Khan
10. Beltane Walk – Gaby Moreno
11. Bang A Gong (Get It On) – U2 feat. Elton John
12. Diamond Meadows – John Cameron Mitchell
13. Ballrooms Of Mars – Emily Haines
14. Main Man – Father John Misty
15. Rock On – Perry Farrell
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- T-Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex - Ride A White Swan -WOL - UK - 7" vinyl - £10.00, $13.60, €11.20 (New Item) (arrived 02-Mar-2021 14:13)on March 2, 2021 at 7:46 pm
T-REX Ride A White Swan (1970 UK mustard Fly label 3-track 7" vinyl single, also featuring Is It Love & Summertime Blues, T-Rex die-cut sleeve. The sleeve shows a little shelfwear and has been carefully annotated on the reverse, with the same name on the label, whilst the vinyl appears barely played BUG-1)
- T-Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex - The Unobtainable T-Rex - UK - vinyl LP - £15.00, $20.40, €16.80 (New Item) (arrived 09-Feb-2021 14:08)on March 2, 2021 at 7:46 pm
T-REX The Unobtainable T-Rex (1980 UK 16-track vinyl compilation LP featuring a collection of non-album b-side recordings, housed in the glossy picture sleeve. The sleeve shows a little light wear and some minor age discoloration, however thevinyl remains in excellent condition NUT28)
- Marc Bolan - You Scare Me To Death + Flexi & Merchandise insert - UK - vinyl LP - £25.00, $34.00, €28.00 (Back In Stock) (arrived 16-Dec-2020 10:53)on March 2, 2021 at 7:46 pm
MARC BOLAN You Scare Me To Death (1981 UK 12-track LP with picture labels, gatefold picture sleeve with integral 24-page booklet featuring biography information & a discography by Chris Welch and Simon Napier-Bell and flexi disc featuring recorded quotes from the book of the same name. The sleeve does have some notable edge scuffing, whilst the vinyl looks barely played. This copy also includes a merchandise insert ERED20)
- T-Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex - Rockin' & Rollin' - Japanese - vinyl LP - Promo - £395.00, $537.20, €442.40 (New Item) (arrived 17-Dec-2020 11:03)on March 2, 2021 at 7:46 pm
T-REX Rockin' & Rollin' (Extremely rare 1973 Japanese-only 18-track 'Special DJ Copy' promotional LP, housed in a unique & deluxe picture sleeve with album notes exclusively in Japanese on the back. The sleeve is Excellent with just a little faint shelf wear & the vinyl is Near Mint with few signs of play PRP-8014)
- T-Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex - A Beard Of Stars - Japanese - vinyl LP - £65.00, $88.40, €72.80 (New Item) (arrived 21-Dec-2020 17:02)on March 2, 2021 at 7:46 pm
TYRANNOSAURUS REX A Beard Of Stars (2007 Japanese exclusive limited edition 14-track LP pressed on 200gram VIRGIN VINYL, originally released in March 1970, superbly presented in high quality fully laminated picture sleeve with repro Regal Zonophone labels, lyric sheet & obi strip UIJY-9036)
If Other tracks are half as good as Nick caves cosmic dancer cover, this will be the first truly amazing tribute to Marc Bolan. I cannot wait until I have it in my grubby 61 year old hands.