Marc Bolan And John's Children – Beyond The Rising Sun

Marc Bolan & John's Children – Beyond The Rising Sun

Beyond The Rising Sun brings together early recordings by Marc Bolan and the British beat group John's Children, offering a fascinating glimpse into the musical experiments that preceded Bolan's rise to fame with Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex. Originally issued in 1984 by Cambra Records, this double-LP compilation draws on Bolan's formative solo material and recordings associated with John's Children, capturing a distinctive period in the development of British underground rock.

Before becoming one of glam rock's defining figures, Marc Bolan was developing the imaginative songwriting, unconventional imagery and individual musical character that would later distinguish his work. His early recordings reveal a different side of his artistic identity, rooted in mid-1960s British pop and folk influences while hinting at the more eccentric, mystical direction his music would eventually take. Songs such as "The Wizard", "Beyond The Rising Sun", "Eastern Spell" and "The Perfumed Garden Of Gulliver Smith" make this collection particularly interesting to listeners exploring the origins of his songwriting and the transition towards his later psychedelic sound.

John's Children occupy an equally intriguing place in the story of British rock. Emerging from the mid-1960s beat scene, the group became known for their unruly performances, sharp-edged pop sensibility and association with the developing freakbeat sound. Their brief connection with Marc Bolan produced an important chapter in the histories of both the band and the future T. Rex frontman. Tracks including "Jagged Time Lapse", "Killer Ben", "You're A Nothing", "Strange Affair" and "Just What You Want - Just What You'll Get" showcase the group's contribution to the energetic, sometimes abrasive side of British psychedelic-era rock.

An important distinction for listeners is that the John's Children recordings on this compilation do not all feature Bolan. The album brings together related but separate strands of the period, making it a useful document for anyone interested in understanding the musical worlds surrounding his earliest professional years. Rather than presenting a conventional greatest-hits collection, it offers a broader perspective on the artists, songs and experiments that helped shape the British underground music of the 1960s.

Spanning early solo recordings, psychedelic pop and freakbeat, Beyond The Rising Sun will appeal to Marc Bolan and T. Rex enthusiasts, John's Children fans, collectors of vintage British rock and listeners fascinated by the roots of glam and psychedelic music. Its two-record format gives this compilation room to explore a substantial selection of material, from the early Bolan songcraft of "Mustang Ford" and "Jasmine '49" to the title track itself.

Originally released on Cambra Records in 1984 under catalogue number CR 115, this double-LP compilation is a compelling historical snapshot of Marc Bolan's pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex period alongside the music of John's Children. A worthwhile addition for collectors investigating the less familiar corners of 1960s British rock and the formative years of an artist whose influence would extend far beyond his early recordings.

Tracklist

Side A
A1. Marc Bolan – Mustang Ford
A2. Marc Bolan – Jasmine '49
A3. John's Children – Jagged Time Lapse
A4. John's Children – Killer Ben
A5. John's Children – Let Me Know
A6. John's Children – Observations

Side B
B1. Marc Bolan – Cat Black
B2. Marc Bolan – Black & White Incident
B3. Marc Bolan – Charlie
B4. John's Children – You're A Nothing
B5. John's Children – Leave Me Alone
B6. Marc Bolan – The Perfumed Garden Of Gulliver Smith

Side C
C1. Marc Bolan – You Scare Me To Death
C2. I'm Weird
C3. John's Children – Smash Blocked
C4. Marc Bolan – Happy Gumbo
C5. John's Children – Strange Affair
C6. Not That Sort Of Girl
C7. Marc Bolan – The Wizard

Side D
D1. Marc Bolan – Beyond The Rising Sun
D2. Marc Bolan – Eastern Spell
D3. John's Children – Just What You Want - Just What You'll Get
D4. Marc Bolan – You've Got The Power
D5. Marc Bolan – Cold On Me