Now Playing - T. Rex

Welcome to a brand new feature at Lloyd Zeffler. "Now Playing" will highlight favorite songs of mine. The only prerequisite is that as the song is playing, I don't want it to end. Is that easy and vague enough? Good. To introduce this series we will travel all the way back to 1971, somewhere in England...

T. Rex - "Mambo Sun"
from the album Electric Warrior.

I got stars in my beard
and I feel real weird
for you

T. Rex was a band I only knew in photographs. Marc Bolan was the quintessential pop star. Top hat, feather boa and a guitar slung way down low. By the time I picked up a copy of Electric Warrior I was in desperate need of a musical shot in the arm. With the first song, I could already feel my little rock 'n roll heart get set to explode...

Beneath the bebop moon

I want to croon

with you

Beneath the mambo sun

I got to be the one

with you

It had everything I love - lyrics that boggle the mind in a fun way, a rock and roll singer with an unmistakeable croon and a perfect little guitar groove. Bolan wrote better songs than "Mambo Sun", more memorable songs, but as the lead off track to a catchy as the herp record, this song was a breath of fresh air.

You're a savage lake

make no mistake

I love you

I got a powder keg leg

and my wig's all pooped

for you

What the heck does it mean? Who cares? Love is gibberish most of the time. It is never what you say, but always how you say it. Sometimes the best way to say I love you is with a wink and a nod.

Beneath the bebop moon

I'm howling like a loon

for you

beneath the mambo sun

i've got to be the one

for you