'Salamanda Palaganda' Marc Bolan Cover (1968)

[Greeny]

A slightly off-the-wall cover for the Dead Rockstar Fest  

This is a very early (and short) Bolan song from the 2nd tyrannosaurus rex album (before they shortened the name to T-Rex). It's one I've always liked.

It's typical early Bolan acoustic hippy nonsense with ridiculous lyrics. His lyrics never made much sense, but the words always sound good together.

I think he's ripping off Donovan in this phase (before he goes on to rip off Bowie...  ). As you know, he's a huge hero of mine though.  

Contains acoustic guitars x 2, TJ bongos and Tanpura.


Small girl with the smiling 'gibbon
Bridled with an orchid ribbon
His curved brow in Scarlatti fashion
Boots that ride the night sky eagle

Salamanda Palaganda Oh Palamino Blue
Salamanda Palaganda June's Buffalo too In the Parisian zoo.

An old crone squirms upon a cushion
Made from Madras silk and satin
Her steel eyes hold a scimitar passion
For the skull hewn in Scarlatti fashion.

Salamanda Palaganda Oh Palamino Blue
Salamanda Palaganda June's Buffalo too In the Parisian zoo.

A cobra seer with the punctured ear
Slaughtered a Malayan sun bear
Night stood erect with brozen haunches
Zapped the seer and gave the bear back to us

Salamanda Palaganda Oh Palamino Blue
Salamanda Palaganda June's Buffalo too In the Parisian zoo.
 

[Oldrottenhead]

magic, loved all the early tyrannosaurus rex stuff, you used to discover them on the t rex b sides and stuff.

[kenny mac]

Hey greeny,great work on this,the production is top class and your vocal is on the money,at last someone joins me in the dead rockstar crypt  lol ,was getting scarey in here on my own 

[steelguitar]

Don't know the original, but it's very cool!!!
Top class vocals and production!!!
Jean-Sébastien

[cuthbert]

I remember the original....and this is stunning!  Such attention paid to all the little details - very strummy and the TJ bongoes sound great. You nailed the vibe. 

But how on earth did you ever decipher those lyrics? I could only ever pick out a few words other than "Salamanda Palaganda" and "too-wootcha-woo"! 

[64Guitars]

Fabulous! I don't know the original but this sounds great. I love the guitars and the bongos. Great vocals too.

You're right, it does sound a lot like something Donovan would do.

[Speed Demon]

Nice work, Tim!

Great groove you have going here.

Yes, it does remind me of Donovan, also.

[Tangled Wires]

Not exactly an easy song to cover, but you nailed it good and proper....a fabulous vocal delivery and the instrumentation perfectly captures the spirit of the original.

Very impressed with how authentic the Thumbjam bongo's and tanpura sound too

[Facemask93]

Love it , I'm gonna get in to some of these old T Rex songs , they were my favs in my early youth , excellent cover

[Farrell Jackson]

Well done Greeny! Although I don't know the original, I know a good performance and recording when I hear one and this has it. Definitely a Donovan style.

Farrell