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Credits

Rated: Unrated; Genre: Documentary; With: Marc Bolan

Marc Bolan didn't turn into the rock legend that Ringo Starr expected when Starr produced and directed this 75-minute compilation of concert footage, studio performances, and quirky conceptual videos. Even at the time of Bolan's death in a 1977 car crash, it was clear that in the tiny glam-rock pantheon, he was to David Bowie what Donovan was to Bob Dylan: superficial, given to giggly cosmic inanity, yet with a charm that was of its time. There is an infectious energy in the well-framed live clips: Bolan and T. Rex churn through ''Bang a Gong (Get It On),'' ''Jeepster,'' ''Telegram Sam,'' and more, and there's an idiosyncratic studio account of ''Tutti Frutti'' with Starr and Elton John in the band. Several of Bolan's dippier acoustic tunes round out the portrait. But Born to Boogie remains a sliver of rock lore for history buffs who love to read footnotes.


Posted May 01, 1992
 

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