This single by John's Children appeared in the United Kingdom during July 1967 on the Track Record label under catalogue number 604005. One source lists the release date as the fourteenth of that month while another places it on the twenty-first. The disc was issued in a hurry following the withdrawal of an earlier Marc Bolan-composed track titled Midsummer Nights Scene. This double-sided SPOT acetate couples the recordings "Hippy" and "Desdemona". Although the exact date of

This early 1967 double-sided acetate pairs the recordings "Incident" and "Cat Black". Produced by Simon Napier-Bell, the disc represents one of a series of early studio recordings created during Marc Bolan's formative recording period. The acetate format indicates that the recordings were prepared as reference or demonstration discs rather than as a standard commercial release. The tracks were recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, Kingsway, London, and subsequently cut at the Radi

The December 13, 1966 edition of the Lincolnshire Echo reviews Marc Bolan’s single “Hippy Gumbo” (Parlophone R 5539), describing it as an arranger’s record full of musical ideas and portraying Bolan as a man of mystery with a rasping, bluesy voice. Publication: Lincolnshire Echo Date: December 13, 1966 Country: United Kingdom Location: Lincoln, Lincolnshire Section: Music / Singles Review THE STORY The review highlights Bolan’s eclectic style and the song’s potential to reach

A brief but culturally important listing marking Bolan’s early national TV exposure on Ready, Steady, Go! during a pivotal moment in his artistic evolution.

In the late autumn of 1966, a young Marc Bolan released his third and final solo single before forming Tyrannosaurus Rex. “Hippy Gumbo” was a quirky, upbeat pop track with a strong beat-group feel and a touch of the whimsical, poetic style that would soon define his work with Tyrannosaurus Rex. Backed with “Misfit,” this Parlophone 7" single marked the end of Bolan’s early solo period and the beginning of his journey into the acoustic folk-rock sound that would lead to glam s

The November 25, 1966 edition of the Worcester News features a review by Mike Pryce of Marc Bolan’s single “Hippy Gumbo,” an early solo release showcasing his emerging psychedelic and folk-influenced sound. Publication: Worcester News Date: November 25, 1966 Country: United Kingdom Location: Worcester Section: Music / Singles Review THE STORY The review discusses Marc Bolan’s “Hippy Gumbo,” highlighting his distinctive style during this transitional phase. It reflects the gro

Publication: Queen Magazine Date: November 3 1966 Country: United Kingdom Section / Page: POP SCENE by Patrick Kerr Format: Profile / Early‑Career Feature Overview A striking early profile of 18‑year‑old Marc Bolan, published just days before his Ready Steady Goes Live! television debut. Patrick Kerr positions Bolan not as another Dylan‑inspired protest singer, but as a myth‑maker, a teenager whose life story already sounded like folklore: Parisian wanderer, apprentice to a “

This extremely rare November 1966 EMIDISC acetate captures Marc Bolan during a transitional phase between his Mod-era recordings and the more distinctive style that would soon emerge with John's Children and, later, Tyrannosaurus Rex. Issued under the pseudonym Suzie Day, the acetate contains early recordings of "Hippy Gumbo" and "Misfit". Both titles would become important reference points in Bolan's developing songwriting catalogue and offer a fascinating glimpse into his a

This rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate preserves an early pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex recording of Hippy Gumbo, one of the most important songs from Marc Bolan's 1966 recording sessions with producer Simon Napier Bell. The acetate is particularly notable because it features an original hand-drawn doodle by Marc Bolan on the label itself, transforming the disc from a simple studio reference recording into a unique piece of Bolan memorabilia. The surviving artwork makes this one of t

This rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate preserves an early recording of Misfit, the B-side that would later accompany Hippy Gumbo on Marc Bolan's first Parlophone single. Produced by Simon Napier Bell and recorded at De Lane Lea Studios, Kingsway, London, the acetate documents Bolan's songwriting during the crucial transitional period immediately before the formation of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Together with the surviving Hippy Gumbo acetate, it forms part of an important group of s