Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 25, 1968) “Debora” Single Review - Leicester Mercury

The April 25, 1968 edition of the Leicester Mercury includes a short review of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s single “Debora,” describing the duo’s “way out, distant sound” while noting its commercial potential, with Marc Bolan credited as the writer.

Publication: Leicester Mercury Date: April 25, 1968

Country: United Kingdom Location: Leicester

Section: Music / Singles Review

THE STORY

The brief review portrays Tyrannosaurus Rex (Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took) as an unconventional act with an obscure yet promising style. It highlights “Debora” as a commercial number written by Bolan and mentions the B-side “Child Star,” also on the Regal Zonophone label.

CONTEXT AND NOTES 

This review comes from the very early days of Tyrannosaurus Rex, shortly after their formation and first single releases. “Debora” marked one of their initial steps into the UK underground and psychedelic folk scene, showcasing Bolan’s shift toward a more mystical, acoustic sound before the full electric glam explosion.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS 

Event: Debut-era single review

Era: 1968 (Early Tyrannosaurus Rex / Psychedelic Folk)

Tone: Curious, cautiously optimistic Photography: Text-based review (no photo in clipping)

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

• Headline “TYRANNOSAURUS REX / Debora.”

• Short critical assessment of the band’s “way out, distant sound”

• Mention of Marc Bolan as the songwriter

• Reference to the B-side “Child Star” (Regal Zonophone)

RELATED MATERIAL 

This April 25, 1968 Leicester Mercury review of “Debora” captures Tyrannosaurus Rex in their earliest phase and connects nicely with the October 1965 London Life piece on the origin of Bolan’s name and the September 1967 Lincolnshire Echo mention of his appearances on John Peel’s The Perfumed Garden. For other relevant posts, see the tags at the foot of the page.

All magazine scans, photographs and original text excerpts remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.