Marc Bolan ( April 15, 1978) – Marc: The Words And Music Of Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 LP
Marc: The Words And Music Of Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 was a posthumous retrospective released by Cube Records in 1978, one year after the death of Marc Bolan. Compiled as a career-spanning anthology, the collection traces Bolan's musical development from his early recordings with John's Children through the Tyrannosaurus Rex years and into the commercial success of T. Rex.
Rather than functioning as a conventional greatest hits package, the set was conceived as a tribute to Bolan's life and artistic legacy, combining key recordings from different stages of his career with archive material and a bonus interview record.
The compilation was assembled by Tony Visconti, Paul Jones and Stevie Dixon and remains one of the earliest major retrospective collections issued following Bolan's passing.
The collection draws material from multiple periods of Bolan's recording career.
Selections range from the psychedelic and folk-influenced Tyrannosaurus Rex era through to major glam rock recordings released under the T. Rex name.
The anthology includes important early recordings such as Desdemona, Debora, Eastern Spell, Salamanda Palaganda and King Of The Rumbling Spires, alongside chart successes including Ride A White Swan, Hot Love, Get It On and Jeepster.
A notable inclusion is The Children Of Rarn Suite, presented as a previously unreleased recording featuring light accompaniment by Tony Visconti.
STYLE & THEMES
The collection highlights the remarkable stylistic evolution of Marc Bolan's songwriting.
Early recordings demonstrate his fascination with fantasy imagery, mythology, mysticism and acoustic arrangements, while later material illustrates the transition toward the electric glam rock sound that transformed T. Rex into one of the defining acts of the early 1970s.
Taken as a whole, the compilation serves as a musical biography, documenting Bolan's journey from underground psychedelic poet to mainstream chart star.
RELEASE HISTORY
Issued in the United Kingdom in 1978 by Cube Records.
The release was packaged as a deluxe two-LP set and included an exclusive bonus 7-inch interview disc.
The compilation was intended as both a memorial tribute and a career overview, bringing together significant recordings from across Bolan's catalogue.
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, guitar, songwriting
Tony Visconti — producer, compiler
Paul Jones — compiler
Stevie Dixon — compiler
Jennifer Sharp — interview participant
Steve Harley — interview participant
John Peel — interview participant
PRODUCTION
Produced by Tony Visconti (all tracks except Desdemona)
Album Compiled by Tony Visconti, Paul Jones and Stevie Dixon
Sleeve Design and Artwork — Chess
Creative Services
Printed by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd., England
Label: Cube Records
Country: UK
Catalogue Number: HI FLD1
Format: 2LP + Bonus 7"
NOTES
• Marc: The Words And Music Of Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 was issued by Cube Records in 1978 as a major posthumous retrospective marking the life, music and influence of Marc Bolan following his death in September 1977.
• The release was presented as a deluxe anthology package consisting of two LPs accompanied by an exclusive bonus 7-inch interview record.
• The set was compiled by Tony Visconti, Paul Jones and Stevie Dixon with the intention of documenting Bolan's artistic journey across the different phases of his career.
• Unlike many later compilations that concentrated primarily on the T. Rex hit years, this collection devoted substantial space to Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex recordings, highlighting the importance of his early acoustic and psychedelic work.
• The anthology begins with Desdemona, recorded with John's Children, providing a rare look at Bolan's earliest recognised recordings before the formation of Tyrannosaurus Rex.
• Tracks from the Tyrannosaurus Rex era include Debora, Strange Orchestras, Child Star, Afghan Woman, Eastern Spell, Salamanda Palaganda, Cat Black The Wizard's Hat and King Of The Rumbling Spires, illustrating the mystical and fantasy-driven songwriting that characterised Bolan's late-1960s work.
• The compilation also documents Bolan's transition into the T. Rex era with important recordings including Ride A White Swan, Hot Love, Get It On, Jeepster and Cosmic Dancer.
• One of the principal attractions of the set was the inclusion of The Children Of Rarn Suite, described on the release as a previously unreleased recording. The track was presented as a demo featuring light accompaniment by Tony Visconti.
• The bonus 7-inch disc added a documentary dimension to the package, featuring a 1973 interview between Marc Bolan and Stevie Dixon.
• Additional interview content on the reverse side included contributions from Jennifer Sharp, Steve Harley, John Peel and Stevie Dixon, expanding the release beyond a standard music compilation.
• According to the sleeve notes, all recordings were produced by Tony Visconti with the exception of Desdemona.
• The release was designed and packaged as a celebration of Bolan's songwriting legacy rather than merely a collection of chart successes.
• Sleeve design and artwork were produced by Chess Creative Services.
• Printing was carried out by Howards Printers (Slough) Ltd., England.
• Original copies were issued under catalogue number HI FLD1 on the Cube Records label.
• The set remains one of the earliest substantial attempts to present Marc Bolan's complete artistic story in a single package, spanning the John's Children, Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex periods.
• Because of its broad career coverage, inclusion of archive material and bonus interview disc, the release is regarded as one of the most significant posthumous Marc Bolan compilations of the late 1970s.
RELATED RELEASES
• Desdemona
• My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair... But Now They're Cont...
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Artist | Title | Label | Country | Cat No. | Date | Format |
Marc Bolan | Marc: The Words And Music Of Marc Bolan: 1947-1977 | Cube | UK | HI FLD1 | 1978 | 2LP + Bonus 7" Interview Disc |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue | Tracklisting |
2LP + Bonus 7" | HI FLD1 | LP1 SIDE ONE: • Desdemona • Debora • Strange Orchestras • Child Star • Afghan Woman • One Inch Rock • Stacey Grove • Eastern Spell • Salamanda Palaganda LP1 SIDE TWO: • Cat Black The Wizard's Hat • She Was Born To Be My Unicorn • Warlord Of The Royal Crocodiles • Woodland Bop • By The Light Of The Magical Moon • Great Horse • Elemental Child • Cosmic Dancer LP2 SIDE ONE: • King Of The Rumbling Spires • Beltane Walk • Ride A White Swan • Hot Love • Get It On • Jeepster LP2 SIDE TWO: • Frowning Atahuallpa (My Inca Love) • The Children Of Rarn Suite (Previously Unreleased) BONUS 7" SIDE ONE: • Marc Bolan Talking To Stevie Dixon, 1973 BONUS 7" SIDE TWO: • Interview (Jennifer Sharp, Steve Harley, John Peel, Stevie Dixon) |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts
All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders.
This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non-commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.
No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.
Comments