Marc Bolan (December 30, 1965) – Highways Single UK: Acetate
This rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate preserves an early Marc Bolan recording from the final weeks of 1965. Produced by Jim Economides and recorded at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, the acetate documents Bolan's continued development as a songwriter and performer during the period immediately before his first commercial releases.
The surviving disc contains a single recording of "Highways" on the A-side with a blank reverse side. As an EMIDISC acetate, the disc was produced for reference and evaluation purposes rather than commercial sale.
The acetate is particularly notable because the handwritten artist name and song title were written by music director Mike Leander.
The recording was made at Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London.
Production duties were handled by Jim Economides.
The acetate is dated December 30, 1965 and survives as a single-sided EMIDISC recording blank.
The handwritten title and artist credit visible on the label were written by Mike Leander.
STYLE & THEMES
"Highways" belongs to Marc Bolan's formative recording period and represents part of the body of work created before the emergence of Tyrannosaurus Rex.
The recording survives as evidence of Bolan's early songwriting output during a crucial stage in his artistic development.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
• Highways – Early Marc Bolan recording preserved on a single-sided EMIDISC acetate.
• Blank.
RELEASE HISTORY
The acetate was produced on December 30, 1965.
No commercial release information has been supplied.
The recording survives as a studio acetate created for demonstration and reference purposes.
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, songwriter
Jim Economides — producer
Mike Leander — handwritten label annotations
PRODUCTION
Producer: Jim Economides
Studio: Decca Studios
Location: Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London
Format: Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate
Recording Date: December 30, 1965
NOTES
• Recorded on December 30, 1965.
• Produced by Jim Economides.
• Recorded at Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London.
• Issued as a single-sided EMIDISC acetate.
• Features "Highways" on the A-side.
• Reverse side is blank.
• The handwritten artist name and title were written by music director Mike Leander.
• The acetate was created as a studio reference recording rather than a commercial release.
• The label identifies the artist as Marc Bolan.
• Surviving examples are extremely rare.
• The recording belongs to Bolan's pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex period
RELATED RELEASES
• Marc Bolan (September 14, 1965) – The Wizard Single UK: Acetate
• Marc Bolan (September 14, 1965) – Beyond The Risin' Sun Single UK: Acetate
• Marc Bolan (1965) – That's The Bag I'm In Single UK: Acetate
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Country | Label | Catalogue Number | Format | Notes |
UK | EMIDISC | Unknown | Single-Sided Acetate | Highways |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue Number | Tracklisting |
Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate | Unknown | Side One • Highways Side Two • Blank |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate | Contains Highways only |
Mike Leander Label Copy | Artist name and title handwritten by Mike Leander |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, RockfilesUK.
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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.
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