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Marc Bolan (December 30, 1965) – Reality Single UK: Acetate

Writer: Marc Bolan
Marc Bolan
Dec 30, 1965
3 min read

This rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate preserves another early Marc Bolan recording from the final days of 1965. Produced by Jim Economides and recorded at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, the acetate forms part of an important group of surviving demonstration discs documenting Bolan's songwriting and recording activity before his commercial breakthrough.

The disc contains a single recording, Reality, and survives as a studio reference acetate rather than a commercial release. Its significance has been reflected in its desirability among collectors, with a surviving example achieving a substantial auction price decades after its creation.

RECORDING

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 artist name and song title on the label were written by music director Mike Leander.




STYLE & THEMES

Reality belongs to Marc Bolan's formative recording period and represents part of the body of work created before the emergence of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

The surviving acetate offers a glimpse into Bolan's early songwriting development during a pivotal stage in his career, when he was still establishing his musical identity.

TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES

• Reality – Early Marc Bolan recording preserved on a rare 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 evaluation 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 Reality on the A-side.

• Reverse side is blank.

• The handwritten artist name and song 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.

• This acetate sold at auction for £2,350.00 on April 30, 2002.

• Surviving examples are extremely rare.

• The recording belongs to Bolan's pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex period.


RELATED RELEASES

• Marc Bolan (December 30, 1965) – Highways Single UK: Acetate

• Marc Bolan (December 30, 1965) – Rings Of Fortune Single UK: Acetate

• Marc Bolan (September 14, 1965) – The Wizard Single UK: Acetate

• Marc Bolan (September 14, 1965) – Beyond The Risin' Sun Single UK: Acetate

RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE

Country

Label

Catalogue Number

Format

Notes

UK

EMIDISC

Unknown

Single-Sided Acetate

Reality

TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)

Format

Catalogue Number

Tracklisting

Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate

Unknown

Side One


• Reality



Side Two


• Blank

SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS

Variant

Notes

Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate

Contains Reality only

Mike Leander Label Copy

Artist name and title handwritten by Mike Leander

Auctioned Copy

Sold for £2,350.00 on April 30, 2002

OURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, RockfilesUK.

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.


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The Bolan Timeline:

The Bolan Timeline:

  • 1971 The Warrior's Reign The arrival of T. Rextasy. Chart success, cultural influence, and the breakthrough.

  • 1972: The Height Of T. Rextasy The phenomenon reaches its peak. Hit records, sold-out concerts, television appearances.

  • 1973: Beyond The Revolution Moving beyond the peak years, Marc continued to evolve creatively while remaining one of Britain's most visible and influential performers.

  • 1974: Zinc Alloy's Dream A year of experimentation, reinvention, and ambitious new directions as Marc sought fresh creative horizons.

  • 1975: Zip Gun Boogie Defined by the release of Bolan's Zip Gun, this period documented Marc's continuing creativity.

  • 1976: The Dragon Takes Flight The Futuristic Dragon era. New ideas, renewed momentum, and the foundations of a remarkable comeback.

  • 1977: The Dandy's Return The celebrated comeback year. New music, television .

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