Marc Bolan (June 24, 1966) “MARC BOLAN sings a self-penned” – Southern Daily Echo
Updated: Jun 16
This rare early review from June 24, 1966, offers a positive spotlight on Marc Bolan’s second solo single “The Third Degree” / “San Francisco Poet,” highlighting his poetic songwriting and marking one of the earliest published appreciations of his work as a 19-year-old artist on the cusp of his legendary career
PUBLICATION: Southern Daily Echo Date: Friday, June 24, 1966 Country: United Kingdom
Section / Pages: Music / Record Review Column
THE STORY
The short but enthusiastic review praises Bolan’s self-penned “The Third Degree,” noting its dual-tracked vocals, jangling guitar, insistent drum beat, and unusual end effects by U.S. producer Jim Economides. It also highlights the B-side “San Francisco Poet” as strong evidence of Bolan’s poetic talent. The piece mentions Bolan’s upcoming first book and positions him as a promising 19-year-old artist with significant potential.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published just three weeks after the single’s release, this review is a charming snapshot of Bolan’s very early solo days — long before the emergence of Tyrannosaurus Rex and T. Rex. It reflects the growing underground interest in his unique blend of folk, poetry, and rock as he transitioned from Mod scene figure to future glam icon. Reviews like this are quite rare for his pre-T. Rex material.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Early Single Review – “The Third Degree”
Era: 1966 Pre-Glam / Folk-Rock Tone: Positive, encouraging, and forward-looking
Photography: None (text-only review) Visual Motifs: Dense newspaper typography, asterisk borders typical of 1960s music columns
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Short promotional-style review of the Decca single F.12413
Praise for Bolan’s songwriting, production, and poetic style
Mention of his age, background, and plans to publish a book
Producer credit for Jim Economides and reference to previous collaborations
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.
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