Marc Bolan (October 10, 1981) – “20th Century Boy” & “You Scare Me To Death” News Brief – The Albert Lea Evening Tribune.
A syndicated entertainment news item reports on two major Marc Bolan archive releases planned for late 1981, highlighting a comprehensive Australian retrospective and a newly assembled collection of 1960s acoustic recordings. Published four years after Bolan's death, the article reflects the continuing interest in his music and legacy.
Publication: The Albert Lea Evening Tribune
Publication Date: October 10, 1981
Country: USA
Event Date: October 1981
This short entertainment column announces two forthcoming Marc Bolan releases aimed at preserving and reintroducing different phases of his musical career.
The article reports that EMI Records Australia was preparing to issue 20th Century Boy, a three‑record, 64‑track anthology spanning Bolan's career from his earliest recordings through the T. Rex years. The extensive collection was designed to provide a broad overview of his evolution as a songwriter, performer and recording artist.
The piece also reports that former manager Simon Napier‑Bell had uncovered a collection of previously recorded acoustic performances dating from the late 1960s. These recordings were being prepared for release under the title You Scare Me To Death, featuring newly added backing from accompanying musicians. According to the article, the release was expected to become available as an import before the end of the month.
The writer describes Bolan as “England's answer to Jim Morrison”, underlining the enduring fascination with his career and influence several years after his death.
CONTEXT AND NOTES
Published in October 1981, the article provides contemporary evidence of the growing effort to catalogue and preserve Marc Bolan's recorded legacy. During the early 1980s, record companies increasingly turned to archive releases, compilations and previously unreleased recordings to satisfy continuing demand from collectors and long‑time followers.
The article is particularly significant because it documents the original promotion of both 20th Century Boy, the major Australian retrospective, and You Scare Me To Death, a release built around much earlier recordings from Bolan's pre‑Tyrannosaurus Rex years.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
Event: Announcement of two major Marc Bolan archive releases
Era: 1981 – Posthumous archive release period
Tone: Informative and retrospective
Photography: Small promotional portrait of Marc Bolan accompanying the article
WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS
Announcement of the 20th Century Boy three‑LP compilation
Coverage of the forthcoming You Scare Me To Death release
Reference to material recorded during the late 1960s
Mention of Simon Napier‑Bell and archive tape discoveries
Evidence of continuing commercial interest in Marc Bolan's catalogue
Contemporary American newspaper coverage of Bolan archive projects
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