Marc Bolan (September 1, 1965) – The Wizard Single UK: Acetate
This rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate represents one of the earliest known recordings associated with Marc Bolan's professional career. Produced by Jim Economides and recorded at Decca Studios in West Hampstead, the disc survives as an important artefact from Bolan's pre-Tyrannosaurus Rex period.
Unlike the Decca advance test recordings from the same period, this example was cut on an EMIDISC recording blank and contains a single recording of "The Wizard". The handwritten label identifies the artist as Marc Bolan and includes a noted release date of October 29.
The acetate provides further evidence of Bolan's early recording activities during 1965 as he worked to establish himself as a songwriter and performer.
The recording was made at Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London.
Production duties were handled by Jim Economides.
The acetate dates from September 1965 and was cut onto a single-sided EMIDISC recording blank.
The handwritten label identifies the recording as "The Wizard" and credits Marc Bolan as the artist.
STYLE & THEMES
"The Wizard" belongs to Marc Bolan's earliest surviving professional recordings and captures the future T. Rex leader during the formative stages of his career.
The recording predates the psychedelic folk period of Tyrannosaurus Rex and the glam-rock success of T. Rex, documenting an important stage in Bolan's artistic development.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
SIDE ONE
• The Wizard – Early Marc Bolan recording preserved on a rare single-sided EMIDISC acetate.
RELEASE HISTORY
The acetate originates from September 1965 recording sessions at Decca Studios.
The supplied label includes a handwritten date of October 29, which may represent an intended release date or a significant production date connected to the recording.
No commercial acetate release has been supplied within the source material.
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, songwriter
Jim Economides — producer
PRODUCTION
Marc Bolan recording produced by Jim Economides at Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London.
NOTES
• Recorded during September 1965.
• Produced by Jim Economides.
• Recorded at Decca Studios, Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead, London.
• Exists as a single-sided EMIDISC acetate.
• Contains "The Wizard" only.
• The supplied label identifies the artist as Marc Bolan.
• The handwritten label includes the notation "29th October".
• The acetate may provide evidence that the intended release date for "The Wizard" was October 29 rather than October 9.
• The source notes the possibility that a previously documented date may have been misread, with a handwritten "2" potentially interpreted as a dash.
• The handwriting on the acetate is noted as matching that found on the Hippy Gumbo and Jasper C. Debussy SPOT acetates from August 1967.
• The disc was created as a studio acetate rather than a commercial pressing.
• Surviving examples are extremely rare.
• The recording belongs to Marc Bolan's earliest documented professional studio period.
RELATED RELEASES
• The Wizard
• Beyond The Risin' Sun
• San Francisco Poet
• Early Marc Bolan Acetates
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
UK VARIANTS
Country | Label | Catalogue Number | Format | Notes |
UK | EMIDISC | Unknown | Single-Sided Acetate | The Wizard |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Catalogue Number | Tracklisting |
Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate | Unknown | Side One • The Wizard |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Single-Sided EMIDISC Acetate | Contains The Wizard only |
Handwritten Label Variant | Includes handwritten October 29 notation |
Studio Acetate | Recorded from the 1965 Decca sessions |
SOURCES Discogs, 45 World, Wikipedia, BBC Official Charts, Prince Vault, Sleeveographia2, 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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