Tyrannosaurus Rex (1968) – Debora(h) / Child Star Single UK: Acetate
This rare Tyrannosaurus Rex acetate documents an early stage in the group's recording history during 1968. The surviving double-sided EMIDISC acetate contains "Debora(h)" on one side and "Child Star" on the other, preserving fascinating handwritten annotations and illustrations created by Marc Bolan and June Child.
The acetate is particularly significant because it provides a personal glimpse into the creative world surrounding Tyrannosaurus Rex at the time.
The handwritten notes, spelling variations and original artwork transform the disc from a simple studio reference recording into a unique historical artefact.
The supplied source identifies the recording as a 1968 double-sided acetate.
The surviving acetate contains recordings of "Debora(h)" and "Child Star".
The label artwork was customised by Marc Bolan and June Child using handwritten titles, illustrations and decorative elements.
A separate single-sided white-label test pressing is also known to exist.
STYLE & THEMES
The recordings belong to the formative Tyrannosaurus Rex period and reflect the imaginative and poetic style that distinguished Marc Bolan's work from contemporary pop music.
The surviving acetate is notable not only for its recordings but also for the visual creativity displayed on the label itself, with illustrations, handwritten titles and artwork contributing to its historical significance.
TRACK-BY-TRACK NOTES
SIDE ONE
• Debora(h) – Appears on the acetate with the title spelled "Deborah", providing one of several spelling variations associated with the song.
SIDE TWO
• Child Star – Featured on the reverse side of the acetate and handwritten on the label.
RELEASE HISTORY
The supplied source identifies the recording as a 1968 double-sided acetate.
In addition to the acetate, a single-sided white-label test pressing is known to survive.
The test pressing carries personal inscriptions from Marc Bolan and demonstrates multiple alternate spellings of the title "Debora".
PERSONNEL
Marc Bolan — vocals, songwriter, illustrations, handwritten annotations
June Child — handwritten annotations, decorative artwork
PRODUCTION
Label: EMIDISC
Country: UK
Format: Double-Sided Acetate
Year: 1968
NOTES
• Dates from 1968.
• Survives as a double-sided EMIDISC acetate.
• Contains "Debora(h)" and "Child Star".
• Marc Bolan and June Child both wrote on and decorated the acetate.
• According to the supplied source, "Deborah", "Child Star" and "Tyr Rex" on the labels appear to have been written by June Child.
• The remaining writing and illustrations are believed to have been created by Marc Bolan.
• The acetate contains the spelling "Deborah" with a final "h".
• A single-sided white-label test pressing is also known.
• The test pressing was signed by Marc to Kate (Palmer), Ben and Jo.
• The test pressing contains three different spellings of the title: • Deborah • Debora • Debra
• "Deborah" is attributed to June Child in the supplied source.
• "Debora" is attributed to Marc Bolan in the supplied source.
• "Debra" is attributed to an unknown writer in the supplied source.
• The acetate remains an unusually personal surviving artefact due to its handwritten text and artwork.
RELEASE VARIANTS TABLE
Country | Year | Format | Notes |
UK | 1968 | Double-Sided Acetate | Debora(h) / Child Star |
UK | 1968 | Single-Sided White Label Test Pressing | Signed by Marc Bolan |
TRACKLIST TABLE (ALL FORMATS)
Format | Tracklisting |
Double-Sided Acetate | Side One • Debora(h) Side Two • Child Star |
Single-Sided Test Pressing | Side One • Debora |
SPECIAL PRESSINGS & VARIANTS
Variant | Notes |
Double-Sided Acetate | Hand-decorated by Marc Bolan and June Child |
White Label Test Pressing | Personally signed by Marc Bolan |
Spelling Variation Acetate | Uses "Deborah" spelling |
Test Pressing Variant | Contains Deborah, Debora and Debra spellings |
SOURCES 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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