Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 25 1968) Deborah – Single Review – Runcorn Weekly News

Overview

A brief Runcorn Weekly News review introducing Marc Bolan and Steve Peregrin Took as Tyrannosaurus Rex, coinciding with the release of their debut single Deborah / Child Star on Regal Zonophone. The piece highlights the duo’s originality and distinctive acoustic style, marking one of the earliest regional press mentions of Bolan’s new musical direction following his mod‑era singles.

The Story Behind It

By late April 1968, Deborah had begun to appear in local record columns across the UK, each noting the song’s unusual sound and poetic charm. This Runcorn Weekly News entry is concise but telling — it recognises Bolan’s songwriting and the duo’s originality, describing their music as “distinctive and original.”

The review situates Tyrannosaurus Rex within the growing psychedelic‑folk movement, where acoustic instrumentation and mystical lyrics were replacing electric pop conventions. Its tone is factual and understated, typical of small‑town press coverage, yet it captures the essence of Bolan’s early appeal: a sound that was both intimate and otherworldly. For collectors, this clipping represents one of the earliest regional confirmations of Deborah’s release and its reception beyond London’s underground scene.

Source Details

Publication: Runcorn Weekly News Date: April 25 1968 Format: Single Review / Music Notice Provenance Notes: Original regional press coverage documenting Tyrannosaurus Rex’s debut single and early career; archived via British Library regional press collection.

“Tyrannosaurus Rex play a very distinctive and original style of music.”

What the Clipping Shows

• Headline: “Tyrannosaurus Rex” in bold uppercase type. • Text describing the duo’s “distinctive and original style of music.” • Mention of their debut disc Deborah, written by Marc Bolan, and released on Regal Zonophone. • Layout typical of late‑’60s regional singles columns — short, justified paragraph with bold artist heading. • Tone: neutral, informative, and lightly promotional, reflecting the paper’s role in listing new releases for local readers. • Visual style: simple black‑on‑white print, no accompanying image, compact spacing.

Related Material

• Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 22 1968)

 “Debora” – Single Review – Norwich Evening News   • Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 19 1968) 

Whispering Sweet Things – Worcester News Feature   • Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 19 1968)

 Biggest Ever – Manchester Evening News Review   • Tyrannosaurus Rex (April 19 1968)

 Unusual Name, Unusual Music – Widnes Weekly News Feature   • Additional entries listed in the scrapbook tag

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© Copyright Notice — Runcorn Weekly News (April 25 1968)

All original newspaper text and artwork remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This scrapbook entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference.