🔘 Cat Black – Single: Nov. 1981

Released: November 6, 1981 (UK)

Label: Cherry Red Records

Catalogue Number: CHERRY 32

Format: 7" Vinyl Single

A posthumous release pairing two previously unreleased Bolan recordings — the whimsical Cat Black backed with the Debussy‑tinged Jasper C.

Issued by Cherry Red, the single offered a rare glimpse into Bolan’s playful, experimental side.

🔘 Overview

Cat Black was released on November 6, 1981 as part of Cherry Red’s early‑’80s programme of issuing previously unheard Marc Bolan material. Produced by Simon Napier‑Bell, the A‑side showcases Bolan’s quirky, melodic pop instincts, while the B‑side, Jasper C, nods toward classical influences with a light Debussy flavour.

Although warmly received by collectors, CHERRY 32 did not chart, but it remains a notable archival release for its unique tone and its preservation of two otherwise unavailable Bolan curios.

🔘 Track List (Common Configurations)

7" Vinyl — CHERRY 32

A. Cat Black

B. Jasper C

Written by: Marc Bolan

Produced by: Simon Napier‑Bell

🔘 Release Details

Label: Cherry Red Records

Formats: 7" Vinyl

Country: UK

Year: 1981

Notes:

- Posthumous release of two previously unreleased tracks

- Produced by Simon Napier‑Bell

- Issued in picture sleeve

- Distinct from the Tyrannosaurus Rex track of the same name

🔘 Variants (Discogs‑Verified)

Variant 1

UK – Cherry Red – CHERRY 32 (1981)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Paper Label)

Variant 2

UK – Cherry Red – CHERRY 32 (1981)

Format: 7" Vinyl (Injection‑moulded label, select pressings)

🔘 Chart Data (BBC / Official Charts Company)

Peak Position: UK — No Chart Entry

Weeks on Chart: —

Chart Run (Official Charts):

No UK chart position recorded.

🔘 Context & Notes

Recording Notes

Cat Black leans into Bolan’s whimsical glam‑pop sensibility, while Jasper C’s melodic phrasing hints at classical inspiration, making the single a stylistic outlier in his catalogue.

Collector Notes

Clean picture sleeves are increasingly sought after. As a posthumous archival single, CHERRY 32 holds strong appeal for completists.

Legacy

A charming, off‑beat Bolan artefact — playful, melodic, and revealing of his lighter creative impulses.

🔘 Related Material

Previous Archival Release

Deep Summer EP (1982)

Next Archival Release

Thunderwing‑series singles (1982–83)

🔘 Discography (Selected, Chronological)

Cat Black — 1981 (archival single)

Jasper C — 1981 (archival single)

🔘 Mini‑Timeline

1970s — Original recordings made

Nov. 6, 1981 — UK single released

🔘 Glam Flashback

A whimsical spark from Bolan’s archive — light, quirky, and unexpectedly elegant.

🔘 Sources

Cherry Red Records

Discogs

Official Charts Company

T. Rex archival documentation