Marc Bolan (June 3, 1966) “The Third Degree”– Single 7" UK

On June 3, 1966, Marc Bolan released his second solo single “The Third Degree” / “San Francisco Poet” on Decca Records, capturing his early transition from folk to a more dynamic sound as he built toward his future glam rock stardom with T. Rex. This release showcases Bolan’s poetic songwriting and distinctive voice during his formative years.

RELEASE DETAILS:

Date: June 3, 1966

Label: Decca Records

Formats: 7" vinyl single

Catalog Numbers: F.12413

Related Album: None (pre-T. Rex solo era)

TRACK LISTING

7" Single

A. The Third Degree – (Bolan)

B. San Francisco Poet – (Bolan)

THE STORY

Signed to Decca in 1965, Marc Bolan (then recently renamed from Mark Feld) released this second solo single after his debut “The Wizard.” Both tracks were written by Bolan and produced under the Economides Recording banner. “The Third Degree” is an energetic, rhythmic track, while “San Francisco Poet” serves as a beat-poetry-inspired homage reflecting the counterculture influences of the time. The single was issued in both standard black label and promotional blue label versions (demonstration copies marked “Not For Sale”).

CONTEXT AND NOTES

Neither side charted, but the single is significant as part of Bolan’s development in the mid-1960s folk-rock scene before forming Tyrannosaurus Rex. It features session musicians and highlights Bolan’s evolving songcraft. The release came in the classic Decca company sleeve with red-and-white stripes and “ffrr” fidelity branding. Promotional copies featured striking blue labels, while commercial copies had black labels.

“The Third Degree” gained renewed attention decades later when it was featured in the second episode (“A Bear In A Chain”) of the Apple TV+ series Star City (a spin-off from For All Mankind), adding a cool retro vibe to the show’s 1960s space-race setting.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS

Era: 1966 Pre-Glam / Folk-Rock Tone: Introspective, poetic, and energetic

Artwork: Classic Decca red-and-white striped company sleeve with bold “DECCA” branding

Key Fact: Promotional copies featured distinctive blue labels; commercial releases used black labels.

“The Third Degree” was later used in the TV series Star City.

WHAT THE CLIPPING SHOWS

The provided images display the original UK Decca 7" vinyl labels (blue demonstration copies) for both “The Third Degree” (Gauntlet Music) and “San Francisco Poet” (Pall Mall Music), along with the iconic red-and-white striped Decca company sleeve. Clear details include the June 3, 1966 release date, catalog number F.12413, and production credits.

RELATED MATERIAL Early Reviews of the Single:

• Marc Bolan (June 4, 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Lancashire Evening Telegraph (UK)

• Marc Bolan (June 10, 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Huddersfield Daily Examiner (UK)

• Marc Bolan (June 10, 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Redditch Indicator & Alcester Chronicle (UK)

• Marc Bolan (June 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Worcester Evening News (UK)

• Marc Bolan (June 14, 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Lincolnshire Echo (UK)

• Marc Bolan (June 24, 1966) "The Third Degree" Single Review – Southern Daily Echo (UK)

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