Marc Bolan - Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time

Review by Charles Slang

Album Review: "Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time" by Marc Bolan Marc Bolan’s Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time is a treasure chest of raw creativity, offering fans an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of rock's most enigmatic figures. Released in 2018 via Easy Action, this collection dives deep into Bolan’s archives, pulling out demo versions, alternate takes, and unreleased gems that span his iconic career. With genres ranging from Pop to Funk/Soul, and styles like Glam, Acoustic, and Blues Rock, it’s a sprawling sonic journey that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly unpolished. The album kicks off with some legendary tracks, but two stood out for me personally—“Get It On (Unedited Direct Transfer From Marc’s Own Reels)” and “Lay On Me Lena.” Listening to these feels like sneaking backstage at a secret gig where only you and Bolan are hanging out. First up, “Get It On.” If you’ve ever heard the polished studio version, this take will slap you sideways. Stripped down and brimming with energy, it’s got that rough-around-the-edges vibe that makes demos so special. You can almost picture Bolan hunched over his guitar, lost in the moment, letting the groove flow naturally. The percussion here is looser, less polished than the hit single we all know, giving it a funky, almost jam-session feel. It reminds you how much magic happens when things aren’t perfect—when they’re just real. Then there’s “Lay On Me Lena,” which hits differently in this stripped-back format. It’s softer, more soulful, almost as if Bolan's whispering secrets directly into your ear. His vocals have this haunting quality, backed by minimal instrumentation that lets every word breathe. Tracks like this make you realize how much emotion gets layered under production sometimes—you miss the heart of it. Here, though, it’s front and center. What really ties this whole thing together is the care put into its presentation. Kudos to Les Clark for the artwork, and massive props to Anders Peterson and Patrick Bird for their mastering work. They didn’t try to fix what wasn’t broken; instead, they let Bolan’s original recordings shine through, warts and all. And Mickey Finn’s congas? Pure fire. Those little rhythmic bursts add texture without overshadowing Bolan’s genius. This isn’t just another posthumous cash grab—it’s a love letter to Bolan’s legacy. Andrew J. Gardner’s liner notes give context, while the sheer volume of material shows how prolific Bolan truly was. Sure, not every track lands perfectly, but that’s kinda the point. These weren’t meant to be finished products; they were sketches, ideas, moments captured in time. Reflecting on this album, I’m struck by how human it feels. Bolan wasn’t just a glam icon or a rock star—he was a dude messing around with chords and lyrics, chasing inspiration wherever it led him. One random thought keeps popping into my head: What would Bolin think about TikTok? Would he be vibing with influencers covering “Telegram Sam” or laughing at memes about his feathered hats? Probably both. If you’re a diehard fan or even just someone curious about the roots of glam rock, Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time is worth your time. Just don’t expect perfection—expect something far better: authenticity. Final Verdict: 8/10 It’s messy, beautiful, and utterly Bolan. Like finding an old diary full of half-written poems and doodles, it’s imperfect but unforgettable.

Download Marc Bolan - Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time

Artist: Marc Bolan
Album: Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time

2019

Rating: 5.0

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
All Alone	2:24
Free Angel #2	2:10
Canyon	1:23
Left Hand Luke	2:40
Shame on You	1:44
Over the Flats	1:44
Cry Baby	0:49
This Is My Life	4:58
Truck On (Tyke)	1:41
Mister Mister	2:07
Take Me Down To Birmingham	4:39
Just Like Me	2:14
Country Honey	2:03
Canyon	1:22
.Marc & Mickey Jam #3
Dance In The Midnight	2:23
Carsmille Smith	3:19
Meadows of The Sea
High Wire	1:22
The Slider	3:43
Life Is Strange	2:13
Buick MacKane	1:41
You Got the Look (Electric Slim)	1:48
Baby Strange	2:38
Mad Donna #2	2:19
Signs	1:54
Did You Ever	3:07
Shadow Babe (Rock On)	2:18
Mad Donna #1	2:17
Nameless Wildness	1:45
Squint Eye Mangle	1:41
Spanish Midnight	0:35
Jitterbug Love #2	2:29
Free Angel #1	2:05
Cry Baby (Electric)	0:39
Highway Knees	1:48
Spaceball Ricochet	2:01
Jitterbug Love#1	2:46
Mad Donna #2	2:19
Girl + False Starts	1:43
Shadow Babe (Rock on)	2:15
Jet Tambourine	2:16
Free Angel #1	2:05
Get It On
The Leopards #1	3:44
Here Comes The Electric Warrior / There Was A Time	2:10
Jeepster	5:02
Galaxy	1:02
Saturday Night	2:12
Slider Blues	3:32
The Groover	3:23
Up On The Roof About Midnight	0:37
Sailors Of The Highway	2:17
Broken Hearted Blues	1:48
.Marc & Mickey Jam #2
Marc & Mickey Jam #3	4:08
Sailors of The Highway
Zinc Rider	0:57
Sign	1:51
Mad Donna #3	2:06
Left Hand Luke	2:42
City Port	1:30
Rapids	1:30
The Street & Babe Shadow	2:20
The Leopards	1:33
Marc & Mickey Jam #2	0:21
Cadilac	3:33
What Do I See	1:18
Mr Motion #2	1:40
Electric Lips	2:37
Life Is Strange	2:14
Jitterbug Love #1	2:46
Would I Be the One	1:15
Keyboard Instrumental	3:14
Sitting There	1:59
Buick MacKane & The Babe Shadow	1:01
Thunderwing	2:59
Over The Flats	1:47
Marc & Mickey Jam #1	0:35
Auto Machine	1:39
Dark Lipped Woman	2:01
Children Of The World	2:23
Mad Donna #1	2:18
Mad Donna #3	2:07
Alligator Man	2:15
Guitar Jam	1:17
Down Home Lady	1:13
Meadows Of The Sea	4:21
Street And Babe Shadow	2:23
Misfortune Gatehouse	1:08
Get It On (Unedited Direct Transfer From Marc's Own Reels)	3:19
Is It True	1:50
Would I Be The One?	1:18
Work with Me Baby
Girl #2	2:54
Girl
Rolling Stone	2:39
I'm Coming To Rock 'N' Roll	0:40
Little Girl (Shame on You)	0:44
The Avengers (Superbad)	2:48
Wild About My Baby (Spaceball Boot)	2:07
Metal Guru	1:39
You Got The Look (Electric Slim)	1:50
Shake It Winged One	1:22
Shame On You	1:46
Pop Songs (Free Angel)	1:50
Lay On Me Lena	0:49
Work With Me Baby	2:14
Gypsy Queen (My Shaky Jane)	8:32
Little Girl	1:26
Children of the World
Sunken Rags	2:28
Sugar Baby	1:43
Telegram Sam	2:32
Mr Motion #1	1:49
Tenement Lady	1:51
Lay on Me Lena	0:48
The Leopards #2	4:45
Painless Persuasion	2:03
I'm Coming to Rock 'n' Roll	0:38
Look Around You Baby / Delanie #1	2:22
Here Comes the Electric Warrior / There Was A Time
Cry Baby (Acoustic)	0:51
Always	1:4
Rock On	2:15
Look Around You Baby / Delanie #2	1:25
Change	4:6
Little Girl (Shame On You)	0:46
Planet Queen	2:30

Video

Sunken Rags (Marc's home demo) - Marc Bolan

Marc Bolan - There Was A Time

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Catalog Numbers

EARS145
EARS143LP
EARS141LP

Labels

Easy Action

Listen online

ascolta in linea
ouvir online
online luisteren
kuunnella verkossa
lyssna på nätet
escuchar en línea
online anhören
lytte på nettet
écouter en ligne

Formats

5 × CD
Compilation
Remastered Box Set
Vinyl
LP
Limited Edition

Companies

Role	Company
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Easy Action
Copyright (c)	Easy Action
Remastered At	GS Mastering & Post
Manufactured By	www.enconahead.com
Glass Mastered At	GZ Digital Media
Published By	Spirit Music
Mastered At	GS Mastering & Post

Credits

Role	Credit
Artwork	Les Clark
Design	Les Clark
Compiled By	Andrew James Gardner
Sleeve Notes	Andrew James Gardner
Coordinator	Andrew James Gardner, Carlton P Sandercock
Other	Steve Pittis
Remastered By	Anders Peterson, Patrick Bird (tracks: 4-11)
Liner Notes	Andrew J. Gardner
Engineer	Anders Peterson
Mastered By	Anders Peterson
Guitar	Marc Bolan
Vocals	Marc Bolan
Written-By	Marc Bolan
Congas	Mickey Finn

Notes

"The material represented on this unique series of CDs comes in the main from four reels of home demo tapes recorded by Marc at his London homes between the spring of 1971 and the autumn of 1973.
What has been uncovered within these reels are the genuine embryonic beginnings of many Bolan classics, along with well over a dozen songs discarded as the recording process moved from Marc's four track TEAC A3340/Revox A77 home tape machines all the way to finished studio masters."
"Most of these recordings were stolen from Marc & Gloria’s home literally the day after Marc died. It is with great pride that we are returning these recordings to the family and the royalties from sales of this set, now audio restored and mastered by Anders Peterson at Ghost Sound in Sweden, will help fund The Marc Bolan School of Music through Gloria’s charity The Light of Love Foundation."
℗ & © 2018 Easy Action / Light Of Love Foundation
All royalties go to Light of Love Foundation for The Marc Bolan School of Music & Film, Gloria Jones, Rolan Feld.
Clamshell box with each CD in individual card sleeves and a 28-page booklet featuring photos and liner notes on each volume.
Limited to 750 Copies Worldwide.

Barcodes

Barcode (Printed): 5 060446 072103
Barcode (Scanned): 5060446072103
Matrix / Runout (Volume 1): [GZ Digital Media logo] EB2011 EARS145/1/CD
Matrix / Runout (Volume 2): [GZ Digital Media logo] EB2015 EARS145/2/CD
Matrix / Runout (Volume 3): [GZ Digital Media logo] EB2016 EARS145/3/CD
Matrix / Runout (Volume 4): [GZ Digital Media logo] EB2019 EARS145/4/CD
Matrix / Runout (Volume 5): [GZ Digital Media logo] EB2023 EARS145/5/CD
Mastering SID Code: IFPI LD02
Mould SID Code: IFPI 5J33
Barcode: 5060446071991
Barcode: 5060446071977

About Marc Bolan

Album herunterladen Marc Bolan - Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time

Marc Bolan (born Mark Feld) was an English singer-songwriter, musician, guitarist, and poet. He was best known as the lead singer of the rock band . He died at the age of 29 in a car accident a fortnight before his 30th birthday. Born: 30 September 1947 in Hackney, London, England, UK. Died: 16 September 1977 in Barnes, London, England, UK (aged 29). Father of .

Real Name

Mark Feld

Name Vars

Bolan
Bolan Marc
Bolan, Marc
Bolan. M.
Bolin
Bölan
M Bolan
M. Bohan
M. Bolan
M.Belan
M.Bolan
Marc
Marc / Bolan
Marc Balou
Marc Bolan & String Quartet
Marc Bolan Ze T.Rex
Marc Boland
Marc Bolen
Marc Bolin
Marc Bölan
Marc-Bolan
Mark Bolan
Mark Bolin
T. Rex's Marc Bolan
Болан
М. Болан
Марк Болaн
Марк Болан
Þü¯"Üéó
Þü¯ûÜéó

Aliases

Toby Tyler
Mark Feld

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The album *Home Demos Volume 1 There Was A Time* by Marc Bolan, released in 2018, is a treasure trove of raw creativity. It features early versions of iconic tracks like *"Get It On"* and *"Telegram Sam,"* showcasing Bolan's genius in their unpolished form. What’s wild is that these recordings sat untouched for decades, straight from Bolan’s own reels. You can hear the soulful grit of Glam Rock blending with acoustic blues, all tied together by his unmistakable voice. Plus, it’s cool to know Mickey Finn added congas to some jams, giving them that extra funky edge. This record feels like stepping back into Bolan’s living room—a rare glimpse at the magic before it hit the stage.

Comments

zambaszaki28

2025-03-14

A pal of mine at the time had the album (he was a Hawkwind fan ?) . . . he was the only one who could afford it - it being a triple album of all things. Had it on extended loan . . . the only way to hear the song back then ??? I did give it back - eventually ?

bosy16

2025-03-13

This wasn’t really a ‘demo’. Marc recorded this as an actual acoustic track for the charity album. I prefer it to the later electric version.

rufas18

2025-03-12

This absolutely brilliant his music works whether acoustic or electric glad to hear this, love Marc forever

nudgethink

2025-03-11

tbh this is not how I remember it from the Glastonbury Fayre album (though it may be 30 years since I heard it). The playing was lighter, and it was a bit more "worked". The album notes mentioned it was a 2 track, and may have been overdubbed by Marc from the demo played here. I always thought that the acoustic version superior to the studio track, even though I think that is great also.