Watch every episode of ‘Marc’ from 1977!

Its August 1977. It’s 4:30. Turn on ITV, it’s time for a brand new music show with your host MARC BOLAN!

---

In the summer of 1977 Marc Bolan was trying to re-capture the fame he had one held so tightly, when the last original member of T-Rex left Bolan got a new band together and released Dandy in the Underworld to critical acclaim. Bolan had slimmed down and regained his elfin looks, and the songs too had a stripped-down, streamlined sound. A spring UK tour with punk band The Damned as support garnered positive reviews. As Bolan was enjoying a new surge in popularity, he talked about performing again with Mickey Finn and Steve Peregrin Took, as well as reuniting with Tony  Visconti. To further bolster his unlikely phoenix like rise from the ashes of past it pop stars Granada Television approached Marc to front a series of music shows for the summer of 1977 called Marc in which he would host a mix of new and established bands and perform his own songs. Of course Bolan said yes and the shows were broadcast during the post-school half-hour on ITV earmarked for children and teenagers in August and September and it was a huge success. One episode reunited Bolan with his former John’s Children-bandmate Andy Ellison, then fronting the band Radio Stars. Other notable guests were The Jam, The Boomtown Rats, Eddie & The Hot Rods, Thin Lizzy and David Bowie.

The show was seemingly recorded on a budget equivalent to a family of four’s weekly Spam and Potato Waffles budget and Bolan, although a born performer and a natural in front of the camera is not exactly a great presenter, but that’s part of what gives MARC it’s charm, in a Crossroads kind of way, you watch half expecting the backdrop to fall down or a member of the crew to walk across camera or Bolan to fall off stage whilst jamming with Bowie (Episode 6, near the end). Bolans wandering eyes softly spoken aloofness as to what’s going on around him, makes it seem he has been transported back to the Tolkeinen world he inhabited before the Glam got him. Anyway here’s the shows! (There’s a guide with timings below if you want to skip straight to the poor mans Pans People/Legs & Co called Heart Throb who gyrate to a hit of the day on most episodes)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYA8AhxQyFQ

Here is a breakdown of each episode:

Episode 1 (00.00 – 25:38)

24 August 1977

“Sing Me a Song” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“All Around the World” – The Jam
“I Love to Boogie” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Cool Wind From the North” – Stephanie de Sykes
“No Russians In Russia” – Radio Stars
“You Made Me Believe In Magic” – The Bay City Rollers (Heart Throb Dance)
“Celebrate Summer” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“You Got What It Takes” – Showaddywaddy
“Jeepster” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex

Episode 2 (25:39 – 51:21)

31 August 1977

“Celebrate Summer” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Roots Rock” – Desmond Dekker (Heart Throb Dance)
“If I Can Just Through Tonight” – Alfalpha
“You Made Me Believe In Magic” – Bay City Rollers
“New York City” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Ride a White Swan” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Just a Little Tenderness” – Mud
“People In Love” – 10cc
“Endless Sleep” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex

Episode 3 (51:21 – 1:13:33)

7 September 1977

“Sing Me a Song” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Groove a Little” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Looking After Number One” – The Boomtown Rats
“You’re My Baby” – Jamie Wild
“Let’s Dance” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Celebrate Summer” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex (Hearts Throb Dance)
“Get Your Love Right” – Alan David
“Quark Strangeness and Charm” – Hawkwind
“Hot Love” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex

Episode 4 (1:13:34 – 1:39:06)

14 September 1977

“New York City” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Idolizer” – Denis Conly
“Tulane” – Steve Gibbons Band
“I Love to Boogie” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Endless Sleep” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Confessing” – Robin Askwith
“I Wanna Testify” – Roger Taylor (Queen)
“Dandy In the Underworld” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex

Episode 5 (1:39:07 – 2:02:18)

21 September 1977

“Sing Me a Song” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Sunshine of Your Love” – Rosetta Stone
“Get On” – Hurriganes (Heart Throb Dance)
“Bring Back the Love” – Blue
“Celebrate Summer” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“No Russians In Russia” – Radio Stars
“Dancing In the Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In It’s Spotlight)” – Thin Lizzy
“Get It On” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex

Show 6 (2:02:19 – 2:27:31)

28 September 1977

“Deborah” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Your Generation” – Generation X
“I’m a Fighter” – Lip Service
“Heart Throb’s Dance” – Ain’t it Strange
“Groove A Little” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“Ride A White Swan” – Marc Bolan with T. Rex
“I Haven’t Stopped Dancing Yet” – Gonzalez (Heart Throb Dance)
“Do Anything You Want to Do” – Eddie and the Hot Rods
“Heroes” – David Bowie[7]
Instrumental Jam with David Bowie and Marc Bolan & T. Rex