The Enduring Soul of To Know You Is To Love You A Marc Bolan & Gloria Jones Highlight
The recording of To Know You Is To Love You by Marc Bolan and Gloria Jones occupies a unique place in the later output of Marc Bolan and the creative partnership he shared with Gloria Jones. Released in January nineteen seventy seven, the single was credited to both artists and reflected a moment in which Bolan was experimenting beyond the glam rock stylings for which he had become famous.
The song itself is a version of the classic To Know Him Is To Love Him, originally written by Phil Spector and first made famous by the Teddy Bears in the late nineteen fifties. Over the years, that composition had been interpreted by many artists across genres, and Bolan and Jones’s version stands as one of the more distinctive rock infused takes of the tune.
Recorded and released during a period of artistic transition, To Know You Is To Love You represented a very personal connection between Bolan and Jones. Their relationship was both romantic and musical, and this duet exemplifies that fusion of personal and professional life. The song did not make a significant chart impact at the time, but it has endured among fans as one of the few collaborative singles credited jointly to Bolan and Jones.
Musically the track blends Bolan’s rock sensibilities with a soulful vocal approach drawn from Jones’s background in R&B and Motown session work. Gloria Jones was an accomplished vocalist and songwriter, known for her strong gospel influenced voice and for her original recording of Tainted Love in the nineteen sixties. Her contributions to the duet give the performance a depth that contrasts with Bolan’s more idiosyncratic style.
The song’s release came during a challenging period for Bolan’s career, as the glam rock movement he had helped define in the early seventies had begun to wane and the music industry around him was shifting rapidly. Bolan was actively exploring new sounds and approaches, and his work with Jones during this time reflects that exploratory phase.
Although To Know You Is To Love You did not become a major hit, its value lies in its snapshot of Bolan and Jones working closely together, blending their distinct musical identities. In the years since its release, it has come to be appreciated by collectors and fans as a piece of Bolan’s later catalogue that speaks to both his creative ambition and his personal life.
Today the track remains available in various formats and continues to be shared through fan communities and archival releases. It stands as an example of how artists can reinterpret classic material through their own emotional lens and how partnerships in music can deepen the meaning of a performance.