Mike Raven

[Donkit]

I used to listen to these religiously.

Anyone know where I can get recordings of Mike Raven's Radio 1 R&B shows ?

cheers

Don

[dthedrug]

I used to listen to these religiously.

Anyone know where I can get recordings of Mike Raven's Radio 1 R&B shows ?

cheers

Don

HI ALL...Mike Raven was the Man back in the mid 6ts. and did do 3 LP's that I have, but because of the state of the Record Room, I will only list 1 for now, and add the other 2 ASAP. On Transatlantic TTRA SAM 5 Mike Raven "Blues Sampler". A really nice LP and Mikes narration takes you into the whole world of the Blues, Contains Leadbelly Dr Ross Sonny Terry, Memphis Slim and more.. The other 2 are on ELECTRA and are also blues samplers with the title Mike Raven Presents...Blues.Vol 1 & 2,and I am pretty sure their is another LP that I don't have/

For the younger ones Mike Raven was with exception the only real way of finding out what was happening in the UK. He was a public school boy and Ox-bridge through and through, I first herd him on the Pirate Station "BIG L" Radio London & when that was closed in 67 he Joined Radio 1 and his R&B show was again great listening at a time when Black Music Was not played on Radio, his R&B Show opened with the Mike Cotton Sound - Soul Serenade, to most of us who remember him have this MGM 45 as a passport to state you are in the know!!

I have an Original TROJAN Records Film of the Wembaly REGGAE 70, which has been much sampled for the footage of "SKINHEADS" but the complete film is rare, and MIKE Narrates this to a tea, I hope this is of some help to you?

DAVE KIL

[Guest]

Early Saurday evenings I reckon - happy daze indeed

[Guest]

Early Saurday evenings I reckon - happy daze indeed

I can remember Mike Raven announcing , and playing a tribute to the passing of Tammi Terrell , on his Sunday evening show on the 22nd of March 1970 , following her death on the 16th .

Malc Burton

[De-to]

bit of info here,

https://www.radiorewind.co.uk/radio1/mike_raven_page.htm

[Geoff]

I first heard Mike Raven on Radio 390, think it was broadcast from an old fort in the Thames estuary, but no doubt someone on here can confirm or deny that. Not sure what pirate station he went to after that, but he was on Radio 1, possibly from its inception, just can't remember.

He used to DJ on Wednesday nights at Bluesville, Manor House. Happy days, I used to go there with Lesley, we'd only been going out a short time then. Was it weekly or monthly, again I can't remember? He was good, always played a good selection, and I can remember him playing some track that must have had a touch of rock'n'roll because he jived with his blonde wife Mandy, he was a good dancer. He played Marvin Gaye's Little Darlin' one night for the first time and said he'd give it to the first person to get to him, Lesley and I always danced up the front so I was there in a flash, still got it in my collection and occasionally in my record box.

He was possibly the most important soul DJ on the radio in those days, with the Emperor Rosko being close. It would be nice to hear some of those old shows, maybe somebody's got tapes of them.

[Pete S]

I've got loads of Mike Raven shows on reel to reel tape. I did put up an excerpt on here about 4 years ago. Sadly nearly all the dj bits have been cut out to leave just the music. What I do have though is a book in which Colin, the chap who made the tapes, wrote down every track that was played on the show for about a year. If I can find it I'll scan some of it if any interest.

[Jerry Hipkiss]

I first heard Mike Raven on Radio 390, think it was broadcast from an old fort in the Thames estuary, but no doubt someone on here can confirm or deny that. Not sure what pirate station he went to after that, but he was on Radio 1, possibly from its inception, just can't remember.

IIRC Once 390 closed he went virtually straight into the Beeb - Dthedrug, yer memory's playing up mate, he was never on Big L as apart from John Peels "Perfumed Garden" (which in itself only came about because Peel realised the bosses weren't listening after midnight), Big L didn't do specialist shows!

[Guest MBarrett]

I think picture below is the first DJ line-up when Radio 1 first started.

Mike Raven is the bearded guy - fourth from the left on the front row.

I can only just recall his show. The guy I remember better is Dave Symons (?sp) who took over the early Saturday evening slot.

I think that is DS far right on the back row.

MB

[Donkit]

I've got loads of Mike Raven shows on reel to reel tape. I did put up an excerpt on here about 4 years ago. Sadly nearly all the dj bits have been cut out to leave just the music. What I do have though is a book in which Colin, the chap who made the tapes, wrote down every track that was played on the show for about a year. If I can find it I'll scan some of it if any interest.

Hi Pete,

Would certainly be of interest to me. I remember buying, The Mike Cotton Sound - Soul Serenade after hearing his show.

Don

Edited May 10, 2010 by DonKit

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Hi Pete,

Would certainly be of interest to me. I remember buying, The Mike Cotton Sound - Soul Serenade after hearing his show.

Don

Mike was also on 390's predecessor Radio KING, where he used to present a specialist R&B/Soul show as well as the station's breakfast show with (I think) his wife Mandy. He did indeed go straight to the BBC from 390.

I have one complete Radio 1 show on CD, from late November 1969, where he's playing some of his favourite LPs from the year 'for consideration for your Christmas presents'. His style of presentation has not aged at all well, sad to say - it now sounds more Cholmondley-Warner than Fluff Freeman - but his taste was tremendous and he wasn't frightened to say when he thought an artist had gone off the boil (as he does about Aretha Franklin on the show I have).

If nothing else, I have to than Mike for introducing me to Robert Johnson, Washington Phillips, Son House, Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson and tons of other American blues icons, not to mention widening my appreciation of Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Irma Thomas, and so many others that I heard so much earlier in my life than I would otherwise have done without his groundbreaking show.

[Mike Lofthouse]

His style of presentation has not aged at all well, sad to say - it now sounds more Cholmondley-Warner than Fluff Freeman - but his taste was tremendous and he wasn't frightened to say when he thought an artist had gone off the boil (as he does about Aretha Franklin on the show I have).

If nothing else, I have to than Mike for introducing me to Robert Johnson, Washington Phillips, Son House, Charley Patton, Tommy Johnson and tons of other American blues icons, not to mention widening my appreciation of Solomon Burke, Wilson Pickett, Irma Thomas, and so many others that I heard so much earlier in my life than I would otherwise have done without his groundbreaking show.

As did his real name - Austin Churton Fairman !!!

A really interesting life that R&B only played a small part in - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-churton-fairman-1270037.html

Like Tony he introduced me to the whole spectrum of Black Music. Mike

[Wiggyflat]

As did his real name - Austin Churton Fairman !!!

A really interesting life that R&B only played a small part in - https://www.independe...an-1270037.html

Like Tony he introduced me to the whole spectrum of Black Music. Mike

Horror movie actor as well I Monster,Lust For A Vampire and The Crucible of Terror (with the bloke from the Likely Lads). Remember seeing pictures of him and he was fond of a black rollneck and pendant.I always wondered whether he was really into the dark side like Graham Bond (We Put Our Magik On You period).

Just read the link............obviously not a friend of the dark side

Edited May 10, 2010 by wiggyflat

[ricticman]

IIRC Once 390 closed he went virtually straight into the Beeb - Dthedrug, yer memory's playing up mate, he was never on Big L as apart from John Peels "Perfumed Garden" (which in itself only came about because Peel realised the bosses weren't listening after midnight), Big L didn't do specialist shows!

That's my recollection too Jerry .

In addition - it's my firm memory that his beeb show was [ at least for a time ] at 7-00pm on a Sunday .

First 30 mins was soul, including new releases from that week. After 7-30 he went off into more bluesy stuff [ afraid to admit I switched off at that time to race round to meet my mates - we either went to Browns in Stretford above the co-op in davyhulme, or if we had the money we'd go to the blue rooms in Sale ].

Much chat was about what had been played in that half hour . Def remember hearing Jerry Butler ' only the strong survive ' as a new release on uk mercury and having to buy it immediately the following Thursday when it popped up in Whites and Swales in Stretford [ new releases always arrived on the Thursday ].

ditto Carl Carlton and quite a few other uk action.

I'll get me coat !

pete

[Pete Jay]

I think picture below is the first DJ line-up when Radio 1 first started.

Mike Raven is the bearded guy - fourth from the left on the front row.

I can only just recall his show. The guy I remember better is Dave Symons (?sp) who took over the early Saturday evening slot.

I think that is DS far right on the back row.

MB

LOOKS LIKE 2 OF THE ORIGINAL RADO 1 DJs ARE MISSING FROM THE PHOTO - SMASHIE & NICIE

[Agentsmith]

I think picture below is the first DJ line-up when Radio 1 first started.

Mike Raven is the bearded guy - fourth from the left on the front row.

I can only just recall his show. The guy I remember better is Dave Symons (?sp) who took over the early Saturday evening slot.

I think that is DS far right on the back row.

MB

name the line-up please, i know ive seen this many times but usually in books and papers and...also how many of them had signature tunes and can you name the tunes?

get your thinking caps on!

personally, my fave was dlt's on sunday morning's, none other than "touch of velvet - sting of brass" by mood mosaic

rob.h

[grantdyche]

There is a bit of info on here about Mike Raven and all the early Radio 1 and 2 dj's

There is also a sound clip from one of his shows in 1968

https://www.radiorewi..._raven_page.htm

Sorry did not read all the other posts on this subject just seen that the link was already posted

Edited May 10, 2010 by grantdyche

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

I think picture below is the first DJ line-up when Radio 1 first started.

Mike Raven is the bearded guy - fourth from the left on the front row.

I can only just recall his show. The guy I remember better is Dave Symons (?sp) who took over the early Saturday evening slot.

I think that is DS far right on the back row.

MB

That is indeed David Symonds on the far right, back row.

Not to be confused with David Simmons, who took over the R&B show and who isn't in this picture as he hadn't joined Radio 1 yet!

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

name the line-up please, i know ive seen this many times but usually in books and papers and...also how many of them had signature tunes and can you name the tunes?

get your thinking caps on!

personally, my fave was dlt's on sunday morning's, none other than "touch of velvet - sting of brass" by mood mosaic

rob.h

Right, I'll have a go – this is from memory so don't expect miracles!

Back row: Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Young, Kenny Everett, Duncan Johnson, Robin Scott, (controller of Radio 1), Pete Drummond (I think), Dave Cash, Pete Brady, David Symonds.

Middle row - the hardest!: Bob Holness, Terry Wogan, Barry Alldis, dunno, Keith Skues, Chris Denning (I think), Johnnie Moran, Tommy Vance (I think).

Front row – the easiest!: Pete Murray, Ed Stewart, David Rider, Mike Raven, Mike Aherne, John Peel

of the other original Radio 1 DJs, these aren't in the picture:

Simon Dee, Stuart Henry, Emperor Rosko, Keith Fordyce, Tony Hall, Alan Freeman, Jack Jackson

..so these might be!

Denny Piercy, Ray Moore, Pete Myers, Mike Lennox

Edited May 11, 2010 by TONY ROUNCE

[Pete S]

Isn't one of the above a scumbag paedophile child molestor now living in the Far East?

[Guest TONY ROUNCE]

Isn't one of the above a scumbag paedophile child molestor now living in the Far East?

Yes, and I'll let you choose which one:lol:

Seriously, Chris Denning is the guilty scumbag in question...

[dthedrug]

Yes, and I'll let you choose which one:lol:

Seriously, Chris Denning is the guilty scumbag in question...

Hi All ... I thought I was in the small minority, who was into this sort of stuff, I have a K,TEL Pirate Radio,,CAROLINE a sidee .. Ed stewart B side. not rare more elusive but it's a spare, do a UK trade for it, also the jumbo stuff and the radio London last hour I also would like the uneditord version of the radio London "Wonderful Big L" is it done by Jimmy MC Griff/? CHRIS DENNIG??? REMEMBER KIETH SCUES AS HE IS ON THE RADIO 1 PHOTO DAVE

[Jerry Hipkiss]

Hi All ... I thought I was in the small minority, who was into this sort of stuff, I have a K,TEL Pirate Radio,,CAROLINE a sidee .. Ed stewart B side. not rare more elusive but it's a spare, do a UK trade for it, also the jumbo stuff and the radio London last hour I also would like the uneditord version of the radio London "Wonderful Big L" is it done by Jimmy MC Griff/? CHRIS DENNIG??? REMEMBER KIETH SCUES AS HE IS ON THE RADIO 1 PHOTO DAVE

Dave, the full Big L theme should be somewhere on the web, it was actually called the "Sonowaltz", done by the jingle company PAMS in the states and used by quite a few stations over there. Caroline used Jimmy Mcgriff "Around midnight" as their closing theme for a while after starting up. Have a look at this:

https://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/65fabs/april65/fab110465/fab110465.html

Hippo.

[Wiggyflat]

Dave, the full Big L theme should be somewhere on the web, it was actually called the "Sonowaltz", done by the jingle company PAMS in the states and used by quite a few stations over there. Caroline used Jimmy Mcgriff "Around midnight" as their closing theme for a while after starting up. Have a look at this:

https://www.radiolond.../fab110465.html

Hippo.

Found some old reels in a junkshop near Devon years ago.Just bought them on spec they were so cheap.Even had them transferred on to 4 CD's and they were all pirate radio broadcasts from the sixties.Still got the CD's somewhere.Not much soul on there though.If you are really interested in pirate radio you could join this Yahoo group https://groups.yahoo.com/group/RadioCarolineMailinglist/ Loads of free downloads of pirate broadcasts.....but you get about 15 emails a day.

[Guest Phoenix8049]

Right, I'll have a go – this is from memory so don't expect miracles!

Back row: Tony Blackburn, Jimmy Young, Kenny Everett, Duncan Johnson, Robin Scott, (controller of Radio 1), Pete Drummond (I think), Dave Cash, Pete Brady, David Symonds.

Middle row - the hardest!: Bob Holness, Terry Wogan, Barry Alldis, dunno, Keith Skues, Chris Denning (I think), Johnnie Moran, Tommy Vance (I think).

Front row – the easiest!: Pete Murray, Ed Stewart, David Rider, Mike Raven, Mike Aherne, John Peel

of the other original Radio 1 DJs, these aren't in the picture:

Simon Dee, Stuart Henry, Emperor Rosko, Keith Fordyce, Tony Hall, Alan Freeman, Jack Jackson

..so these might be!

Denny Piercy, Ray Moore, Pete Myers, Mike Lennox

Edited May 12, 2010 by Phoenix8049

[Guest MBarrett]

If anyone is interested here are the Saturday schedules for Radio 1 in December 1971 and January 1972.

Shows this weird 5.00 til 6.30 slot that Mike Raven used to have - and then takn over by Dave Simmons in Jan 1972.

Amazing really that up to the end of 1971 Radio 1 merged with Radio 2 at 6.30 on a Saturday evening.

It's like a parallel universe!!

MB

[dthedrug]

Dave, the full Big L theme should be somewhere on the web, it was actually called the "Sonowaltz", done by the jingle company PAMS in the states and used by quite a few stations over there. Caroline used Jimmy Mcgriff "Around midnight" as their closing theme for a while after starting up. Have a look at this:

https://www.radiolond.../fab110465.html

Hippo.

JERRY I MUST THANK YOU AS I WAS AWARE THE JINGLES THAT RADIO LONDON AND INDEED RADIO 1 USED WHEN IT OPEN, CANE FROM PAMS USA, AS LIKE A FEW PEOPLE I HAVE THE RADIO LONDON 45 "THE LAST HOUR" WHICH HAS THE FULL LENGTH PAMS WONDERFUL BIG L TUNE ON IT, HOWEVER YOUR INFO COMPLETES A QUESTION FOE ME 40YRS OLD, AMAZING AS THE ANSWER WAS SO CLOSE TO ME? THE CAROLINE I KNOW ABOUT, ALL THATS LEFT IS TO SEARCH FOR MY RADIO LONDON PIN THAT CAME WITH THE MEMBERSHIP CARD FROM THE FREE RADIO ASSOCIATION (FRA) CHEERS OVER 40 YEARS..WELL DONE DAVE

[Pete S]

LOOKS LIKE 2 OF THE ORIGINAL RADO 1 DJs ARE MISSING FROM THE PHOTO - SMASHIE & NICIE

 

Probably in prison for kiddie fiddling

[Caterham 7]

I also used to tape it every week on a Philips 3” reel to reel and had to cut out Mikes voice to fit all the records on..Sadly they were mislaid in a house move.....But I  had previously spent hours searching for as many of the records as I could find....Hearing many of them in the soul clubs in Manchester...I finally found a copy of Soul Serenade by Beau Dollar and the coins at a record stall in the underground market, which completed my collection of all the versions available....Spent many hours at the Spin Inn, Shude Hill market,Ralph’s Records Rare records Piccadilly records and Barry’s records in Manchester searching for the ever elusive tracks.....I don’t think Mike had any idea how popular and collectible the fantastic music he played would become....Happy days..

[Soulfinger]

On 13/02/2021 at 11:48, Caterham 7 said:

I also used to tape it every week on a Philips 3” reel to reel and had to cut out Mikes voice to fit all the records on..Sadly they were mislaid in a house move.....But I  had previously spent hours searching for as many of the records as I could find....Hearing many of them in the soul clubs in Manchester...I finally found a copy of Soul Serenade by Beau Dollar and the coins at a record stall in the underground market, which completed my collection of all the versions available....Spent many hours at the Spin Inn, Shude Hill market,Ralph’s Records Rare records Piccadilly records and Barry’s records in Manchester searching for the ever elusive tracks.....I don’t think Mike had any idea how popular and collectible the fantastic music he played would become....Happy days..

Happy days indeed. I was trawling the same shops as a youth with a list of tunes I'd heard on Mike Raven too. Also looking in Mazel's on London Rd and Hime & Addison (though I don't think I ever bought anything in there) and later, with a bit more success, in Robinson's and Global. 

[john hall]

Yes Barry’s Records got burned down and he moved into Hime and Addison..

Robinsons started on Shude Hill, moved opposite Barry’s, then onto Stephenson’s Square..I got loads of great LPs from them..I once travelled down to Dave Godin’s shop in Monmouth St in London...definitely worth the train fare...such a nice guy..

if you Google The Mike Raven show there quite a few of his shows available..I was listening to his May 1968 one recently...I’d since bought every track from it over the years..

Edited February 15, 2021 by john hall

[Soulfinger]

I didn't know that about Barry's - thanks! I always bought albums in Piccadilly Records because my pal worked there. I only remember Robinson's being on Blackfriars. I particularly remember being completely gutted when it stopped being a record shop, I stood outside "Robinson's hang em and bang em" in a state of misery, looking in disbelief at the window display of mirrors wondering what had happened to all those lovely 45's..

From my foggy memory, I think Mike Raven did the sleeve notes to Motown Memories Volume 2, which was one of the things that introduced me to slightly less mainstream Motown.