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Mike Raven and Alexis Korner

03 Jun 09 - 08:55 AM (#2647299)
Subject: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Will Fly

Anyone else have fond memories of the blues/rhythm & blues programmes presented on BBC Radio 1 by Mike Raven and Alexis Korner in the late '60s and late '70s respectively?

I particularly liked Mike Raven's show which, I believe, eventually got a two-hour slot. I remember vividly the shows where he had Fred McDowell playing "live" in the studio.

Shall we hear their like - Raven and Korner - on the BBC again, I wonder. I also have good memories of Charlie Gillett's radio show on Capitol Radio.

All these people played good music and gave intelligent, informative and enthusiastic commentaries on the music they played. Mike R also starred in some pretty dire horror films, but I can forgive him that!


03 Jun 09 - 09:11 AM (#2647313)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Tunesmith

I remember getting Mike Raven to sign my program for Alexis Korner's Blues Convention back in 1968(?). Various members of Canned Heat also signed the program.


03 Jun 09 - 10:03 AM (#2647344)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,BanjoRay

I have a half hour interview with Alexis Korner from 1965 on an old spool of tape that I've no means of playing these days, and haven't heard for years.
I used to love Mike Raven's program - compulsory listening for a while.
Cheers
Ray


03 Jun 09 - 10:07 AM (#2647347)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Tug the Cox

Used to listen to Mike Raven, Sunday at 7 in late 60's. What was the theme tune, I think it was by Booker T an the MGs.Charlie Gillet wrote a good RnB column in the record mirror at the time, and did Sould DJ jobs around London. His suggestions were always worth listening to.


03 Jun 09 - 10:13 AM (#2647354)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Will Fly

I always found something of interest - something I hadn't heard before - something to investigate further - whenever I listened to their programmes. That was the beauty of them. In the end I think it came down to sheer admiration of their impeccable taste.


03 Jun 09 - 10:36 AM (#2647382)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: NormanD

There is a thread "In Praise of......Mike Raven" on Charlie Gillett's website

There's some discussion about who played the theme tune (it's called "Soul serenade", originally by King Curtis, but MR played a more obscure version), a list of his B-movie horror films, plus a poster of the 1969 Blues Federation concert that he DJed.

Alexis Korner is a whole thread in itself - the extent of his influence was so wide. The track I most remember hearing on BBC Radio 1 on his Sunday evening show was of the two young Burundi singers - the ghostly, ethereal whisper singing.

Norman


03 Jun 09 - 10:45 AM (#2647393)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Tug the Cox

Ah yes, Soul Serenade, not Booker T who did soul limbo ( BBCs cricket theme)and I must have transferred the one to the other.


03 Jun 09 - 06:56 PM (#2647751)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie

Superb gents both, must have turned vast numbers of people on to the blues. I still have a compilation vinyl album Mike made somewhere - it had some great stuff on it but no breaks between tracks - horrors!

A propos of that, wasn't Mike a baddie in a couple of horror films?


03 Jun 09 - 06:58 PM (#2647753)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Edthefolkie

Oops sorry, horror films already mentioned. Put it down to the late hour in the UK.


10 Dec 10 - 04:34 AM (#3050198)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Billy Hill

Try God's Jukebox. Mark Lamarr's Radio 2 show which goes out midnight Friday to 3 am Saturday. It's the closest to the wonderful Alexis that I've found. Wide range of music, much of which is new to me. Plus some great sessions. Some of the shows are absolute gems. Try it on Listen Again BBC i player.


10 Dec 10 - 04:37 AM (#3050203)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Will Fly

Thanks for the tip - I'll check it out.


10 Dec 10 - 09:09 AM (#3050310)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: John Foxen

I remember Mike Raven using Soul Serenade by Beau Dollar and the Coins. However, he may have used that version in his pirate radio days when he was with Radio 390 which played housewives choice music during the day then had an hour of R&B (Koko Taylor and Howling Wolf not Beyonce et al) during the week, rock and roll on Saturday nights and an hour of blues on sunday.


10 Dec 10 - 09:36 AM (#3050322)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: greg stephens

Here is another Mudcat thread about Alexis Korner. Though confusingly it is labelled "Alexis Koerner" so searching on the surname may not find it, I suppose.


10 Dec 10 - 11:50 AM (#3050421)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: G-Force

I too have very fond memories of Mike Raven on Radio 390, which for some reason I could pick up better than Caroline or London in those days.

I also once had Alexis Korner's autograph, having spotted him in an Indian restaurant in Sheffield. He wrote it on a table napkin for me. Sadly I no longer have it.


10 Dec 10 - 02:19 PM (#3050509)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: Edthefolkie

Now there's a thing. Two guys with tremendous radio voices and immense knowledge of the material they presented.

Wouldn't have much chance these days would they?


10 Dec 10 - 03:37 PM (#3050558)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Billy Hill

Did Alexis use Soul Serenade at the end of his shows? It was Struttin' by Dr Strut at the start, I think. I've just been looking through a box of mini discs for the one complete Alexis show which I kept. It started out on reel to reel, then cassette then mini disc. I haven't found it...yet. I do have loads of cassettes of music from those shows, but with Alexis edited out. (he was going to live forever like me, wasn't he.) Now I may sound like I'm Mark Lamarr's agent, but, even though his personality and presentation are nothing like Alexis or Mike R, he plays what they probably would play if they were still at it. His heart is in the right place and his show is hidden away at a time of the day that AK and MR would be in this day and age. But it is there and thankfully so is the i player. It's worth a try.


11 Dec 10 - 08:11 AM (#3050891)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Billy Hill

I've resigned as Mark L's agent. He's leaving Radio 2 this month. Shame. Back to the original question: Will we ever hear the like of Raven and Korner again?


18 Mar 11 - 04:34 PM (#3116644)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Hi from Chris

Hi from Chris.Is there a slim posablity there is an MP 3 of Mike Raven - The Mike Raven Blues Show - (RARE Xtra UK Label. I used to have it,But in moves and light finged people, i seened to of lost it.There is one on e-bay BUT i only want to listern to it,not get hot under the covers.If you see what i mean......LOL


05 Oct 12 - 11:14 AM (#3414881)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Alistair Murray

Hi does anyone know if the recordings of Alexis radio one show still exist.If so is it possible to download those recordings
Kind regards
Alistair


05 Oct 12 - 07:48 PM (#3415140)
Subject: RE: Mike Raven and Alexis Korner
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle

I used to love the Lennie Felix Show. Lenny had some great guests - Jimmy Witherspoon, Ben Webster....who else....I can't remember!