Thanks Alan for a great (#14) issue. Thought I'd add something to the COLIN EARL/MICHAEL WHALE interview, concerning THE MIXTURES. There's a whole lot more to that group than one would think. In Australia, they had been releasing singles six years prior to their 'IN THE SUMMERTIME' cover (and it's a long story as to how that came about). On the HMV label, check out, 'I'VE BEEN WRONG', from '65, 'THEY CALL THE WIND MARIA', '67 and brilliant! We often speak about THE MIXTURES in ZABADAK.

Saw MUNGO JERRY in Perth, Australia in January 1972 - it was summer and an open air concert at night. They gave a really great performance...goodtime, fun music!

They didn't need a drummer, they got such a great pumping sound from the bottle and washboard (was JOE RUSH there? - Al). EDISON LIGHTHOUSE and TIMEPIECE were the support acts. MUNGO also gave an impromptu performance on the local beach - MAGIC!!!

RON COOPER, EDITOR - ZABADAK MAGAZINE.

"So this is Christmas/And what have you done?" No, it's not that John, but at the time of writing, it is December 1998, I've just received MUN-GO FOR IT! No.14, and realised that during the last few hectic months (I'll spare you a condensed history), the idea of contributing to aforesaid publication has slid a little down the priority list. So without further ado, here are some thoughts.

First, everybody's talkin'bout (OK, that's the final Lennon allusion) the last two CD's. I think it goes without saying that a straw poll of MUNGO fans would vote 'OLD SHOES, NEW JEANS' the better. My favourite track has to be the new version of 'BOTTLE OF BEER' - it reminds me of CANNED HEAT'S, 'GOING UP THE COUNTRY'. Looking at that and 'CANDY DREAMS' as an 'odd couple', it's impossible not to make comparisons. One record is by a group of bluesmen doing what they know and love and having a ball doing it, the other is virtually a solo set by someone saying to himself, "These are the late 90's, let's use new technology and make some new sounds for today's audience." As for personal judgements about the latter - it's good to hear Ray experimenting with radically different styles and sounds, and if I was still doing a mobile disco, I could see a lot of it fitting in nicely alongside much of the current chart fare. The concept works well on the new songs, but I think that when you've got a song and a recording as good as 'RED LEATHER AND CHROME' - the Cajun version on 'SNAKEBITE' - then it's a mistake to redo it. But I felt much the same about 'LADY ROSE' Mk.II after hearing 'BOOT POWER'. For me, it can't compare with the original.

However, as STUART TURNER said in the last issue, it's annoying to think that Ray has to struggle to get a new release. That you can hardly walk into Tower Records these days without seeing another couple of budget-price compilations in the rack says volumes about the conservatism of the UK record industry in 1998. Mmmm - surely the right label exists somewhere out there? Granted. most of'em would probably wet themselves laughing at the thought of signing anybody under 30. Would Zoe Ball or Jo Whiley play a single by this act is presumably the first question flashing through their micro-minds. Would the PET SHOP BOYS be interested in doing a remix? But then didn't Essential Records release a new set by THE BLUES BAND, who probably be compared in some ways to MUNGO, even if Ray doesn't have a day (or evening) job on Radio 2? Or what about Sequel Records, who deal mostly in reissues, but they put out a new Cajun CD by CHRIS JAGGER a while back. Both labels are offshoots of Castle Communications - does any reader have a relative or an old flame who works there?

'OLD SHOES' is indeed one for the traditionalists among us. If PAUL JONES hasn't got a copy, he should have. Local and Virgin Radio seem to be 99% computer playlist-dominated, but Radio 2 appears to have a few more open minds. Perhaps we should be lobbying the likes of JOHNNY WALKER or BOB HARRIS to give one or two tracks a spin. Cap'n Bob's enthusiasm for the KING EARL BOOGIE BAND has been well documented in these pages, and I did e-mail him in good time around a year ago to play something by MUNGO for Ray's birthday on the 21st of March as part of the Rock Dates Diary on his late night weekend show (begging him to make it something more adventurous than 'IN THE SUMMERTIME') but no luck.

'CANDY DREAMS' is definitely one for Radio 1, but would they play it? It seems they change most of their presenters almost every week, so even if the top brass remember 'Summertime' (and not merely thanks to SHAGGY), their back-to-front baseball cap-wearing employees behind the mikes probably don't. However that horrendous SLADE vs.FLUSH remix of 'MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY' has made the Christmas Top 30. Maybe it's part a reflection of abysmal singles sales in 1998 when compared to 1970's levels, partly the consideration that most of the other Top 30 hits are even worse, but if there is room for NODDY HOLDER, (another bouncing babe from 1946 famed for distinctive shouting and photogenic sideburns), then there must be room for Ray in some guise or other.

Going back to the compilations issue (or,um, lack of it - issue, I mean). Early in 1998, I had a lot of fun writing the booklet notes for Music Club's 'LOOKING BACK: THE BEST OF THE MOVE'. I tried my hardest, as did Al, to persuade them to put out some of the Polydor material on CD, and at the same time contacted their sister label, Westside, to do something along the lines of the 3-CD anniversary boxed sets by THE MOVE and PROCUL HARUM. Reissues of the old albums plus B-sides and other bonus tracks, and decent booklet notes with input and full consultation with the fan club and Ray himself, would find a ready collectors market, I said. Were they interested? Are we all 20-ft Teletubbies? Why is everybody re-hashing the Dawn material without bothering to give a decent chance to the material that came later, even though it never charted on home territory? It is good news that the fan club is considering a comprehensive CD reissue of the Polydor-and-after back catalogue, but one of the commercial companies should have been there first.

So what do the remaining months this side of the millennium hold in store for us? Whether we see another official release or not, there should be plenty more gigs from MUNGO and the KEBB somewhere.

Finally, hello again Derek, yes it's ten years since we were collaborating on the book - 'BEYOND THE SUMMERTIME' - and good luck to ALAN SAWYERS (Alan auditioned for T.V's 'Stars In Their Eyes' as RAY DORSET and is pictured here with Ray and Ken at the studio at Dollis Hill in December 1998 laying down the backing track for 'IN THE SUMMERTIME'). Should we ever open the paper or see a poster advertising a 'tribute band' rejoicing in the name of 'MOJO JOURNEY' or that old chestnut 'MANGO CHUTNEY' alongside yet another Bootleg Beatles or Bjorn Again variation, maybe we'll know who was behind it. Alright ladies, even a new all girl band - 'MARGO JENNY'. Just change a few of the words to 'IN THE SUMMERTIME' first, right?

JOHN VAN DER KISTE.