1995, a good year for MUNGO JERRY and also myself.

One of the nicer things was the amount of re-issued albums on CD that were promised. At the time of writing, I am the proud owner of 'COLD BLUE EXCURSION', and how good it still sounds after all these years. Almost as importantly - what great packaging, very close to the original, with excellent added sleeve notes. I may be blowing my own trumpet here, but previously with the exception of maybe the 'GOLDEN HOUR' and 'FILE' compilations, the best sleeve notes on a MUNGO album were the ones I was asked to supply for the 'EARLY YEARS' CD.

Many of the complaints over the years have been the lack of thought that go into a MUNGO package, the 'SOUL PARTY' cassette was a prime example, RAY DORSET providing vocals on soul standards, 'MIDNIGHT HOUR', 'DOCK OF THE BAY', etc. It was finished off with, 'I'M NOT SUPERMAN'. Why! It's not a soul standard, it spoilt an otherwise 'well put together' release.

As you know, many of the MUNGO compilations now appear with re-recordings. Ray has his royalty reasons for doing this, which I can live with, but the way the tracks are chosen and sometimes recorded leaves me screaming. When I ran the fan club, I spent many an hour discussing with Ray, the fans feelings on the subject of what and who exactly were/are MUNGO JERRY and the music produced. During the time of co-writing 'BEYOND THE SUMMERTIME', I had loads of talks with MUNGO band members, some were 'Day Trippers', others spent years becoming a 'Mighty Man'. All with the exception of PAUL KING felt that Ray was MUNGO. You could say that Paul was too big for his stompin'boots, but a lot of fans shared Paul's feelings.

MUNGO JERRY in the early days was a sound - a presence - a feeling, I could spend hours trying to describe it but a MUNGO fan once said to me - "I know it's MUNGO when the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, when I hear a snatch of a song on the radio, or a glimpse of the stomp on T.V". That's exactly what it is - IT'S MUNGO!

That's what I'm looking for when I pick-up a compilation, that feeling, but all too often, I'm saddened because the blend is not there. A song is thrown in that just does not fit. In the middle of some early day stomping classics, something like 'NEXT TO ME' appears - once again, why!

Later day songs, and some are really good, are bouncing away and then a shite (OK, embarrassing) version of 'HAVE A WHIFF ON ME' comes along sounding like it's been recorded in an aeroplane toilet in the maximum three minutes you dare spend in one before you get those, 'what are you doing in there' looks. Why? Why? Why?

It's not the re-recordings I'm against - it's sometimes hard to detect that it's not an original when care has been taken in the making. Some like the 'live sounding' 'BABY JUMP' are exciting, there's a raunchy guitar version of 'OPEN UP' which ends rather too quickly for me, in fact I have just heard for the first time, a re-recording of 'SOMEBODY STOLE MY WIFE'. It might not be the original but it sure sounds good. No! It's not the re-recording I'm against, it's just sometimes the way they are thrown in.

I hate sleeve notes that are not well thought out. Repertoire's 'ELECTRONICALLY TESTED' is a prime example. What the hell happened there! They used part of the book for their information but what book? It certainly wasn't 'BEYOND THE SUMMERTIME'!

I suppose by now, you will have the feeling that thrown together sleeve notes and lucky dip track listing's annoy me, I only want to see well thought out MUNGO releases, and with this in mind, I will over the next couple of fanzines, review the MUNGO COLLECTION as it is currently available on compact disc.

I would like to steer fans away from the more dubious releases and onto the real value for money collectables.

Ray, when you read these comments, they have been made by a friend who does not like to see you sell yourself short. MUNGO are too important to be thrown away, 25 years after 'IN THE SUMMERTIME', word is getting around MUNGO were good, they still are good, the live show reaction proves it, but not only that, MUNGO are now becoming collectable. Ray, just take more care with the release rights you control and the gospel will be spread. BOOGIE ALL THE WAY!!!!

HELLO FROM RAY...

Hello to you all out there. Many thanks for taking an interest in all that has been happening on the MUNGO for the past few years.

Just a short note to everybody that has been wondering what has happened to the new recordings.

Well, the 'CANDY DREAMS' album has been in the pipeline for quite sometime now and I began recording it proper in 1994, but because of all the extra work and T.V's, etc. I did not get a chance to complete it last year as I was also asked to make a blues album, as a catalogue item, of all original songs. The blues album was required at rather short notice, and so this took preference over the 'CANDY DREAMS' album. The title of the blues album is 'OLD SHOES, NEW JEANS' and I think that it has turned out great. It was to have been released as a guitar shaped CD, but the company that was to have released it has come up with a technical problem with the shape, and in the meantime, I have received other offers for the album's release which will be finalised in the New Year.

The 'CANDY DREAMS' album is now being worked on, and BYRON, his brother PLATO and ANTHONY FISHER are helping out with the production. This album is now being worked on in earnest and I hope that you will all like it.

Thanks again - very best wishes, happiness, good health and love to you all and your family and friends.

RAY DORSET.