We have been very lucky to be able to have a chat with GINA COLES, a RAY DORSET fan not like most of us from the early 70's onwards but someone who was attending Ray's gigs throughout the 1960's and has been able to fill us in with first hand knowledge of Ray's early career.

GINA, CAN YOU TELL US HOW YOU FIRST BECAME AWARE OF RAY DORSET?

I met Ray when he was in THE CONCHORDS in 1963 and had a Sunday night residency at the White Hart, Southall, not far from my home. It was sixpence to get in to the back hall of the pub and worth every penny! It was the Swinging Sixties – but we hadn’t noticed that in Southall. I didn’t realise that I had survived that iconic era until many years later. I think they had recently changed their name from THE BUCCANEERS. The band wore green mohair suits, black boots and little sort of bowties, but flat ones with white shirts. They looked very good. And, of course, more importantly, they sounded really, really good. There was Ray, the vocalist and rhythm guitarist, DICK HOW on lead guitar, DAVE HUTCHINS on bass and a succession of drummers including COLIN FOREST, who had a stuck-up girlfriend – if she had known half of what he got up to she would have had a fit. Another drummer who followed Colin was a guy called DAVE WADHAMS. I can see them on the stage now in that hall. All the amps and speakers lined up on the stage, and on top of Dick’s speaker was a small Watkins Copycat machine – I never did find out exactly what it was there for, but I can remember the tape running round and round. Obviously some kind of echo I suppose, I really don’t know, but it looked the business! Another thing that I remember about the early days was Ray’s Mum and Dad. They were a great couple and put up with all Ray’s friends. I had many a wonderful Sunday lunch with them all and they even took me on their Sunday afternoon car rides around the Surrey countryside. It was a magical time and it’s not until you get older you realise how much it influenced your life.

THE TRAMPS?

Well, they changed their name to THE TRAMPS after playing at a gig billed as a Tramps Ball and they were dressed as Tramps. I think they liked the idea of being less formal on stage. There were a crowd of us who followed them around to gigs all over the place. We had become very friendly and they liked our support, especially when turning up at a new venue. It was good that they had their own fans with them. I can remember getting on the tube and going to Loughton quite a few times. It’s a long way from Ealing tube and then I had to get a bus to Southall. But they were worth it. I know that they won the Loughton band contest but can’t remember being there for that. Must have missed that one. The band was quite friendly off stage too and we had the odd outing with them. One great day was a trip to the seaside. I think it was Hayling Island and we spent the day on the beach. I remember guitars and a lot of singing and people sitting around us getting upset because of the noise we were making. It was a fantastic day, hot and lots of fun. We went in a van, and I think DAVE WADHAMS was driving, but not too sure. It was quite cramped in the back, but we had a great time, nevertheless! Other memories of the time include going to the Ealing Club, one of the top venues in the area. I remember seeing THE WHO there once. And when we left, we walked over the road and there was a poster outside another club telling the world that MANFRED MANN was playing inside. But we didn’t go in, which is a shame. But, they were just another of the bands, like THE WHO, playing the circuit, we didn’t have a clue that they would become as famous as they did. Oh, and it is very weird thinking about gigs at The Station Hotel in Richmond where THE TRAMPS had another residency. As we walked into the venue, through a big door that must have been the coach entrance many years ago, we passed a load of kit bundled up against the wall with an old blanket over it. There was a note on top which said something like ‘This kit belongs to THE ROLLING STONES – do not touch’. I think one of the boys borrowed a speaker one night, but I don’t expect the Stones will worry about it too much now so I am safe telling you! And it’s funny to think now that I wasn’t interested in trekking from Southall to see them, although I was quite happy to do it for The Tramps! I also remember going to the Attic Club in Hounslow just after it opened. It was the place to go for a while. I can’t remember who we saw, but I think all the band was there so I assumed it must have been a good act. I have read that Ray gave ERIC CLAPTON his plectrum when he backed him at the Attic, so I assume it was the night I was there. Gosh, I wish I could go back to that night!

WHAT SORT OF MUSIC DID THEY PLAY?

They used to play all sorts at the White Hart, I can remember them doing lots of covers of the day’s hits, songs by CLIFF, ELVIS, lots of THE SHADOWS – they even tried the walk! They also did things like EMILE FORD’s 'SLOW BOAT TO CHINA', which Colin sang. I think they did 'LET'S TWIST AGAIN', but certainly some twist songs, which us girls loved. And I am pretty sure they did 'BE BOP-A-LULA' too. I have always loved that song and I’m sure I heard it first there. Obviously there was a lot of rock n’ roll, but Ray certainly did some blues stuff too.

DID THEY HAVE A BIG FOLLOWING?

Well, there were quite a few of us in our group, and we went to most gigs. And, when we got there, we usually saw the same faces if it was a regular gig. I never went anywhere that didn’t have a big crowd and because the band was so popular, they got a lot of repeat gigs.

WERE THERE SIGNS THAT RAY WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL EVEN AT THAT TIME?

Oh yes, absolutely! He carried the band, always. His stage presence was amazing, when he sang all eyes were on him. And he was starting to play his own songs too, which was very unusual for bands then. I have fond memories of a pub in Windsor that Ray has told me was the Rikki Tik club. I can remember that the band played in a small, intimate room and it was packed. The band played 'GOIN DOWN SLOW' and Ray was sublime – he sang it with so much feeling and I had goose bumps. It was obvious that he was something special and it’s really good that he is finding the time to go back down the blues road now. I have just had the pleasure of listening to his new 'KICKING BACK' CD and I can tell you that track six is totally brilliant, as are they all, of course. His blues tour with LONG JOHN BALDRY was fantastic and he held the audience spellbound despite being in such exalted company. I can also remember going to gigs in Chiswick and I thought it was at the town hall on the green but Ray assures me it wasn’t, so I must bow to his superior knowledge here. One of the most memorable times, at whatever venue it was, was a band competition. THE CONCHORDS, or they may have been THE TRAMPS by then, didn’t win it, although we thought that it was fixed when they didn’t, of course. But I can remember one of the judges – who were a couple of women who were apparently the first page three girls. I have to say, as a sweet young girl, I was quite appalled by them, but now I can see they were just earning a living any way they could. But, one of them did single out Ray as a possible future star. Reminiscing with Ray recently he said they just slagged him and the band off, but that isn’t my memory of the day – this judge was definitely a new fan of Ray’s!.

DID YOU SEE RAY PLAY IN OTHER BANDS AT THE TIME?

No. I know that he did have a few, in quick succession, but I was living in Wiltshire by then. I didn’t reconnect with him until MUNGO JERRY came along around a year after the gig that Will played at.

RAY EVENTUALLY ENDED UP PLAYING IN THE GOOD EARTH, WERE YOU AS FAMILIAR WITH THE GOOD EARTH AS YOU WERE WITH THE TRAMPS?

About this time I lost contact with Ray and the band. I moved to Palmers Green and then to Doncaster – but only for a week, it was too cold! But we bumped into each other one day in Hounslow and the upshot of that was that my new husband Will played bass for him at a London School of Economics gig! I think this must have been with GOOD EARTH but not too sure, it was in 1968 or '69. But COLIN EARL was on piano and the gig was amazing. I know that Will did some great posters for him for THE GOOD EARTH, but I really didn’t get to know that band as well as some of the others.

I THINK I MAY HAVE ONE OF WILL’S POSTERS, COLIN EARL SENT ME ONE A FEW YEARS AGO – WHITE WITH A BLACK, KIND OF ‘SWIRLY’ GOOD EARTH LOGO?

It sounds like one of Will’s. He was very good at that kind of thing.

THE GOOD EARTH BECAME A THREE PIECE WITH RAY, COLIN EARL AND JOE RUSH PLAYING THE KIND OF MUSIC THAT MUNGO JERRY WOULD BECOME KNOWN FOR – DID YOU SEE THAT LINE-UP LIVE? (IF SO, CAN YOU LET US KNOW WHAT A GOOD EARTH GIG AT THAT TIME WAS LIKE?)

Unfortunately not. Joe was playing in a band called COUNTRY JUG around 1969, and Will and I drove from Wiltshire every Sunday afternoon to see them at a pub in Hounslow – could have been the Northumberland – and they were fantastic. But I didn’t know the band to speak to, I was just there as a fan.

WERE YOU ALSO AROUND WHEN PAUL KING JOINED THE BAND?

Soon after moving to Wiltshire, my mum sent me a cutting from a newspaper with Ray and MUNGO JERRY in telling the story of the meteoric rise of 'IN THE SUMMERTIME' in the charts. I was both surprised and not surprised as it was obvious he would be famous eventually. Will and I went to a couple of gigs, at Devizes and Wincanton, and saw the band in its infancy. They were amazing, no doubt about that, but I took an immediate dislike to Paul! Looking back I can see why – whenever you see pictures of the band at that time he is there in the middle taking the limelight. And he was not MUNGO JERRY – Ray was. But, he soon found that out when he and Colin tried to get rid of Ray out of the band and BARRY MURRAY, the band’s manager, told them outright that if they persisted in trying to oust Ray then he and the record company would stand by Ray and they would be history – which is, of course, what happened. Sorry Paul! I am sure he and Ray have patched things up now, after all, they even shared a stage recently, but he was a very silly boy to think he could become MUNGO JERRY! I did go to quite a few gigs between 1971 and about 1974-ish – wasn’t actually taking much notice of the dates! I got a job in London and had a great time going to gigs and I guess that the band’s line-up changed around then, but can’t remember the exact time it happened. I do remember some of the other band members that came along, and RAY CLEGG, the road manager, of course.

PAUL AT THE FRONT OF MOST MUNGO PHOTOGRAPHS HAS BEEN MENTIONED BEFORE, BUT I WONDER IF THIS IS JUST BECAUSE HE WAS THE SMALLEST OF THEM?

If I wanted to be generous I would agree with you, but knowing the way he acted at the time I think I’ll stick to my original opinion of him. I know what you mean though, he was a typical guy with a lack of height awareness and he benefitted from the band sitting down to play.

I ONLY SAW THE EARLY LINE-UP ONCE, IN 1971, BUT CAN’T REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT IT, WHAT WERE THEIR GIGS LIKE?

Truly amazing. Despite all the off-stage stuff, once together on stage they really were so good it was incredible to watch and listen to them. I suppose I was a tiny bit biased but I had watched Ray get better and better over the years and this was a culmination of that. The original MUNGO JERRY were seriously good at what they did. Obviously, they had to grow and Ray was right when he said they needed a drummer to take them forward and Colin’s limited piano skills didn’t matter at first either, but did become an issue eventually. So, all in all, despite the stupidity of Paul and Colin trying to get rid of Ray from MUNGO JERRY, I think they did him a massive favour.

YEAH, RAY HAS SAID THAT COLIN WASN’T TOO FLEXIBLE, IF I CAN SAY THAT, AT THE TIME BUT AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED, HIS PIANO PLAYING ON HIS LATEST ALBUM IS SUPERB, THE BEST I’VE HEARD FROM HIM! COLIN PLAYS THE MUSIC THAT HE LIKES – BLUES, ROCK’N ROLL, BOOGIE-WOOGIE – BUT TO BE FAIR, I COULDN’T SEE COLIN PLAYING THE SORT OF MUSIC THE BAND SERVED UP ON ‘BOOT POWER’ FOR INSTANCE?

Please don’t get me wrong here. I loved Colin’s piano playing when he was with MJ. It was an essential part of the band’s sound and he was seriously good at what he did. But, all bands have to move on – look at the journey THE BEATLES made between 1963 and 1966. I haven’t heard the 'BOOT POWER' album, it’s not in my collection, but looking at the songs on it, some of which I know, I think that Ray made the right decision in his choice of music path to follow. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard any of Colin’s work for years, but I am sure that it is really good.

MANY FANS HAVE LISTED 'BOOT POWER' AS THEIR FAV MJ ALBUM?

Well, as I have just said, I haven’t actually heard it, but looking at the songs on it I don’t think it would feature in my top five even. Although, if you were talking album covers, then sure, it would be hard to beat!

YOU ALSO SAW COUNTRY JUG (REGULARLY), I’M SO ENVIOUS! JOE IS A VERY BIG MATE AND WE CHAT OFTEN. JOE IS QUITE A CHARACTER (BIT OF AN UNDERSTATEMENT THAT ONE) AND I WONDER WERE THE REST OF THE BAND THE SAME?

Yes, that was a really great band. We had heard nothing like it before. I’m still struggling to remember the name of the pub in Hounslow we went to on a Sunday night. But we didn’t get to know the band because Ray wasn’t around to introduce us and I wasn’t about to go up to Joe and say ‘Hello I know Ray Dorset!’ they would have thought I was mad! Unfortunately, I didn’t get to hear Ray and Joe play together but I really wish I had.

I REMEMBER WHEN RAY WAS A GUEST ON THE JAMES WHALE SHOW, ON TALK RADIO A FEW YEARS AGO, SOMEONE RANG UP AND ASKED ABOUT COUNTRY JUG – WAS THAT YOU I WONDER?

No, but had I known he was on I may well have called and asked him something.

RAY BELIEVES THAT HE HAS THE MASTER COPY OF COUNTRY JUG’S, RECORDED BUT NOT RELEASED ALBUM, AND JOE AND I BOTH HOPE THAT HE FINDS TIME TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT?

Well, that would be an amazing project. I have COUNTRY JUG’s single – was it 'I'M SORRY'? – somewhere. But a whole album would be something else. We must all try to get Ray on to it soon.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE SONG(S), OR ALBUM?

Lots! I suppose if I had to choose just one album it would be 'ELECTRONICALLY TESTED'. 'SHE ROWED'’s melody and vibe is so different from Ray’s usual songs, the lyric is a real story, it is easy to imagine being in that boat and the music has a fantastic groove. Then there is 'I JUST WANNA MAKE LOVE TO YOU'. Well, I don’t think I have ever heard a bad version of this song, and this one is superb. 'IN THE SUMMERTIME', obviously a song none of us will ever forget and quite rightly too. 'SOMEBODY STOLE MY WIFE' is a very catchy tune and I am sure is a great one to hear live. I don’t remember ever being at a gig where Ray played it, which is a shame. 'BABY JUMP', a solid rock n’ roll track, was a surprise to me when it was released after ITS but showed the world that MJ was more than a jug band. It would make my top 20 all time favourite RAY DORSET songs. 'FOLLOW ME DOWN' is a nice, simple, easy to listen to song that contrasted well with 'BABY JUMP' and led nicely into 'MEMOIRS OF A STOCKBROKER'. What a superb song this is. So much of the lyric, such as putting sugar in the headmaster’s tank, I know comes from Ray’s life. He would love to get back at the idiot who called him a ‘spiv’! And, he must have been a bit of a clairvoyant, because other bits did actually happen way into his future – and no I am not going to tell you which bits! 'YOU BETTER LEAVE THAT WHISKY ALONE' is another great-sounding song and then the final track, the beautiful ballad 'COMING BACK TO YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES' – I bet this song has meant a lot to so many people over the years. All in all it is a wonderful collection of songs. I think 'COLD BLUE EXCURSION' comes a close second. It can hold its own in any company and is still current. If it was released again today, people would love it. My LP version was well-played for many years and I was very happy recently when I got a CD version from e-Bay. I would like to add a song to my favourites – I was there when he recorded it in 1964 on the back of 'ST PETE FLORIDA BLUES' and it is probably my all-time favourite so how I forgot it is weird! It's 'GONNA LOVE MY BABY' – well I am assuming it is!!! It should start – I’m gonna find myself a woman who hasn’t got a man, take her out to dinner and hold her by the hand - if you could check those lyrics it would be great but if you can’t don’t worry I am pretty confident it is the right one. Also, one of his first songs, that I am sure he hasn’t recorded and that’s 'LITTLE GIRL'. I can remember every word of that one! It was so cute. He played it on stage quite a bit. My favourite songs, of which there are many, are the ones that connect with my own life in some way and must include 'YOU MAKE ME HAPPY', 'MIGHTY MAN', 'RED LEATHER & CHROME', 'GOING DOWN SLOW', 'ST PETE FLORIDA BLUES' and my newest favourite, from the 'KICKING BACK' CD, 'ONE MORE NIGHT WITHOUT YOU'.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WEREN’T KEEN ON?

Yes there have been a few but I’d rather not say what they are!

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT OUTSIDE OF THE LINE-UP BETWEEN 1970-71, THE BAND AROUND 1974 WITH BOB DAISLEY, DICK MIDDLETON, ETC WAS RAY’S BEST EVER. DID YOU SEE THAT BAND?

Yes I did and they were, as you say, something else. I think that there was a more relaxed attitude off-stage that made Ray enjoy gigs more and that came across in the performance. Obviously, the line-up at the very beginning was the one that sticks in the memory more for so many different reasons, but Ray has always had the knack of finding great musicians that complement his talents too, of course.

DID YOU SEE THE BAND MID-70’S WHEN JOE RUSH AND COLIN EARL RETURNED?

Unfortunately no. But I wish I had!

VERY MUCH FAST FORWARDING, BUT HOW DO YOU COMPARE RAY NOW TO RAY 60’S/70’S?

Gosh. There are many similarities and he is still the same great bloke he always was. His incredible life hasn’t changed him at all. He came from a solid family background and has never been the kind of pop star that frequented clubs and pubs and made the gossip pages. He was always quite shy and has managed to protect his private life amazingly well. As far as performing on stage is concerned, he was always mesmerizing but I think he is better now than he has ever been. His voice is incredible, his stage presence enables him to hold his audience, of all ages, in the palm of his hand and his physique is equal to someone 30 years younger. All in all, he has continued to get better and better as each year passed. There are so many of the 1960/70's guys out there gigging away that really look their age but Ray has managed to find a little time capsule and stayed within it. In the 47 years I have known him he has definitely grown as a performer but, at the same time, he has remained grounded as a person, which, all things considered, is an impressive achievement.