FOR SALE, SADLY: DJ MIKE READ’S RECORD COLLECTION

Rob Bradford reports on one of the UK’s biggest-ever music auctions

The forced sale of Mike Read’s collection was, perhaps, a personal tragedy for a much-loved DJ, but it proved to be a treasure trove for collectors and an event which threw an interesting light on the current state of the market.

Mike Read now presents shows for radio stations based in Hull (KCFM) and Gloucestershire (Star 107.5) and, along with several other veteran DJs, plans to launch a brand new station, One Gold, celebrating music from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

In his heyday, of course, he was a national celebrity as a DJ on Radio One, Capital Gold and as a regular presenter of Top Of The Pops, Saturday Superstore and Pop Quiz. A friend of the stars, he was also involved with the hugely successful Guinness chart books. His biography of the Shadows remains definitive.

Read is also a proficient guitarist and vocalist. His days as Micky Manchester didn’t find much favour with pop punters, nor did his spell with the Rock Olas. But, as RC 168 revealed, the Oak acetates of the then Mic Read’s group Amber and a commercially released single by Just Plain Smith are highly collectable.

Read is regarded by some as being somewhat pretentious. Maybe his attempts to be accepted as a serious artist (his ‘Choc Art’ series of collage paintings) and as a playwright / tunesmith have not helped his cause. Although …

by Rob Bradford
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