RAW MATERIAL: 'new musical directions'

In the course of assembling Galactic Ramble and Flashback, I've trawled a huge number of British music mags and papers. Very few bands seem to have received no press whatsoever, but the impressive Raw Material are one. Indeed (as far as I'm aware), they're one of the few remaining bands of the late 60s / early 70s who have yet to resurface and tell their tale.

Attached below is the only info about them I've ever encountered. I'll also post the only ads that I've found, to promote their October 1970 debut LP (and extracted 45) and their November 1971 Time Is LP. These snippets offer the bare bones of their history, but there is of course much left to be discovered. As ever, if you know more, please get in touch...




Having signed to the tiny Evolution label, their debut 45, Time & Illusion / Bobo's Party appeared in the autumn of 1969. Their second effort, Hi There Hallelujah / Days Of The Fighting Cock appeared in the spring of 1970. Here's a press ad for it:



In May Evolution sent out this press release and bio to promote their third 45, Traveller Man Parts 1 & 2:

Here's the scarce German picture sleeve for that release:

Their debut album appeared in the UK in December 1970. Here's an ad for it:



A few months later they cropped up in a Marshall advertising supplement in Sounds, dated May 1st 1971:

Their second and final album appeared in November 1971:

This article appeared in Sounds of May 27th 1972, and is clearly an incomplete reprint of a press release. I suspect they'd split by then.

If anyone knows more, please get in touch!