Not So Jolly Roger
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On Location - Red Sands Fort
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The episode 'Not so Jolly Roger' was partly filmed at Red Sands Fort, an anti-aircraft installation built in 1943 off the coast of Kent.
During the sixties the fort was home to three offshore 'pirate' radio stations: Radio Invicta, King Radio and finally Radio 390.
Radio 390 were at Red Sands Fort when the Danger Man episode was filmed. This is evident from the acknowledgments on the closing credits.
All offshore radio stations were eventually closed in 1967 when the UK changed the law with regard to radio broadcasting.
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The buildings are still there although they are in bad condition and the connecting walkways have been torn down.
A team of people have set about restoring Red Sand Fort. You can view the 'Project Redsand Website' by clicking here
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Radio Jolly Roger - The Music used in the episode
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'Not so Jolly Roger', which incidentally is my favourite Danger Man episode, is set aboard a pirate radio station and throughout the episode we hear numerous 'pop' songs being broadcast over the airwaves. These are accredited to various artists such as Rey Anton, The New Generation, The Copperfields, but in reality most, but not all of these were performed by an unknown singer/songwriter called Rick Minas.
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A record credited to Minas and Banwell
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For many years I have been searching for information on Rick Minas with little success, partly due to the fact I was originally looking for 'Rick Minus'. However I was recently contacted by Mike Banwell who co-wrote, and was credited on two records in the sixties with Rick Minas that were commercially released, but were not hits. They were 'Lease on Love' by 'The Graham Bond Organisation' and 'I won't see you tonight' by 'Hamilton and the Hamilton Movement'. Both were produced by Robert Stigwood.
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Mike informs me that in 1964 Bruce Rae and Rick Minas setup a rehearsal studio with very primitive recording facilities called 'RayRik Sound Studios' at 1a Belmont Street, Chalk Farm, NW1. The studio was next door to a pub favoured by Jet Harris who used the studio a couple of times.
Living locally in Hampstead, Mike teamed up with Rick to get a couple of songs he had written ('Lease on love' and 'Another time another place') into demo form and from then on a writing partnership was formed, with Mike generally coming up with the tune and Rick sorting out the lyrics.
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A record from the RayRik Sound Studios
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Together they formed a studio band with Rick on guitar and vocals, Mike on guitars, bass and backing vocals, and a superb drummer Mick Greaves (who latter joined Chaos and Winston G). All the RayRik output was performed by the three of them with very occasional additions such as female vocalists.
Rick and Mike had demo'd about 40 songs; all their own compositions. Rick at this point decided to go solo and the team split but he took the RayRik songs with him treating them as his own. Mike recalls "I last saw Rick in 1968 when he was training to be an accountant, having left the music world after a brief musical dalliance with Cat Stevens, releasing two singles on Decca under the name of Sasha Caro".
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Rick Minas (right) with Cat Stevens in 1967
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Mike revealed that 'Rick Minas' was actually called 'Caro Minas', and I have discovered that he later became 'Sasha Caro' who briefly worked with Cat Stevens and released two records on the Decca label.
A Decca promotional page states that Caro Minas was born in Rangoon in 1940, but fled to India with his family when Burma was invaded by the Japanese. Aged 15 he came to England to study engineering and in 1965 he opened a recording studio and began writing and producing songs.
What happened to Rick/Caro/Sasha after that is unknown. Maybe he changed his name again? I'd love to hear from him or anyone who knew him.
Mike has lent me a pile of original Minas/Banwell acetates, some which were featured in the Danger Man episode. Unfortunately my all time favourite song used in Danger Man 'No word from you' was not in the collection. If anyone can help please get in touch!
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Mike still plays bass in a band of ageing rockers 'The Fabulous Blooz' based around Tunbridge Wells and would be pleased to hear from anyone requiring a band (free of charge) for charity fund raising. Mike can be contacted by clicking here
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Below are details of the songs used in 'Not so Jolly Roger' but also checkout my Minas/Banwell Discography for more details on their music.
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He who rides a tiger
By Patsy Ann Noble
This was one of few records that were accredited to the real artist.
Patsy Ann Noble not only appeared in the episode as Suzie Wade but she also recorded the song 'He who rides a tiger' which was used twice in the episode.
Download as MP3
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It's a lie
By Philip Goodhand-Tait and the Stormsville Shakers
In the episode this was accredited to just the 'Stormsville Shakers'.
This song was commercially released as the b-side to 'I'm gonna put some hurt on you'.
Download as MP3
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Mio Amore Sta Lontano
By Angelique
This was one of few records that were accredited to the real artist.
This song featured in many of the hour-long episodes.
Download as MP3
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John Hardy
By Manfred Mann
In the episode this was accredited to 'The Copperfields' however I could find no information on them, but I did find this version by Manfred Mann.
Download as MP3
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Blue Danube
Written by "Johann Strauss"
Arrangement by "Victor Silvester"
Released in the early 1960's on a "Columbia" LP
This song was used to signal the submarine.
Download as MP3
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Don't try to change me
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
Rick Minas provided a handful of songs for the episode, and this is 1/2 on which he got a mention.
Download as MP3
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It's love I should have tried
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
Rick Minas provided a handful of songs for the episode, and this is 2/2 on which he got a mention.
Download as MP3
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Think about me
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
In the episode this was accredited to the 'Master Minstrels', in reality it was another Rick Minas performance.
Download as MP3
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Look before you leap
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
In the episode this was accredited to the 'Rey Anton & The Proform', in reality it was another Rick Minas performance.
Download as MP3
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Key to my heart
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
In the episode this was accredited to the 'The New Generation', in reality it was another Rick Minas performance.
Download as MP3
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You walked away
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed by John 'Chippy' Carpenter
In the episode this was accredited to the 'The Surfboys', in reality it was another Minas/Banwell composition but was performed by John Carpenter aka 'Chippy' who was the drummer and lead singer of 'The Zephyrs'.
Download as MP3
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Though I Know
Written by Minas/Banwell
Performed By Rick Minas
In the episode this was accredited to the 'The Intuitions', in reality it was another Rick Minas performance.
Download as MP3
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There were another 2 Minas/Banwell compositions used in the episode, all performed by Rick Minas. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find copies of these:
1. KEEP ME SATISFIED (accredited to 'The Skylarks')
2. NO WORD FROM YOU (acreditied to 'The Zephyrs')
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Many thanks to "Mike Banwell" and "George Brown" for their help!
If you have any further information on Rick Minas / Caro Minas / Sasha Caro or his songs please email me - mcourtman@btinternet.com
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