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Mojo Navigator

Publication date: 1966 to 1967?

Mojo Navigator (full title Mojo Navigator Rock 'n' Roll News) was started by Greg Shaw (managing editor and publisher) and David Harris (editor) in San Francisco in 1966. The first issue published in August was 4 mimeographed sides. Shaw and Harris wrote most of the articles that were included. Guest writers contributed to later issues.

The Grateful Dead are mentioned in every issue. Issues 4 and 5 carry a long two part interview with members of the Grateful Dead.

Online copies of issues 1 to 13 of Mojo Navigator can be downloaded from the Rockmine Archives.

Each issue includes news of which bands are recording and information about shows by local and visiting groups. The main features and Grateful Dead content of each of issue 1 to 13 is roughly as follows.

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.1 (1966) : Article about Wolfman Jack, a diatribe about record companies not including single flip sides on albums and a shorter piece on Travis Wammack. Record reviews Peter, Paul & Mary, the Byrds. Includes a notice announcing the Grateful Dead with Jefferson Airplane at the Fillmore

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.2 (1966) : Article about the Straight Theatre, feature on local radio DJs and another on the financial and social problems of the San Francisco music scene. Includes an announcement of a show at the Avalon with the Grateful Dead and Sopwith Camel

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.3 (1966) : Main articles are about the first issue of the Oracle, a change to a top 40 bands policy at the Fillmore and a pressing of Freewheelin Bob Dylan with incorrect track list. Records review: Jim and Jean, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off, Bob Dylan single I Want You. In the 'Ads From The People' section there is "The Grateful Dead are looking for a place to live where they can practice without bugging anyone; some secluded spot preferably in Marin."

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.4 (1966) : Main features are part one of a long Grateful Dead interview with Garcia, Pigpen, Weir (as Wier) and Lesh (as Leish), and articles about Country Joe & The Fish and Bill Graham Revisited. Record reviews: Manfred Mann. Includes an announcement for a Fillmore show with the Grateful Dead, QMS and Country Joe and the Fish

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.5 (1966) : Main articles are the second part of the Grateful Dead interview that started in issue 4 and an editorial that concentrates on music coverage in the SF Oracle. Includes a news item that the Grateful Dead are recording a single

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.6 (1966) : Main features are a review of the ID Magazine San Francisco Band Book, an article about the radio scene in New York and a review of the Both/And Benefit at the Fillmore. The latter includes a positive note about the Grateful Dead who performed unannounced at the benefit. Record reviews: The Troggs, Donovan, Lovin' Spoonful and the Butterfield Blues Band. Includes an announcement of a forthcoming show at the Avalon with the Grateful Dead and Oxford Circle

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.7 (1966) : Main features are an interview with San Francisco disc jockey Tommy Saunders and the return of Big Brother & The Holding Company to the Bay Area after a tour. Record reviews: Tom Rush. Includes an announcement of a forthcoming show at the Fillmore with the Butterfield Blues Band, Jefferson Airplance and Grateful Dead and also of a 48 hour happening at SF State College which will include a dance in the Women's Gym with the Grateful Dead, Mimi Farina and The Only Alternative and his Other Possibility

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.8 (1966) : The main item is a long interview with Big Brother and The Holding Company. Record reviews: The Seeds, Slim Harpo. Includes an announcement of a forthcoming show at Winterland with the Butterfield Blues Band, Jefferson Airplance and Grateful Dead. Also in the gossip section is the news that the Grateful Dead are to sign with Warner Brothers

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.9 (1966) : Main features are an interview with Jim Kweskin and an article about Dootone Records. A look back at the previous week records that there was a rally in Golden Gate Park Panhandle with the Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Wildflower. This rally also reportedly featured a 'new group' called The New Peanut Butter Sandwich with Pigpen, Jerry Garcia and members of Big brother, QMS and Sir Douglas Quintet. Announcement of a forthcoming show at the Fillmore with the Grateful Dead, Lightning Hopkins and the Loading Zone

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.10 (1966) : Main features are an interview with the members of the Mystery Trend, a summary of Little Richard recordings and a comment on the staff of Mojo Navigator being banned from the Fillmore. Record reviews: Simon & Garfunkel and Big Brother & The Holding Company. Includes a announcement of a show at the Avalon with the Grateful Dead, QMS and Big Brother and a picture of Jerry Garcia

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.11 (1966) : Main features are an interview with Country Joe & The Fish and a continuation of the Mystery Trend interview from the previous issue. Record reviews: Dr West's Medicine Show and Junk Band, The Remains, Blues Magoos and The Blues Project. Includes a picture of Bob Weir

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.12 (1966) : Main features are a survey of the British Blues scene, the second part of the interview with Country Joe & The Fish and the final part of the Mystery Trend interview from the previous two issues. Record reviews: Donovan, Lovin' Spoonful, Rolling Stones and The Charlatans. The news section includes the information that Jerry Garcia is a technical adviser for the forthcoming Jefferson Airplane LP. Includes a full page ad for a Grateful Dead show

Mojo Navigator Vol 1. No.13 (1967) : Main features are an interview with the Doors, a survey of Chuck Berry recordings, a review of Monterey and an article about Eric Clapton. Record reviews: The first Grateful Dead LP, Country Joe & the Fish, Moby Grape, Peanut Butter Conspiracy, Chambers Brothers, The Ashes, Left Banke, Gene Clarke, The Who, Kaleidoscope, The Mothers, the Mystery Trend, Jimi Hendrix and the Blues Magoos

Uncertain what issues followed after 13.

Details of one further issue.

Mojo Navigator : dated April 1967, no issue number : Main features are an article on Phil Spector, an article on the Lovin' Spoonful and an interview with the Blues Magoos. Record reviews: The Doors, The Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, The Kinks, The Rolling Stones. Inlcudes a full page ad for the Grateful Dead.

The last issue of Mojo Navigator was probably published in late 1967.

Information about further issues of Mojo Navigator is welcome.


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