TV Pop Diaries
Pop Music on British Television 1955 - 1999

From the Radio Times "MICKIE MOST is one of the world's most successful pop record producers, and in tonight's film you can see how he became so successful and what being a millionaire means to him. You can also see some of his artists; including Lulu, Herman of the Hermits, Donovan and his latest discovery Terry Reid."

Broadcast on BBC2 in colour, this edition of the Julian Pettifer hosted series, Millionaire saw record producer Mickie Most discussing how he became a pop star internationally, without even singing a note. Although he had been a singing star in South Africa he would have to play a different game when he came back to the UK, and despite a few record releases for Decca and Columbia no one wanted to know.

Having been the opening act on an Everly Brothers tour in early 1964 he caught The Animals playing live in Newcastle and knew he had to record them. The first session cost him thirty shillings and he took it to Columbia, the label he was signed to at the time. Deciding that recording other people would be a better proposition he became the most famous independent producer in the UK since Joe Meek, scoring dozens of hits from 1964 until the mid 1980s. An alternate version of the story was told by Most in Record Mirror in September 1964. "I heard The Animals at the Scene Club in Soho and was knocked out. They are my favourite group still, Anyway, everybody wanted to record them but I got the job. Immediately I started work on an album - funny way to start, I know."

This edition caught the then 29 year-old millionaire overseeing a Herman's Hermits recording session, assessing demos, catching up with Lulu at rehearsals for her live show, Terry Reid playing at The Revolution Club in London, talking with Donovan and discussing why, somewhat controversially, he could potentially make more money than the artists he releases.

He appeared to be more at ease, and somewhat more honest than his previous appearance on Granada's Come And Get Your Money, where he came across as arrogant and dictatorial.

Other shows in the series featured The Countess of Sutherland, racing car team manager Colin Chapman and playboy artisto Prince Alfonso Hohenlohe.

The 2021 Ace Records' compilation title suggests ‘The Pop Genius Of Mickie Most’, they weren't wrong.

MILLIONAIRE: MICKIE MOST, I'M FIGURING OUT A WAY NOT TO DIE

BBC2

15th August 1968