‘Back To Ohio Blues’ | Story about Raven | 1975 Wasted Hard Rock Masterpiece

Raven’s highly regarded 1975 wasted hard rock masterpiece, ‘Back To Ohio Blues’ recently received a fantastic vinyl treatment thanks to Permanent Records.

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This Columbus, Ohio wasteoid consists of proto-punk mixed with heavy blues ending in a one-of-a-kind record of “real people” musicians. Stories about drugs, bikers, sex and as the legendary Acid Archives states: “…everything else that makes life worth living.” Brother-in-law of the man known as Raven, Michael Flugge shares his part of the story.

“Gotta get high, gotta get f***ed, nail me to your cross”

Bobby Logue, better known as Raven was born Columbus, Ohio. When did you first meet him?

Michael Flugge: I first met Raven (Bobby Logue) about 1970. He was a “friend of a friend” and we went to the same high school. About ten years later I married his sister, my wife.

Do you know what’s the story behind the name “Raven?”

Bobby was a huge fan of monster/horror movies, magazines et cetera. Edgar Allen Poe, the Hammer films. In the 1960’s and early 70’s he would decorate their house for Halloween in an extreme creative fashion using blacklights, props, costumes. He would play Steppenwolf’s ‘The Pusher’ over and over from large speakers at a high volume. I’m referring to the album, ‘Early Steppenwolf—Recorded Live at the Matrix in San Francisco, May 14, 1967’. This version was the only song on side two of the album clocking in at over 21 minutes. Many children were afraid to approach the house. Keep in mind that this was very different and elaborate for the times.

Where did he live back in the 70s?

The far east side of Columbus, Ohio. He jammed with various kids in the neighborhood.

Do you know any details about the recording of ‘Back to Ohio Blues’?

Bobby wrote, played guitar, and sang all of the songs on’“Back to Ohio Blues’. He only rehearsed several times with three people who lived nearby. They piled into a beat up station wagon and arrived at Owl Recording Studios, Columbus, Ohio. The album was recorded in several hours. The recording engineer was Alex Vertikoff. Alex later worked with many musicians. He was a sub-engineer on one of The Rolling Stones’ albums.

“He never sold one copy of the album and gave it away to friends”

Apparently he gave away most of the few hundred copies he pressed. I wonder how many actually were pressed and where?

300 copies of the album were pressed. It was recorded at Owl Studios and pressed at Musicol Recording Studios, Columbus, Ohio. He sent the album to several radio stations and local newspapers. It was not played on the air. One local paper reviewed it, giving it a negative review. He never sold one copy of the album and gave it away to friends in Columbus, Ohio and Colorado.

And where did he record the album?

The album was recorded at Owl Recording Studios on the same equipment used to record the Woodstock Festival. Owl’s recording equipment was formerly owned by Bill Hanley (Hanley Sound).

Was he a biker?

No, he was a hippie. He had friends that owned bikes.

Did he ever talk about those songs that appear on the album?

Yes…although right now, I don’t recall anything he said specifically.

Do you know if there are any more recordings?

Yes. He has always owned recording equipment The last ten years of his life he had a small studio in his home. The recordings are solo and with various other people. Much of it is rough…experimental. My son-in-law and I are slowly sifting through it.

Has he ever played in any bands?

The players on ‘Back to Ohio Blues’ never played together as a band except for the rehearsal and recording of the album. In 2006 he reformed Raven with a different bass player and drummer than on the 1975 album. They played and recorded together for several years.

What did he do after the release of the album?

As I said, he believed the album was rejected. He hitchhiked to Colorado, Florida, et cetera. He later joined the army and was stationed in Germany and Kentucky. He continued to play, write and sing.

He sadly passed away in 2013… what was he like as a friend?

Whew! Very, very smart in certain things. He would know how to work on a vehicle engine, remodel a house or work on a computer without any training or education in those things. Money never meant too much to him. Generally, he’d help anyone out and “Give them the shirt off his back.” He loved playing music and was also a very good drummer. I am happy that he got “his 15 minutes of fame” before he left us.

Klemen Breznikar