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'''''Razzle''''' is a British [[soft porn]] [[magazine]], founded in 1983, published by [[Paul Raymond Publications]]. It currently focuses on amateur style [[pornography]], offering cash for any photos of "readers' wives" printed: in the past, however, several notable glamour models were featured, including minor celebrity [[Joanne Guest]]. It also includes the traditional "true" stories.
'''''Razzle''''' is a British [[soft porn]] [[magazine]], founded in 1983, published by [[Paul Raymond Publications]]. It currently focuses on amateur style [[pornography]], offering cash for any photos of "readers' wives" printed: in the past, however, several notable glamour models were featured, including minor celebrity [[Joanne Guest]]. It also includes the traditional "true" stories.


There was an earlier UK men's magazine of the same title that dates from the 1930s to the late 1950s. This was a pocket format title, which featured a colour centre spread by the illustrator George Davies.<ref>Men's Magazines an A-Z, Magforum.com http://www.magforum.com/mens/mensmagazinesatoz10.htm#111</ref>
There was an earlier UK men's magazine of the same title that dates from the 1930s to the late 1950s. This was a pocket format title, which featured a colour centre spread by the illustrator George Davies.<ref>Men's Magazines an A-Z, Magforum.com http://www.magforum.com/mens/mensmagazinesatoz10.htm#111</ref>. This men's magazine was later immortalised in the [[Ian Dury]] song ''Razzle In My Pocket'' (1977, the 'B' side to ''[[Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll]]''), a story of a boy trying to steal a copy of said magazine from a bookshop. The song also appears on the 1981 compilation LP ''Juke Box Dury'' (side 1, track 6).


The name ''Razzle'' gains a fair bit of mainstream attention, having been mentioned on numerous British comedy programmes, including ''[[Meet Ricky Gervais]]'', ''[[Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere]]'', and in an episode of ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' where it is implied that Patsy once posed for the magazine (albeit in the early 19''70''s).<ref>''[[The Advocate]]'', 20 November 2001, p.44</ref> It is also mentioned in ''[[Men Behaving Badly]]'' and ''[[Bottom (TV series)|Bottom]]'', and in ''[[Little Britain]]'', when Lou buys the magazine for [[Lou and Andy|Andy]]. There is a song by [[Ian Dury]] and the Blockheads, entitled "Razzle in my Pocket". However, this is a reference to the 1950s version of the magazine (the song was written in the 1970s). The razzle stack is a term used to described the way ladies were stacked four high, normally with a pint of guiness rested to the side.
The name ''Razzle'' gains a fair bit of mainstream attention, having been mentioned on numerous British comedy programmes, including ''[[Meet Ricky Gervais]]'', ''[[Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere]]'', and in an episode of ''[[Absolutely Fabulous]]'' where it is implied that Patsy once posed for the magazine (albeit in the early 19''70''s).<ref>''[[The Advocate]]'', 20 November 2001, p.44</ref> It is also mentioned in ''[[Men Behaving Badly]]'' and ''[[Bottom (TV series)|Bottom]]'', and in ''[[Little Britain]]'', when Lou buys the magazine for [[Lou and Andy|Andy]]. The razzle stack is a term used to describe the way ladies were stacked four high, normally with a pint of Guinness rested to the side.


Despite the market for softcore pornography decreasing in the UK, presumably due to a combination of the internet, and more extreme material being available, ''Razzle'' is still successful, having launched some spin off titles including ''Razzle Extreme'', ''The Best of Razzle'' and ''Razzle Readers Wives''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}
Despite the market for softcore pornography decreasing in the UK, presumably due to a combination of the internet, and more extreme material being available, ''Razzle'' is still successful, having launched some spin off titles including ''Razzle Extreme'', ''The Best of Razzle'' and ''Razzle Readers Wives''.{{Citation needed|date=July 2010}}

Revision as of 17:42, 27 December 2011

Razzle
FrequencyMonthly
PublisherPaul Raymond Publications
First issue1983
Country United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Razzle is a British soft porn magazine, founded in 1983, published by Paul Raymond Publications. It currently focuses on amateur style pornography, offering cash for any photos of "readers' wives" printed: in the past, however, several notable glamour models were featured, including minor celebrity Joanne Guest. It also includes the traditional "true" stories.

There was an earlier UK men's magazine of the same title that dates from the 1930s to the late 1950s. This was a pocket format title, which featured a colour centre spread by the illustrator George Davies.[1]. This men's magazine was later immortalised in the Ian Dury song Razzle In My Pocket (1977, the 'B' side to Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll), a story of a boy trying to steal a copy of said magazine from a bookshop. The song also appears on the 1981 compilation LP Juke Box Dury (side 1, track 6).

The name Razzle gains a fair bit of mainstream attention, having been mentioned on numerous British comedy programmes, including Meet Ricky Gervais, Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, and in an episode of Absolutely Fabulous where it is implied that Patsy once posed for the magazine (albeit in the early 1970s).[2] It is also mentioned in Men Behaving Badly and Bottom, and in Little Britain, when Lou buys the magazine for Andy. The razzle stack is a term used to describe the way ladies were stacked four high, normally with a pint of Guinness rested to the side.

Despite the market for softcore pornography decreasing in the UK, presumably due to a combination of the internet, and more extreme material being available, Razzle is still successful, having launched some spin off titles including Razzle Extreme, The Best of Razzle and Razzle Readers Wives.[citation needed]

Razzle is published by the late Paul Raymond's publishing house, whose other publications include Club International, Escort, Just Girls, Mayfair, Men Only and Men's World.[3]

Early Days

Nicholas Whittaker, journalist and author of Platform Souls, Blue Period and Sweet Talk, worked for the company from 1982 to 1987,[4] and played a major role in establishing the new Razzle magazine. In its first format Razzle was 48 pages and sold for 50p. He wrote of his experiences and the formation of the new magazine in Blue Period.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Men's Magazines an A-Z, Magforum.com http://www.magforum.com/mens/mensmagazinesatoz10.htm#111
  2. ^ The Advocate, 20 November 2001, p.44
  3. ^ Sigel (2005) p.164
  4. ^ Sigel (2005) p.162
  5. ^ Sigel (2005) p.166
  • Lisa Z. Sigel, "International exposure: perspectives on modern European pornography, 1800-2000", Rutgers University Press, 2005, ISBN 0813535190
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