Depolarized Raman spectra of simple organic liquids in the wavenumber region 0-200 cm(-1) were measured. The data were analyzed by assuming model spectral functions in this entire wavenumber region but by putting stress on the relaxational mode which lies in the lowest wavenumber region. For 11 simple organic liquids at room temperature, the relaxation time tau was obtained and also the parameter beta which represents the distribution of tau; tau ranges from 1 to 5 ps. For toluene and tetrahydrofuran, the temperature evolution of the spectra was measured. It was found that tau of these liquids increases as the temperature is lowered, This is in harmony with the increasing viscosity with decrease in temperature. It was found that beta is close to unity for most of the liquids studied, which implies a small distribution of tau in simple organic liquids. (C) 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.