The band's name, I believe, is taken from T.S. Eliot's poetry book "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". The poem itself is "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer". The collection of poems in the book was later adapted into the Broadway musical "Cats". This song is indeed a summertime vibe.
Let's talk Jug Band! Jug, washboard, tinny piano, banjo, guitar, double bass. Ray Dorset says this one took him 10 minutes to write. And was #1 in half the world (only #3 in US (#2 in cashbox)).
@@craigplatel813 I always loved the Lovin' Spoonful's homage to Jug Bands, the song Jug Band Music..."But the doctor said "Give him jug band music It seems to make him feel just fine""
@@clintatk In the UK, post WWII youths were caught up in a Jug Band style, that they called skiffle, so the 50s can also be included with the 60s and 70s. Clearly Rock and Jug Band genres share blues roots, in execution. And Jug Band stylings were tried by Dylan, the Byrds, the Lovin' Spoonful, the Turtles, CCR, Country Joe & the Fish, among many.
@@thefoss5387 An yes, skiffle. The Beatles started out playing in skiffle bands or at least some members did. What came to be known as jug band music in the states started out in a number of ways; 20s string bands that were related to 19th century minstrel shows and the jug refers to rural deep South performers who would include a jug as a rhythm instrument and a bass sound.
Believe it or not, this is one of the biggest selling singles of all time (30 million sold worldwide - back when people purchased 45s). Considering Ray Dorset (frontman) says he wrote the song in 10 minutes, it was a pretty good investment in time, I'd have to say.
Thanks Modmary for this post and thanks to the 100+ who up voted it. I was never a fan of this Mungo Jerry tune that won the poll, and I think Kodachrome needs to be done if this MJ tune did.
I was in high school when this came out and yes, it's weird, quirky and didn't fit into the rock genre we loved but it was just - fun. Also a prime example of the diversity of sounds and styles that era had, which has since been ruined by moronic record companies and radio stations that want more and more clones of the most common style and sound.
You guys hit this on the head. This came out when I was nine and 10 years old and we would spend the summer jumping in the swimming pool and running to the detached garage and playing pool with my cousins and we had this blasting on a a.m. radio. This song brings back to 1970 in a heartbeat. And all I can envision is jumping in the pool and sinking pool balls in the pockets. Definitely was a huge summertime song. Great job.
Alex comes up with great imagery and I like how you guys evaluated the song. It is a one-of-a kind song and it managed to reach the top of the charts because of it. Stick to your guns Andy! It WAS the summer vibe,
Needed to play this along with the video. The visuals would explain so much! I graduated in 1970 and this was one of the greatest cruising songs of that summer.
Brings back tons of memories, They played the shit out of this on the radio back in the day. A beach beer drinking song for sure. Kept people happy, smiling, and singing all day long.
The summer of 1970 I was taking Drivers ED at the school I was attending. The Football coach was our instructor. And the first time we ever heard this song was the first day we went out to drive and it was like #10 on the charts. After the song was over the coach looked at all of us in the car and said "That song will be #1 by the time we finish this class". And it hit #1 by Friday morning.
You hit it on the head for me Andy! I was 5 when this song came out and I remember going to the beach with my parents and friends and bopping along as we were digging in the sand. Thanks guys pure joy for me!
Yes it was a cultureal thing. At the time all pop music was played on AM radio. Soo, when we were at the pool. And this song came on? . It reminded us to enjoy to the summer sunshine.
This is more a classic summer “jingle” than great song, but it persists and gets a grin every year! If you’re not singing along, you at least catch yourself going; Chh…chh chh, chh…chh chh
I'm only 32 years old and have fond memories of this song. Playing on repeat in the high school gym during summer shootarounds - then grabbing Sonic on the way home. Pure nostalgic bliss
This song had so much air play the summer of 70! It resonated with all ages, was easy to sing along to (or whistle the melody) & you can’t help but smile when you hear it…you can also tell Mungo Jerry (the whole band) is having a blast performing it…what’s not to like? The video for this song is a performance video that’s worth a watch if you want to see all the instruments (including a jug) used 😄
Just a happy summertime song. Vibe is like Joy to the World. Don’t overthink it. Hearing this song always makes you smile and gives you a lift. A plus at least.
HOT FUN in the Summertime by Sly and the Family Stone does a waaaay better job at being just that. Much better as a fun 1970 summer song than this song. This is fuckin’ drivel!
I had just graduated high school. Every time I hear this song it reminds me of dancing in the backyard with my high school sweetheart. Great summer memories! 52 years ago!
Don't know what made the Summer list, but growing up in L.A. in the '70s the song "Summer" by War captures L.A.'s laid-back summertime and always takes me back.
Man we loved this song , so much , we sang it and enjoyed the fun feeling of it, and people drove around to it, Its a fantastic song, and so much fun and loved the feeling of the song , it was such a big hit, if you had watched video and watched them , you would have gotten the feeling even more
Andy has it right. Whenever I hear this song I'm nineteen again, hanging with my buddies in the Air Force on a summer day at the beach in Corpus Christi... it is a quintessential summer vibe. My friend's dad said the song reminded him of being a teenager in Louisiana summer....
To me, his song has always been the Steve Urkel of radio hits. I'd never seek it out, but I've got to recognize the cultural impact is bordering on 'S' tier.
Thinking Riders on the Storm by the Doors, & their use of the sound of a thunderstorm, when you talk about incorporating “sounds of life” in music. Spill the Wine (with Eric Burdon) & Slippin’ into Darkness are two more War favorites. There are still many gems from the ‘60s & early ‘70s out there for you. ✌️❤️🎶
I was 16 when this song came out and I was working concrete work, me and my buddy loved this song when we were working, swinging a pick axe and shoveling gravel out people's driveways to pour concrete. Hard work but this song lifted your spirits.
Mungo Jerry the band, Ray Dorset the singer. They're a guilty pleasure for me. Just a simple, fun band - This, their debut , number one in the UK, as was the follow-up 'Baby Jump'. Others include my favourite 'Lady Rose', 'Open Up', Wild Love', 'Alright Alright Alright' and 'You Don't Have To Be In The Army (to fight in the war)'.
This song is just different and it grabs you ... When I would be driving and it would pop up on the radio it did not matter if it was in the 70s 80s '90s 2000s whatever I just had to hear it.
Andy describing being at a family gathering in the summer, "Being a 10 year old running around". Yeah, summer of 1970 I was 10. It was exactly like that!
I graduated from 8th grade the summer of 1970. I was raised near the beach in southern California. So this song brings back great memories of summer at the beach. Thanks for bringing back these great memories!
The bit that you guys cannot get, I was 7yo in 1970 and I remember what songs were in the mix at the time. This song fitted perfectly with other songs of the time. TRex, Steve Harley, Bowie, In the summertime was part of a Vibe that just was!! The 70s.... And looking back with Nostalgia it just was, and it was perfect.
I'm now 60 and was 8 when this was in the UK charts. It was a long hot summer and this is imprinted hard in my musical memory. Catch the original video of the band playing this track, so typical of home garage bands of the time, looks like fun and echoes the lyrical sentiment. A summer sound track for sure, up there with Don Hennly's 'Boys of Summer' etc.
I voted for this one last week. It came out when I was five and was played a lot on the AM stations throughout the early 70s. When I was in high school in the 80s it was played a great deal on the oldies stations. It's a great groove when you are out driving.
This song was written in ten minutes and is currently the third highest selling record ever. It also reached number 1 in virtually every country major and small except the US, where it reached number 3.
Hearing this just made me think of Arthur Conley, Sweet Soul Music. And Sweet Soul Music makes me think of Sweet City Woman, by the Stampeders if you want another summer song with a banjo.
YES!!!!!! Thank you so much for checking out this song! This has been my favorite summer time jam since I was a kid. If you're bored sometime check out the video of them playing. Our boy is sporting the most awesome lamb chops in the history of lamb chops. Plus, they have a guy actually playing a jug! (BTW They have piano, banjo, stand up bass, guitar AND a jug! And don't forget the foot stomping!)
This was one of those songs when you heard it for the first time on radio, you knew it was going to be in play rotation for at least a month. You knew you would be wearing your finger out pushing another station as fast as it came on.
It’s a summer thing that’s memorable for being background music for things folks like to do in summer. And people like summer, so people like this. Sort of self-referential enjoyment. Makes me smell back yard barbecue smoke.
This song makes me feel like I'm at a parade....and upcoming there's a dude playing keyboards on a float with a backup band... All having a good time...lol .
If you want a good summer song, try "Moonlight Feels Right" by Starbuck. When the song came out in 1976, it didn't get a lot of airplay, and one station finally told the group that they were holding the song until the spring and summer since it was a fun, warm weather song. That summer, the song was a hit.
Do yourselves a favour and watch the video, or did you? You can only appreciate it fully watching how they made these sounds, oh and the hair and outfits. Priceless!
*~ This was a MASSIVE worldwide hit; number 1 in many countries (#3 here in the US.) and sold approx. 30 million copies. As per Wikipedia, it is listed at #3 of the worldwide best-selling singles of all time (Behind Bing Crosby: "White Christmas & Elton John: "Candle in the Wind 1997") ~ The songwriter said it took 10 minutes to write ~ BEST ~*
Takes me back to riding a horse tandem at my god parents’ farm. My brother had the reins, I had the transistor radio, the horse was bareback. To my recollection, it was he first time I heard the song, but my older brother had the horse’s gait timed perfectly… thanks for the memory!!!!
LOVE THIS SONG, just a good, fun tune this one those songs, no matter how bad your mood, it will bring a smile.. this been in many movies, wouldn't be surprised you heard before
Mungo Jerry was a combination of a rock band and jug/washboard band. One band member was blowing air across the top of a jug, a large deep container (as of glass, earthenware, or plastic) with a narrow mouth and a handle. Ray Dorset led the band. "In the Summertime" sold 30 million copies, was #1 in 26 countries, and sparked the "Mungomania" movement. Definite A+
There's a really beautiful one hit wonder by an artist that calls himself Daniel Boone. His song is called, It's a Wonderful Day. I heard it playing in a quick market the other day. I had totally forgotten about it until I heard it!
@@AmalgaMem I had that album, the only K-Tel album I ever bought. It was called 'Believe In Music'. The song "I Believe In Music", by Gallery (of "Nice To Be With You" fame) was the last track on the album. Not only did you get popular songs like "Maggie May" and "Sylvia's Mother", you also got "No" by Bulldog and "Down By The River" by Albert Hammond. Sure, they were chopped up, but it was a fun album to crank on your parents' console stereo.
I think Andy hit the nail on the head, this song is about the culture and life in the '70's, in the summertime. Apart from how catchy this is everyone remembers this song for that reason.
I always imagined this band was from Louisiana or some other southern state because of the this song. If you felt the same then you were way wrong. They aren't even from the US.
