I was a suburban twelve-year old when this thing became a huge pop hit in 1970. Embedding "disabled by request," but it has more than four million hits and it is a genius bit of rhythmic pop stuff. Listen and learn; be inspired and write your own hit:
Funny you should mention this. Without remebering the lyrics or the name of the tun, I have been working it out. I heard it today in the grovery store and got the lyrics and some of the melody I did not remenber, and now I find is posted here.
In Australia there was some kind of radio AirPlay ban going on at the time and we got local cover versions of all these songs which were hits overseas. For about a decade I thought this was by the mixtures and wondered who this mungo jerry guy thought he was. The lyrics are a real museum piece: if her daddy's poor etc, have a drink have a drive... ----------
I do hope sideburns don't make a comeback. Our gold medal cyclist Bradley Higgins is a sideburn fan and makes me realise how ridiculous I must have looked when I had them.
You know, I'm capable of picking up on 12-bar blues changes in every conceivable context, but I was so hooked by this....hook-y song that I totally missed them here.
Yes, this is a blues! And it reminds me, in that context, of Canned Heat's memorable remake of Henry Thomas's "Bulldoze Blues," called "Going Up The Country."
I really liked this tune when it came out and bought the record album. There are quite a few excellent cuts on it aside from "In the Summertime". Very good band. ---------- The Iceman
Great ol summer song by Mungo. During that same era Al Wilson (Blind Owl) of Canned Heat was an absolute phenominal musician/harp player often overlooked and under rated. Probably only because of his short lived career and untimely death. Give a listen to the harp on "On the Road Again" and feel his soul.
On the great album "Hooker and Heat," John Lee Hooker says before they start "Burning Hell" - I dig this kid's harmonica (Alan Wilson). I don't know how he follows me, but he do. Must have listened to my records." Nuff said.
Yes FANTASTIC song from my youth I love it! Mungo's harp playing.........well.....ummm..........they do have big sideburns yes! Now the Blind Owl's harp....at the time, ahead of it's time! (more facial hair in the band on average Tooks!) ---------- One of Rubes's bands, DadsinSpace-MySpace Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Henry Thomas, great, great, great ! The kind of guy that makes you regret he didn't record ten times more songs. He played a kind of Pan flute called "Quills", while playing guitar and singing. Had obviously a great influence on Canned Heat, that I love also.
Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime" leaves me cold. It really sticks in the ear though, reason of its commercial success, but I don't like it.
