In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry song)

In the Summertime (English for about: "In the Summer" ) is published by a British band Mungo Jerry in 1970 pop song, which is considered the top-selling summer hit of all time.

Genesis

Mungo Jerry was founded and discovered only a few months before the publication of the title. As explorers applies the producer Barry Murray of Pye Records. This was on the lookout for an unusual band for progressive label Dawn daughter.

It was not until the end of April 1970 put it on the group name Mungo Jerry firm and took under the supervision of producer Barry Murray a total of 17 tracks on, including the In -written by group founder Ray Dorset the Summertime. Dorset had not conceived the song as summer hit, but generally wanted to glorify the light of life. Producer Murray decided with great certainty for In the Summertime first record release of the group, although the band is actually the second A-side title Mighty Man wanted as a single (even though this song was often played in the radio stations 1970). On May 22, 1970, appeared under the catalog number Dawn DNX 2502 no ordinary first single, the first release form was rather the world's first maxi-single. It was sold at the same price as the later -released single. The publication was unusual in that the plate was playing with only 33 revolutions per minute ( instead of the usual 45). She was also available in an illustrated envelope; this principle should then be found in England until years distributed application. In the Summertime thus was the first maxi-single in the world and a pioneer for later maxi singles and CD singles today.

Only for use in jukeboxes its parent label Pye Records decided for a true single (catalog number Pye 7N 2502 ), which is now being traded as collector's rarity. Banjo player Paul King blows, similar to a Jug Band, a jug and generates so along with the stomp board of guitarist and singer Ray Dorset, the clack double bass by Mike Cole and the Honky Tonk Piano by Colin Earl a characteristic, rhythmic swinging drum-less Goodtime sound that is a mix of blues, skiffle and Latin music. The song was - recorded without the use of a washboard - against commonly held media reports. Percussion player Joe Rush reinforced the band only on their medial successfully completed live concert ( " Mungo Mania " ) on the Hollywood Festival and the chart album " You do not have to be in the Army " (1972), the only two years later appeared. The music of In the Summertime is catchy and provided with a simple melody, which has a strong brand recognition. The text celebrates the carefree summer time with alcohol, cars and girls, reaching through his perfect timing, the status of the typical summer hits, the title is sung only at the beginning and end of the text and without a chorus ( hook ) manages. To extend the recording, a take-off engine noise was leveled, a Triumph sports car sound engineer Barry Howard, whose passing noise is caused by changing the stereo channels expressed in the stereo effect. Together with Mighty Man and the B-side Dust Pneumonia Blues appeared the title as the world's first maxi-single.

One day after release, the band performed for the first time under the name Mungo Jerry at the Hollywood Music Festival in Newcastle in the framework program, where the newcomers caused by the spectators for enthusiasm. The audience chose not Grateful Dead or any of the other well-known bands for a repeat performance the next day, but Mungo Jerry. The corresponding media coverage and the hype around " Mungo Mania " helped the freshly released as a single title in the Summertime quickly to great popularity, airplay on all radio stations and consequently to rapid success.

Reception

The song debuted on 6 June 1970 in the UK Singles Chart, where he was number one for seven weeks from the second week. In the Summertime the top position in 26 other countries, including in Germany reached ( a total of seven weeks from 22 August 1970). In the U.S., he came only up to third place. While in the UK, 800,000 shares were sold, a total of one million copies in France went over the counter, of which 400,000 ( was born on November 23, 1971 Mungo Jerry Olympia in Paris the gold record awarded ) in the first month after its release. With six million copies of the title in 1970 was the best-selling single worldwide. The estimated total sales figure of the single - which was published several times in the original (including once in 2005 by Pye / Dawn just before the change of Mungo Jerry to the record company Polydor ) varies greatly: Experts of 23 million units of ( for this value was Mungo Jerry in 2000, the Sony Award " for the largest summer hit of all time " award ); the number of 30 million copies includes releases on compilation LPs and CDs with. Notwithstanding the different sales information shall be considered in the Summertime today as the most successful summer hit at all.

Was translated the play into more than 40 languages ​​, including Chinese and Indian.

Cover versions

Since the year of publication in the Summertime was re-recorded by numerous artists, there will be a total of 28 cover versions. Even Bob Dylan played the Mungo Jerry song one on a bootleg. The most successful cover Shaggy succeeded in 1995 after Mungo Jerry himself had done as Mungo Jerry & Brothers Grimm a cover on the 1st place of the British indie charts. His single whose music had original artist Mungo Jerry ( Ray Dorset) hand music itself re-recorded, reached in 1995 in the United States and Great Britain as the successor of the single " Mr. Bombastic " the No. 1 ranking of the charts. A year later, Shaggy version for the new " Flipper movie" was then mixed all over again, and again reached the U.S. charts. 2010 - the year of the 40th anniversary of the song - took the original artist Mungo Jerry along with the drum -and- bass specialist Bluestone and the rapper MC Skibadee the summer anthem in the danceable robe on and made in the UK dance charts a top Twenty - ranking ( No. 15).