Mungo Jerry - wikipedia Mungo Jerry For the character from Cats, see Mungojerrie. Mungo Jerry The band performing at the Zürisee - Festival in Erlenbach, near Zurich, Switzerland, 2013 Background information Origin Colpington, England Genres Pop rock folk blues psychedelic rock soft rock country skiffle Years active 1969 -- present Labels Janus Records, Dawn Records, Polydor, Scratch Records, Stage Coach Records, Mach 1 Records, Orbit Records, Illegal Records, Universal Music, Mercury Records. Website www.mungojerry.com Mungo Jerry are a British rock group who experienced their greatest success in the early 1970s, with a changing line - up that has always been fronted by Ray Dorset. The group 's name was inspired by the poem `` Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer, '' from T.S. Eliot 's Old Possum 's Book of Practical Cats. The group 's biggest hit was `` In the Summertime. '' They had nine charting singles in the UK, including two number ones, and five top 20 hits in South Africa. Contents 1 History 1.1 Formation and original band : 1970 -- 1971 1.2 Line - up changes and side - projects : 1972 -- 1980s 2 Members 3 Discography 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External links History Formation and original band : 1970 -- 1971 This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2013 ) Mungo Jerry came to prominence in 1970 after their performance at the Hollywood Festival at Newcastle - under - Lyme, Staffordshire, on 23 May, which was their first gig under this name, alongside Black Sabbath, Traffic, Ginger Baker 's Airforce, Grateful Dead ( their first performance in the UK ) and José Feliciano. Their show was well received and the organisers asked them to perform again on the following day. The band 's first single, `` In The Summertime '', the first maxi - single in the world, released on 22 May, entered the UK charts at No. 13 and the following week went straight to No. 1. Ray Dorset had to ask his boss for time off to do the UK TV Show Top of the Pops. Ray Dorset and Colin Earl had previously been members of The Good Earth. Bassist Dave Hutchins left to join Bobby Parker 's band and the drummer was dismissed so Dorset and Earl decided to fulfil the one remaining gig, an Oxford University Christmas Ball in December 1968, as a three - piece with Joe Rush, one of Dorset 's work colleagues, on double bass. Also on the bill was Miller Anderson, making his debut as a singer and guitarist, and Mick Farren and the Social Deviants. Though booked for only one set, Good Earth were asked to perform another after the bands had finished, playing a selection of American folk / blues / skiffle / jug band music from Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie and others, and some of Dorset 's songs. The trio played more gigs and landed a regular slot at the Master Robert Motel in Osterley, Middlesex, where they soon built up a following, including banjo, guitar and blues harp player Paul King who eventually joined the band, making it a four - piece. After Rush left, Mike Cole was recruited on double bass, and this line - up recorded the first seventeen Mungo Jerry tracks which made up the first album and maxi - single including `` In The Summertime ''. When they made their national debut at the Hollywood Festival, Rush joined them on stage for some numbers to play washboard. The record topped the UK Singles Chart for seven weeks, made No. 1 in 26 countries around the world and to date has sold around 30 million copies. According to Joseph Murrell 's The Book of Golden Discs ( 1978 ), `` Mungomania '' was possibly the most startling and unpredictable pop phenomenon to hit Britain since The Beatles. Mungo Jerry made their first trip to the United States in September 1970. On their return Mike Cole was fired and replaced by John Godfrey, who played bass on their second UK maxi - single, `` Baby Jump '', which also topped the UK chart in March 1971. The third UK single, another maxi, `` Lady Rose '', also in 1971, was also set to become another UK No. 1, but the record was temporarily withdrawn from sale and all existing copies were destroyed, as ordered by the Public Prosecutor 's Office after complaints about the inclusion of the traditional song `` Have A Whiff on Me '', to which Dorset had added some of his own lyrics, on the grounds that it advocated the use of cocaine. Mungo Jerry was awarded from Melody Maker the ' best new band ' title in 1970. Dorset was granted three Ivor Novello Awards as a composer. Dorset was the composer, guitarist, blues harp, kazoo player, frontman and singer. On return from a long tour of the Far East at the beginning of 1972 he was summoned to the band 's management office and told by two of the other band members that he was fired and that his place was being taken by Dave Lambert. The record company, management and publishers did not go along with this idea and Ray Dorset was told that he was from then on, Ray Dorset the composer and Mungo Jerry the performing artist. Line - up changes and side - projects : 1972 -- 1980s This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( July 2013 ) With time, Dorset found the group 's good - time blues and jug band repertoire a little restricting, and in 1972 he released a solo album Cold Blue Excursion, with his songs backed by strings and brass and, in one instance, a jazz band. His intention to broaden the group 's appeal by recruiting a drummer led to King and Earl trying to sack him, but the management, regarding Dorset as inseparable in the public eye from Mungo Jerry, fired them both instead. Dorset and Godfrey, the bassist, recruited new members and presented a new sound, heard on the fourth album Boot Power. Colin Earl and Paul King went on to form The King Earl Boogie Band and recorded an album at Richard Branson 's Manor Studios called Trouble at Mill, produced by Dave Cousins of Strawbs. They played together on and off in the years following and ended up with a band called Skeleton Crew. Mungo Jerry 's hits continued through to 1976 with `` Open Up '' ( Top Twenty in Europe ) ; `` Alright, Alright, Alright '' ( a rewrite of an old French hit for Jacques Dutronc, and again a major hit worldwide reaching the Top 3 in the UK ) ; `` Wild Love '' ; `` Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black '' ; `` Hello Nadine '' ( European hit and Top Five in Canada ) ; and `` It 's a Secret '' ( European hit ). `` You Do n't Have to Be in the Army to Fight in the War '' gave Mungo Jerry another hit. In 1975, Earl returned to play keyboards, drummer Peter Sullivan joined and percussion player Joe Rush, part - time member of the band in earlier days, also came back for a while. The group 's line - up continued to change. Among those who have played with them are bassist Bob Daisley, drummers Dave Bidwell, Paul Hancox and Boris Williams, guitarist Dick Middleton, keyboard player Sev Lewkowicz, and keyboard / accordion player Steve Jones. They have remained popular throughout Europe. Mungo Jerry was the first western band to have live television gigs in all countries behind the Iron Curtain. In 1980 another Dorset song, `` Feels Like I 'm in Love '', originally written for Elvis Presley, and recorded by the band as a B side of a single, became a British number one hit for Kelly Marie. They remained successful with overseas hits like `` On A Night Like This '', `` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' ( a reggae version of the Bob Dylan song ) and `` Sunshine Reggae '' ( British version by Mungo Jerry & Horizon ). In 1983, Dorset was part of the blues super-group Katmandu, which recorded A Case for the Blues, with guitarist Peter Green, formerly of Fleetwood Mac, and keyboard player Vincent Crane, formerly of Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Members Current members Ray Dorset -- vocals, guitars ( original member ) Former members Colin Earl -- piano ( original member ) Paul King -- banjo, jug ( original member ) Byron Contostavlos -- bass ( died 2007 ) Mike Cole -- bass ( original member ) Bob Daisley -- bass Paul Raymond -- keyboards, guitars Boris Williams -- drums Dave Bidwell -- drums ( died 1977 ) Dick Middleton -- guitars Eric Dillon -- drums Ian Milne -- piano Paul Hancox -- drums Sev Lewkowicz -- keyboards Tim Green -- guitars, harmonica Chris Warnes - bass Joe Rush -- percussion John Godfrey -- bass ( Born John Norman Godfrey, 24 November 1945, Islington, North London Died 30 June 2014 ) Jon Pope -- keyboards Peter Sullivan - drums Tim Reeves -- drums John Cook -- piano and clavinet Discography Albums Mungo Jerry -- 1970 ( No. 13, UK ) Electronically Tested -- 1971 ( No. 14, UK ) You Do n't Have to Be in the Army -- 1971 Boot Power -- 1972 Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black -- 1974 Impala Saga -- 1975 Ray Dorset & Mungo Jerry -- 1977 Lovin ' in the Alleys, Fightin ' in the Streets -- 1977 Six Aside -- 1979 Together Again -- 1981 Boogie Up -- 1982 Katmandu -- A Case for the Blues -- 1984 ( Mungo Jerry / Peter Green / Vincent Crane ) All the Hits Plus More -- 1987 ( compilation album ) Snakebite -- 1991 Old Shoes New Jeans -- 1997 Candy Dreams -- 2001 Move On -- The Latest and Greatest -- 2002 ( compilation ) Adults Only -- 2003 Naked -- From the Heart -- 2007 When She Comes, She Runs All Over Me -- 2007 Cool Jesus -- 2012 UK hit singles `` In the Summertime '' -- 1970 -- No. 1 ( released as a 33rpm Dawn Maxi Single, but as a normal Pye 45rpm for jukeboxes -- B - Side Mighty Man ) `` Baby Jump '' -- 1971 -- No. 1 `` Lady Rose '' -- 1971 -- No. 5 `` You Do n't Have to Be in the Army to Fight in the War '' -- 1971 -- No. 13 `` Open Up '' -- 1972 -- No. 21 `` Alright, Alright, Alright '' -- 1973 -- No. 3 `` Wild Love '' -- 1973 -- No. 32 `` Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black '' -- 1974 -- No. 13 `` Prospects '' -- 1985 -- No. 35 ( as ' Made in England ' ) `` In the Summertime ' 87 '' -- 1987 -- Number 1 ( Indie Charts / as ' Mungo Jerry & Brothers Grimm ' ) `` Support the Toon -- It 's Your Duty '' ( EP incl. ' Toon Army ' ) -- 1999 -- No. 57 Single hits in other countries `` In the Summertime '' -- United States 1970 -- No. 3 `` Lady Rose '' -- Japan 1971 -- No. 1 `` Mungo 's Blues '' -- Germany 1971 -- No. 45 `` Hello Nadine '' -- Canada 1975 -- No. 5 `` Ca n't Get Over Loving You '' -- Denmark -- No. 5 `` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' ( cover version ) -- South Africa 1981 -- No. 1 `` On a Night Like This '' -- South Africa 1981 -- No. 1 `` Staying at Home '' -- Germany / German Radio Charts ( MDR ) 2006 -- No. 6 References ^ Jump up to : Rice, Jo ( 1982 ). The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits ( 1st ed. ). Enfield, Middlesex : Guinness Superlatives Ltd. p. 133. ISBN 0 - 85112 - 250 - 7. ^ Jump up to : `` Mungo Jerry biography ''. AllMusic. Retrieved 25 December 2012. Jump up ^ `` Mungo Jerry ''. Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 21 January 2015. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Acts ( M ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 16 February 2015. Jump up ^ `` Hollywood festival 1970 - Mungo Jerry ''. Ukrockfestivals.com. September 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2016. ^ Jump up to : Strong, Martin C. ( 2000 ). The Great Rock Discography ( 5th ed. ). Edinburgh : Mojo Books. p. 678. ISBN 1 - 84195 - 017 - 3. ^ Jump up to : Murrells, Joseph ( 1978 ). The Book of Golden Discs ( 2nd ed. ). London : Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 283. ISBN 0 - 214 - 20512 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Talking Shop : N Dubz ''. BBC News. 19 October 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2012. My dad and our manager ( Byron Contostavlos )... was in a band called Mungo Jerry, he played the bass. Jump up ^ Roberts, David ( 2006 ). British Hit Singles & Albums ( 19th ed. ). London : Guinness World Records Limited. p. 383. ISBN 1 - 904994 - 10 - 5. Further reading John Van der Kiste and Derek Wadeson : Beyond the Summertime : The Mungo Jerry Story ( A & F, 1990 ) ISBN 0 - 9510922 - 2 - 7 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mungo Jerry. Book : Mungo Jerry Official website Mungo Jerry discography at Discogs Mungo Jerry Ray Dorset Bob Daisley Paul King Sev Lewkowicz Albums Mungo Jerry Electronically Tested Cold Blue Excursion A Case for the Blues Adults Only Singles `` In the Summertime '' `` Baby Jump '' `` Lady Rose '' `` You Do n't Have to Be in the Army to Fight in the War '' `` Open Up '' `` Alright, Alright, Alright '' `` Long Legged Woman Dressed in Black '' Songs `` I Just Want to Make Love to You '' `` Feels Like I 'm in Love '' `` Knockin ' on Heaven 's Door '' `` Dust My Broom '' `` Morning Dew '' Book Best - selling singles by year in the United Kingdom 1952 -- 1969 1952 : `` Here in My Heart '' -- Al Martino 1953 : `` I Believe '' -- Frankie Laine 1954 : `` Secret Love '' -- Doris Day 1955 : `` Rose Marie '' -- Slim Whitman 1956 : `` I 'll Be Home '' -- Pat Boone 1957 : `` Diana '' -- Paul Anka 1958 : `` Jailhouse Rock '' -- Elvis Presley 1959 : `` Living Doll '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1960 : `` It 's Now or Never '' -- Elvis Presley 1961 : `` Wooden Heart '' -- Elvis Presley 1962 : `` I Remember You '' -- Frank Ifield ( UK ) 1963 : `` She Loves You '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1964 : `` Ca n't Buy Me Love '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1965 : `` Tears '' -- Ken Dodd ( UK ) 1966 : `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' -- Tom Jones ( UK ) 1967 : `` Release Me '' -- Engelbert Humperdinck ( UK ) 1968 : `` Hey Jude '' -- The Beatles ( UK ) 1969 : `` Sugar, Sugar '' -- The Archies 1970 -- 1989 1970 : `` The Wonder of You '' -- Elvis Presley 1971 : `` My Sweet Lord '' -- George Harrison ( UK ) 1972 : `` Amazing Grace '' -- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards ( UK ) 1973 : `` I Love You Love Me Love '' -- Gary Glitter ( UK ) 1974 : `` Tiger Feet '' -- Mud ( UK ) 1975 : `` Bye Bye Baby '' -- Bay City Rollers ( UK ) 1976 : `` Save Your Kisses for Me '' -- Brotherhood of Man ( UK ) 1977 : `` Mull of Kintyre '' / `` Girls ' School '' -- Wings ( UK ) 1978 : `` Rivers of Babylon '' / `` Brown Girl in the Ring '' -- Boney M. 1979 : `` Bright Eyes '' -- Art Garfunkel 1980 : `` Do n't Stand So Close to Me '' -- The Police ( UK ) 1981 : `` Tainted Love '' -- Soft Cell ( UK ) 1982 : `` Come On Eileen '' -- Dexys Midnight Runners ( UK ) 1983 : `` Karma Chameleon '' -- Culture Club ( UK ) 1984 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid ( UK ) 1985 : `` The Power of Love '' -- Jennifer Rush 1986 : `` Do n't Leave Me This Way '' -- The Communards ( UK ) 1987 : `` Never Gonna Give You Up '' -- Rick Astley ( UK ) 1988 : `` Mistletoe and Wine '' -- Cliff Richard ( UK ) 1989 : `` Ride on Time '' -- Black Box 1990 -- 2009 1990 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- The Righteous Brothers 1991 : `` ( Everything I Do ) I Do It for You '' -- Bryan Adams 1992 : `` I Will Always Love You '' -- Whitney Houston 1993 : `` I 'd Do Anything for Love ( But I Wo n't Do That ) '' -- Meat Loaf 1994 : `` Love Is All Around '' -- Wet Wet Wet ( UK ) 1995 : `` Unchained Melody '' -- Robson & Jerome ( UK ) 1996 : `` Killing Me Softly '' -- Fugees 1997 : `` Something About the Way You Look Tonight '' / `` Candle in the Wind 1997 '' -- Elton John ( UK ) 1998 : `` Believe '' -- Cher 1999 : ``... Baby One More Time '' -- Britney Spears 2000 : `` Can We Fix It ? '' -- Bob the Builder ( UK ) 2001 : `` It Was n't Me '' -- Shaggy featuring Rikrok ( UK ) 2002 : `` Anything Is Possible '' / `` Evergreen '' -- Will Young ( UK ) 2003 : `` Where Is the Love ? '' -- The Black Eyed Peas 2004 : `` Do They Know It 's Christmas ? '' -- Band Aid 20 ( UK ) 2005 : `` ( Is This the Way to ) Amarillo '' -- Tony Christie featuring Peter Kay ( UK ) 2006 : `` Crazy '' -- Gnarls Barkley 2007 : `` Bleeding Love '' -- Leona Lewis ( UK ) 2008 : `` Hallelujah '' -- Alexandra Burke ( UK ) 2009 : `` Poker Face '' -- Lady Gaga 2010 -- present 2010 : `` Just the Way You Are '' -- Bruno Mars 2011 : `` Someone like You '' -- Adele ( UK ) 2012 : `` Somebody That I Used to Know '' -- Gotye featuring Kimbra 2013 : `` Blurred Lines '' -- Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell Williams 2014 : `` Happy '' -- Pharrell Williams 2015 : `` Uptown Funk '' -- Mark Ronson ( UK ) featuring Bruno Mars 2016 : `` One Dance '' -- Drake featuring Wizkid and Kyla ( UK ) 2017 : `` Shape of You '' - Ed Sheeran ( UK ) WorldCat Identities BNF : cb14036053c ( data ) GND : 5545565 - 7 ISNI : 0000 0001 2342 623X MusicBrainz : d99a6247 - 94ab - 4685 - 87df - 572ba6ef44b7 VIAF : 147981949 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mungo_Jerry&oldid=864022269 '' Categories : British rock music groups British pop music groups Pye Records artists Dawn Records artists Jug band musicians Musical groups established in 1969 1969 establishments in England Hidden categories : Use dmy dates from December 2014 Use British English from August 2014 Articles with hCards Articles needing additional references from July 2013 All articles needing additional references All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from July 2014 Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018 Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Български Čeština Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Français Frysk Italiano עברית Magyar Nederlands Polski Português Русский Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська 11 more Edit links This page was last edited on 14 October 2018, at 16 : 21 ( UTC ). 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Question: where did the name mungo jerry come from
Answer: inspired by the poem "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," from T. S. Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats