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Mungo Jerry Official Website
Category:
Music
Publisher: A & F
ISBN-10: 0951092227
Type: Non-Fiction
Pages: 116
Copyright: Sep 1 1990
The story of Mungo Jerry, the British rock group who shot to fame with their major worldwide hit 'In The Summertime' in 1970
Mungo Jerry became an overnight success after their appearance at the Hollywood Music Festival, England, in May 1970, and their subsequent debut single 'In The Summertime', which topped charts around the world and achieved global sales of around 23 million. Led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ray Dorset, their early style fused skiffle, good-time blues, and rock'n'roll. Notwithstanding frequent line-up changes which soon left Dorset as the only remaining member, they enjoyed consistent chart success in their native Britain for the next four years, notably with a second No. 1 'Baby Jump', 'Lady Rose', and 'Alright Alright Alright', and thereafter in several overseas territories.
An unexpected later success came in 1980 with 'Feels Like I'm In Love', a song Dorset had originally written for Elvis Presley (who died too soon to record it), but gave a UK No. 1 to disco diva Kelly Marie.
Published to commemorate the group's 20th anniversary, this book looks back beyond the group's beginnings to Dorset's earlier bands, as well as at the King Earl Boogie Band and Skeleton Krew, the groups founded by Paul King and Colin Earl from the 1970 line-up, and includes a selection of archive photographs and full international discography. Dorset and several other members of the band and management, past and present, have spoken freely about their time with the group.
Excerpt
"Make them happy, and we're happy. Sure there's a lot to be said for hard bands and the progressive stuff, but so many people simply want to be entertained, and they find it difficult to get into the heavy music. They'd feel right idiots jumping about to most of the heavy bands, but the reason we go down so well everywhere we play is that we allow the audience to enjoy themselves as much as they want to. We don't restrict them to sitting down and listening, and because we don't hide our enjoyment, and make it obvious we want them to join in, they aren't embarrassed about getting up and having a good time." - Ray Dorset, 1970
"There is nothing more honest in the music business than going out, performing live and getting an instant reaction from the public for your songs and performance." - Ray Dorset, 1990
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