It was only a matter of time before I featured a song on cycling, right? Well, today’s is my 200th post, so I thought, it’s about time.
Pedalling around the internet and the iTunes Store, I found today’s selection. I don’t remember the song, which the British band Mungo Jerry released in 1970. But the group making sound effects with their voices reminded me of another song from that era, which I quickly found, called “In the Summertime,” by the same band.
Incidentally, the band’s name was inspired by the character Mungojerrie from the Poem “Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer,” from T.S. Eliot’s 1939 book, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. This book was, of course, the basis for the musical, Cats (more recently made into a film, though we haven’t seen it yet… the reviews were horrible, but I’m sure we’ll watch it sometime… because, curiosity… and, maybe our Perry Como the cat would enjoy it).
The Australian band The Mixtures covered both these songs on their 1971 record, In the Summertime. Wikipedia tells me The Mixtures’ versions received a lot of airplay as they were on a minor label during a time when there was a radio ban on playing British and Australian music released on big record labels.
I remember “In the Summertime” quite well and have memories of hearing it on a portable AM radio at the beach, similar to hearing “Summer in the City” a song I posted earlier this month. Here’s a video of Mungo Jerry playing “In the Summertime”… and check out the sideburns on lead singer Ray Dorset!
Do you remember or recognize either of these songs? And hear the similarities? I also feel like “In the Summertime” played on a TV commercial in the 1970s, but my mind might be making that up…
I’m not sure “The Pushbike Song” resonates much with my interest in cycling. But the title reminds me of my Liverpudlian cousin’s husband referring to his bike as a pushbike; I think that was the first I’d heard that term and found it slightly amusing, though the Scouse accent could be part of that!
Anyway, now you know a little about why this is my song of the day for today. Thanks for joining me here, and please enjoy.
Here’s the audio for the song from the official Mungo Jerry YouTube channel:
Song of the Day for Today 