"In the Summertime"
Single by Mungo Jerry
from the album Electronically Tested
B-side"Mighty Man"
Released1970
StudioPye, London
GenreSkiffle[1][2]
Length3:30
LabelDawn
Songwriter(s)Ray Dorset
Producer(s)Barry Murray
Mungo Jerry singles chronology
"In the Summertime"
(1970)		 "Baby Jump"
(1971)
Audio sample
"In the Summertime"
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"In the Summertime", released in 1970, is the debut single by British rock band Mungo Jerry.[3] It reached number one in charts around the world, including seven weeks on the UK Singles Chart, two weeks on one of the Canadian charts, and number three on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It became one of the best-selling singles of all-time, eventually selling 30 million copies.[4][5][6] Written and composed by the band's lead singer, Ray Dorset, while working in a lab for Timex, the lyrics of the song celebrate the carefree days of summer. The track was included on the second album by the band, Electronically Tested, issued in March 1971.

Composition and recording

Dorset has said that the song only took 10 minutes to write, which he did using a second-hand Fender Stratocaster, while he was taking time off from his regular job, working in a lab for Timex.[7]

The song was recorded in Pye Studio 1 with Barry Murray producing.[8] Initially it was only two minutes long; to make it longer, Murray played the recording twice, slightly remixing the second half, and put the sound of a motorcycle in the middle.[8] In an interview with Gary James, Dorset explained that they couldn't find a recording of a motorcycle, but that "Howard Barrow, the engineer had an old, well, it wasn't old then, a Triumph sports car, which he drove past the studio while Barry Marrit [sic] was holding the microphone. So, he got the stereo effects from left to right or right to left, whatever. And that was it."[9]

Release

The initial UK release was on Dawn Records, a new label launched by Pye. It was unusual in that it was a maxi single, playing at 331⁄3 rpm, whereas singles generally played at 45 rpm. It included an additional song also written and composed by Dorset, "Mighty Man," on the A-side, and a much longer track, the Woody Guthrie song "Dust Pneumonia Blues," on the B-side. As the record was sold in a picture sleeve, also not standard at the time, and sold at only a few pence more than the normal 45 rpm two-track single, it was considered value for money. A small quantity of 45 rpm discs on the Pye record label, with "Mighty Man" on the B-side, and without a picture sleeve, were pressed for use in jukeboxes. These are now rare collector's items.

In 2012, Dorset sued his former management company Associated Music International, run by his former friend and business manager Eliot Cohen, claiming over £2 million in royalties from the song that he believed had been withheld from him.[10]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the single liner notes for "In the Summertime".[11]

Charts

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "In the Summertime"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[45] Gold 50,000[45]
Denmark — 55,000[46]
France — 1,110,000[47]
Germany (BVMI)[48] Gold 500,000^
Norway — 20,000[46]
Sweden — 100,000[49]
United Kingdom
Original release 		— 800,000[50]
United Kingdom (BPI)[51]
2005 release 		Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[52] Gold 1,000,000^
Summaries
Scandinavia — 175,000[46]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

The Mixtures version

"In the Summertime"
Single by the Mixtures
from the album In the Summertime
B-side"Where You Are"
Released1970
Length2:37
LabelFable
Songwriter(s)Ray Dorset
Producer(s)June Productions Of Australia Pty. Ltd.
The Mixtures singles chronology
"Here Comes Love Again"
(1969)		 "In the Summertime"
(1970)		 "The Pushbike Song"
(1970)

In 1970, Australian rock band the Mixtures covered and released the song. The song replaced Mungo Jerry's version at number one on the Australian chart, where it remained at number one for six weeks. It was the biggest-selling single by an Australian artist in Australia in 1970 and number three overall.

Weekly charts

Chart (1970) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[12] 1
Australia (Kent Music Report)[35] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1970) Rank
Australia (Kent Music Report)[35] 3
Australian Artist (Kent Music Report)[35] 1

Shaggy version

"In the Summertime"
Single by Shaggy featuring Rayvon
from the album Boombastic and Flipper Soundtrack
B-side
  • "It No Matter"
  • "Gal You a Pepper"
Released26 June 1995 (1995-06-26) (UK)[53]
GenreReggae[54]
Length3:46
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Ray Dorset
Producer(s)Shaggy, Rayvon
Shaggy singles chronology
"Lately"
(1994)		 "In the Summertime"
(1995)		 "Boombastic"
(1995)
"In the Summertime" ('96 Version)
Single cover for the re-recorded version

In 1995, Jamaican-American reggae musician Shaggy covered the song, and released it as the lead single from his third studio album, Boombastic (1995).[55] Aside from the addition of rap lyrics, Shaggy's version also substitutes other lyrics for the song's original line "have a drink, have a drive." Shaggy also performed the song on an episode of Baywatch.[56] A year after its release, the song was re-recorded and released specifically for the film Flipper under the title "In the Summertime" ('96 version).

Critical reception

Al Weisel from Rolling Stone described "In the Summertime" as "a bouncy, infectious remake of the 1970 Mungo Jerry hit, [that] alternates a soulful chorus with a rapid-fire rap a la Chaka Demus and Pliers' "Murder She Wrote"."[57]

Track listings

United Kingdom

  • CD single
  1. "In the Summertime" (single edit) – 3:46
  2. "It No Matter" – 3:56
  3. "Gal You a Pepper" – 3:37
  4. "In the Summertime" (Sting vs. Shaggy remix) – 4:40
  • 7-inch vinyl and cassette
  1. "In the Summertime" (single edit) – 3:46
  2. "It No Matter" – 3:56
  • 12-inch vinyl
  1. "In the Summertime" (Sting vs. Shaggy remix) – 4:40
  2. "In the Summertime" (LP version) – 3:55
  3. "In the Summertime" (Drum Dancehall mix) – 3:54
  • 1996 "Flipper" CD single[58]
  1. "In the Summertime '96" (original version) – 3:52
  2. "In the Summertime '96" (instrumental) – 3:52
  3. "Flipper Main Theme" – 3:58

United States

  • CD single
  1. "In the Summertime" (single edit) – 3:48
  2. "In the Summertime" (LP version) – 3:55
  3. "In the Summertime" (Drum Dancehall mix) – 3:54
  4. "In the Summertime" (Funk Dance mix) – 3:58
  5. "Boombastic" (LP version) – 4:05
  6. "Boombastic" (Sting remix) – 4:18
  • 12-inch vinyl
  1. "In the Summertime" (LP version) – 3:55
  2. "In the Summertime" (Drum Dancehall mix) – 3:54
  3. "In the Summertime" (Funk Dance mix) – 3:58
  4. "Boombastic" (Sting remix) – 4:18

Charts

  1. 1 2 3 Charted as a double A-side with "Boombastic".

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[83] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In other media

The song's lyric "have a drink, have a drive, go out and see what you can find" led to its use in a UK advert for the campaign Drinking and Driving Wrecks Lives. It featured the first verse against people enjoying drinks in a pub during summer, then stopped to show a fatal car accident caused by drink driving.[85] "In the Summertime" has been featured in many feature-length films including 29th Street, Twin Town, The Substitute, Drowning Mona, Mr. Deeds, Stolen Summer, Anita and Me, Wedding Crashers, Wild About Harry, Despicable Me 2, and Dog Days, and X.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Holdship, Bill (17 June 2009). "That summer feeling". Metro Times. Archived from the original on 29 May 2014. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  2. ↑ McCormick, Moira (18 May 1996). "Elfin's Listening-Post Towers Bring Children's Artists to Upscale Market". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 20. p. 50. ISSN 0006-2510.
  3. ↑ In the Summertime by Mungo Jerry, retrieved 5 July 2022
  4. ↑ Harris, Craig. "Ray Dorset – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
  5. ↑ "The essential summer mix". The Guardian. 29 July 2006.
  6. ↑ Nightingale, Laura (7 October 2015). "Mungo Jerry celebrates 45 years of In the Summertime at Camberley Theatre". Get Surrey. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  7. ↑ Robertson, Peter (26 April 2014). "Whatever happened to In the Summertime singer Mungo Jerry". Daily Express. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  8. 1 2 Jack Watkins (10 August 2020). "In the Summertime: how Mungo Jerry made a sweltering classic". The Guardian.
  9. ↑ Ray Dorset. "Gary James' Interview with Ray Dorset of Mungo Jerry". Classicbands.com (Interview). Interviewed by Gary James. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mungo Jerry Star Suing Over Alleged Unpaid Royalties". Contactmusic.com. 22 January 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  11. ↑ In the Summertime (liner notes). Mungo Jerry. Dawn. 1970. Retrieved 31 July 2017.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. 1 2 "Go-Set National Top 60". Go-Set. 29 August 1970. Archived from the original on 2 August 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2013 – via Pop Archives.
  13. ↑ "Australia No. 1 hits -- 1970's". World Charts. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 4532." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 32. 8 August 1970. p. 49. ISSN 0006-2510.
  18. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. 19 September 1970. p. 61. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – In the Summertime". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Singoli – I numeri uno (1959-2006) (parte 2: 1970-1980)". It-charts.150m.com (in Italian). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  22. ↑ "Billboard "Hits of the World"". 19 September 1970. p. 61. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  23. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1970" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  25. ↑ Scapolo, Dean (2007). "Top 50 Singles – July 1970". The Complete New Zealand Music Charts (1st ed.). Wellington: Transpress. ISBN 978-1-877443-00-8.
  26. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime". VG-lista. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (M)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  28. ↑ "Hits of the World". Billboard. Vol. 82, no. 31. 1 August 1970. p. 59. ISSN 0006-2510.
  29. ↑ "Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Mungo Jerry Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  32. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 169.
  33. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 5, 1970". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012.
  34. ↑ "100 Top Pops" (PDF). Record World. Vol. 25, no. 1213. 12 September 1970. p. 29.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 204. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  36. ↑ "Jahreshitparade 1970" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  37. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1970" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "RPM's Top 100 of 1970". RPM. Vol. 14, no. 20–21. 9 January 1971. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  39. ↑ "TOP – 1970". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  40. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1970" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  41. ↑ "Top 20 Hit Singles of 1970". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  42. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1970" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  43. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1970". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  44. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1970". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012.
  45. 1 2 "International Music Section > Australia" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXII, no. 29. 9 January 1971. p. 30.
  46. 1 2 3 Eriksen, Espen (7 November 1970). "From the Music Capitals of the World > Oslo". Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved 18 January 2022.
  47. ↑ "Vogue Turnover Up 100 Percent" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 83, no. 18. 1 May 1971. p. F-26. ISSN 0006-2510.
  48. ↑ Ehnert, Günter (1987). Hit Bilanz. Deutsche Chart Singles 1956–1980 (in German). Norderstedt: Taurus Press – Verlag Populärer Musik-Literatur. ISBN 3-922542-06-9.
  49. ↑ "Mungo Jerry Disk 100,000 in Sweden" (PDF). Cash Box. Vol. XXXII, no. 52. 19 June 1971. p. 41.
  50. ↑ Murrells, Joseph (1984). Million Selling Records from the 1900s to the 1980s : An illustrated Directory. Arco Publishing Inc. p. 312. ISBN 0-668-06461-7. British sales were around 800,000
  51. ↑ "British single certifications – Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  52. ↑ "American single certifications – Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  53. ↑ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 24 June 1995. p. 43.
  54. ↑ Bronson, Fred (30 July 2005). "All-Time Hottest Songs of Summer". Billboard. Vol. 117, no. 31. p. 34. ISSN 0006-2510.
  55. ↑ Nelson, Havelock (29 April 1995). "An Early 'Summertime' from Shaggy". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 17. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510.
  56. ↑ Witmer, Carrie (26 May 2017). "All the stars you had no idea were once on 'Baywatch'". Business Insider. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  57. ↑ Weisel, Al (7 September 1995). "Recordings". Rolling Stone.
  58. ↑ "In the Summertime". Amazon. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
  59. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  60. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  61. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  62. ↑ "European Dance Radio Top 25" (PDF). Music & Media. 22 July 1995. p. 15. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  63. ↑ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  64. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  65. ↑ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 44. 4 November 1995. p. 23. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  66. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – In the Summertime". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  67. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 36, 1995" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  68. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  69. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  70. ↑ "Major Market Airplay: Week 30/1995" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 30. 29 July 1995. p. 23. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  71. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  72. ↑ "Shaggy feat. Rayvon – In the Summertime". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  73. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  74. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  75. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  76. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  77. ↑ "Shaggy Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  78. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending AUGUST 26, 1995". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  79. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1995". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  80. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1995". Music Week. 13 January 1996. p. 9.
  81. ↑ "Top 100 Hits for 1995". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 19 January 2014.
  82. ↑ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1995". Cash Box. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012.
  83. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Shaggy – In the Summertime". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  84. ↑ "British single certifications – Shaggy ft Rayvon – In the Summertime". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  85. ↑ "Summer drink-drive campaign launched". The Independent. 22 June 1994. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
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