The Mugwumps
Background information
OriginNew York, New York, United States
GenresFolk rock
Years active1964
LabelsWarner Bros.
Past membersCass Elliot
Denny Doherty
Jim Hendricks
John Sebastian
Zal Yanovsky

The Mugwumps were a 1960s folk rock band, based in New York City. They released one self-titled album in 1967 and two singles.[1] The Mugwumps found little success during their short time together in 1964, and are better known for launching the careers of Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty, who went on to co-found the Mamas & the Papas, and John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, who both co-founded the Lovin' Spoonful.

History

Jim Hendricks and Cass Elliot, alongside Tim Rose, were members of a folk group called the Big 3, which saw some success in New York and landed several television appearances. Denny Doherty and Zal Yanovsky were members of the Halifax Three, and became acquainted with Elliot while on tour. John Sebastian was a session musician who performed in the short-lived Even Dozen Jug Band. By 1964, all three bands had dissolved. Hendricks, Elliot, Doherty, Yanovsky, and Sebastian came together to form the Mugwumps.

The origin of the band's name is unclear. One source says that it was taken from the William S. Burroughs novel The Naked Lunch.[2] The liner notes for the 2007 re-release of The Mugwumps reports Hendricks's claim that the name came from music producer Erik Jacobsen. Denny Doherty claimed that the name came from his Newfoundland grandmother. Historically, "Mugwumps" were dissident American Republicans of 1884, from Algonquian mugquomp, "important person".

The Mugwumps largely played remakes of other artists' material such as “Searchin'”, with some of their own original songs.[3] They recorded one album, which was released after the band had split up.[4]

Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty went on to form the Mamas & the Papas with Michelle and John Phillips (who told the story of the Mugwumps in their song "Creeque Alley"). John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky, meanwhile, formed the Lovin' Spoonful,[5] who released a number of hit albums and singles, including the chart-topping "Summer in the City". Hendricks later formed the band The Lamp of Childhood, and eventually found more success as a songwriter, writing the Johnny Rivers hit "Summer Rain" and the theme song for the television series Then Came Bronson.

A different 1960s group known as The Mugwumps, based in Los Angeles and produced by Mike Curb for his Sidewalk label, had no connection to the New York group but reached #127 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in 1966 with a cover version of "Jug Band Music", a song John Sebastian wrote for the Lovin' Spoonful's Daydream album.[6][7]

Discography

Albums

The Mugwumps (Warner Bros. 1967)

Side 1
  1. Searchin'
  2. I Don't Wanna Know
  3. I'll Remember Tonight
  4. Here It Is Another Day
  5. Do You Know What I Mean
Side 2
  1. You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover
  2. Everybody's Been Talkin'
  3. Do What They Don't Say
  4. So Fine

John Sebastian did not appear on this album.[5] Produced by Roy Silver & Bob Cavallo in association with Alan Loeber /A Cavallo & Silver Production. Recorded in August 1964.

Singles

  • "I Don't Wanna Know" b/w "I'll Remember Tonight" (1964 Warner Bros. 5471)
  • "Searchin'" b/w "Here It Is Another Day" (1967 Warner Bros. 7018)

References

  1. ↑ "The Mugwumps (3)". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  2. ↑ Harris, Oliver; Ian MacFadyen (May 18, 2009). Naked Lunch @ 50: Anniversary Essays. Southern Illinois University Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-8093-2916-8.
  3. ↑ Greenwald, Matthew (2002-01-01). Go where You Wanna Go: The Oral History of the Mamas & the Papas. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 19–22. ISBN 9780815412045.
  4. ↑ "The Mugwumps (3) - The Mugwumps". Discogs. Retrieved 2015-11-02.
  5. 1 2 Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 36 - The Rubberization of Soul: The great pop music renaissance. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  6. ↑ "The Mugwumps (2)". Discogs. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
  7. ↑ "The Mugwumps Songs ••• Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography ••• Music VF, US & UK hits charts".
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