It was a different time, the 70s...Mungo Jerry 'In The Summertime'

RandallFlagg

Not particularly appropriate on a bitterly cold Easter Weekend but I love this song, top tune!

The lyrics wouldn't pass the Millennial woke PC generations sensibilities and poor old Ray Dorset would get cancelled big time for promoting drink driving and advantageous fornication in a lay-by with working class girls.

"In the summertime, when the weather is hot

You can stretch right up and touch the sky
When the weather's right
You got women, you got women on your mind
Have a drink, have a drive
Go out and see what you can find

If her daddy's rich, take her out for a meal
If her daddy's poor, just do what you feel
Speed along the lane, do a turn or return to 25
When the sun goes down, you can make it
Make it good in a lay-by"

What in God's name do they look like?

prowla

Have a drink, have a drive....

That was a good TV advert.

Danny1969

He was a good guy, produced an EP for some friends of mine in the early eighties at his home studio.  Earned a fortune from that song apparently 

sticker

Danny1969 said:

He was a good guy, produced an EP for some friends of mine in the early eighties at his home studio.  Earned a fortune from that song apparently 

and a shed load more for Kelly Marie's "It feels like I'm in Love" ...

thecolourbox

Was that genuinely how people talked back then? Whenever I listen to 69s and 70s pop I'm always quite embarrassed by how cheesy the words are and how they often basically sound like an often inappropriate love poem by a bloke named Dave down the pub

Neill

I must admit I thought the lyric was "do a ton or a ton and twenty five", but I see there's two versions I wonder which is correct.

I remember the song well, it seemed to be at number one for ever, though I think it was "only" seven weeks.

I heard a story that the band had failed an audition for "Opportunity Knocks" a few months before the song became a hit.

RandallFlagg

Neill said:

I must admit I thought the lyric was "do a ton or a ton and twenty five", but I see there's two versions I wonder which is correct.

I remember the song well, it seemed to be at number one for ever, though I think it was "only" seven weeks.

I heard a story that the band had failed an audition for "Opportunity Knocks" a few months before the song became a hit.

I always hear it as “do a ton” so have a drink then hurtle along in your Triumph Stag at 100mph in the sunshine.

Funny thing is I remember as a kid in the mid 70s that the fella next door to where we lived was a bit of a medallion man swanky 70s dude and had a MGB and he took me and my Dad out for spin in it down the local bypass, which at the time was one of those dangerous 3 lane jobs with the shared centre overtaking lane. I was in the back with no seatbelt leaning forward between the front seats as he roared down the middle lane over 100mph.

it really is a great song

Neill

RandallFlagg said:

Neill said:

I must admit I thought the lyric was "do a ton or a ton and twenty five", but I see there's two versions I wonder which is correct.

I remember the song well, it seemed to be at number one for ever, though I think it was "only" seven weeks.

I heard a story that the band had failed an audition for "Opportunity Knocks" a few months before the song became a hit.

I always hear it as “do a ton” so have a drink then hurtle along in your Triumph Stag at 100mph in the sunshine.

Funny thing is I remember as a kid in the mid 70s that the fella next door to where we lived was a bit of a medallion man swanky 70s dude and had a MGB and he took me and my Dad out for spin in it down the local bypass, which at the time was one of those dangerous 3 lane jobs with the shared centre overtaking lane. I was in the back with no seatbelt leaning forward between the front seats as he roared down the middle lane over 100mph.

it really is a great song

There's a Richard Thompson song "MGB-GT" that's always annoyed me, the lyric goes "two in the front and two in the back, a hundred and ten on the old hog's back".  I always think yes in your dreams mate there's no way an MGB is going at that speed on the hog's back or anywhere else, with four bods in it.  

But your anecdote makes me think perhaps RT did his research...?

FelineGuitars

Neill said:

I must admit I thought the lyric was "do a ton or a ton and twenty five", but I see there's two versions I wonder which is correct.

You are correct on the recorded lyric 

The backing vocals are quite similar to what Rex were doing at the time too.

FelineGuitars

It certainly doesn't stand up to scrutiny in any number of ways lyrically under todays sensibilities: sexism, Drink/drive message etc

However it is one of those songs that had a unique sound that takes you back to where you first heard it 

This song always does the same for me 

rlw

In another life, I went, as usual, to the Saturday all nighter at the Temple and, suitably chemically enhanced, got into the spirit of the evening. We were all seriously looking forward to the main event - Juicy Lucy - on stage at about 3.00am only to be shocked into sobriety when told that they had been replaced by this new group who were making a big stage debut here tonight.

And it was Mungo Jerry and they were fucking awful.  Couldn't even go home as there were no trains for another four hours.

Grumpyrocker

Phrases like "political correctness" and "woke" are just the words angry people use to decry and diminish decency. 

guitars4you

Agree @RandallFlagg that it is a great track - 

RandallFlagg

Grumpyrocker said:

Phrases like "political correctness" and "woke" are just the words angry people use to decry and diminish decency. 

or to poke fun at the ridiculously over sensitive, snowflake attitude that has pervaded society where it's possible to be offended and outraged by literally anything including the smell of your own farts. 

thecolourbox

RandallFlagg said:

Grumpyrocker said:

Phrases like "political correctness" and "woke" are just the words angry people use to decry and diminish decency. 

or to poke fun at the ridiculously over sensitive, snowflake attitude that has pervaded society where it's possible to be offended and outraged by literally anything including the smell of your own farts. 

You seem quite offended yourself, young man

RandallFlagg

thecolourbox said:

RandallFlagg said:

Grumpyrocker said:

Phrases like "political correctness" and "woke" are just the words angry people use to decry and diminish decency. 

or to poke fun at the ridiculously over sensitive, snowflake attitude that has pervaded society where it's possible to be offended and outraged by literally anything including the smell of your own farts. 

You seem quite offended yourself, young man

I don't recall the last time I was offended by anything or anyone, annoyed yes, offended? no. and I'm not a young man.

thecolourbox

RandallFlagg said:

thecolourbox said:

RandallFlagg said:

Grumpyrocker said:

Phrases like "political correctness" and "woke" are just the words angry people use to decry and diminish decency. 

or to poke fun at the ridiculously over sensitive, snowflake attitude that has pervaded society where it's possible to be offended and outraged by literally anything including the smell of your own farts. 

You seem quite offended yourself, young man

I don't recall the last time I was offended by anything or anyone, annoyed yes, offended? no. and I'm not a young man.

yocky

Was listening to Black Rose by Thin Lizzy this week (superb album).

The track S&M has some borderline dodgy lyrics, as well as the entirely dodgy "This customer was shady, he kept a rubber hose. He liked to beat the ladies, there's nothing wrong with that I suppose". Although in a nod to more enlightened times the next line was the female backing singers' response, "Yes there is!"

scrumhalf

Gary Puckett's "Young Girl" wouldn't be allowed these days.

Neill

scrumhalf said:

Gary Puckett's "Young Girl" wouldn't be allowed these days.

Too bloody right  - shame, it's a really good tune.

More recently ABBA's "Does your Mother Know" is sailing pretty close to the wind these days, and even the ever popular "Dancing Queen" can be heard in a very different light now.  

Bridgehouse

Neill said:

scrumhalf said:

Gary Puckett's "Young Girl" wouldn't be allowed these days.

Too bloody right  - shame, it's a really good tune.

More recently ABBA's "Does your Mother Know" is sailing pretty close to the wind these days, and even the ever popular "Dancing Queen" can be heard in a very different light now.  

Next you’ll be telling us “do you wanna be in my gang” was a bit dodgy...