Mungo Jerry

MUNGO JERRY
 
 
Mungo Jerry  are a British rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued with a changing line-up that has always been fronted by Ray Dorset.  The group’s name was inspired by the poem “Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer”, from T. S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.  They are identified with their biggest hit “In the Summertime”.  It remains their most successful and most recognisable song.  They had nine charting singles in the UK, including two number ones, and five top 20 hits in South Africa.  (More from Wikipedia)
 
 

The following year, Mick Farren organized his idea of what a rock festival should be.  Called Phun City, it took place from July 24 to July 26, 1970.  Unlike Woodstock and most other similar festivals, there were no admission fees and no fences.  After the funding for the concert was withdrawn, the organizers had to notify the bands scheduled to appear that they would have to perform for free.  Most of the bands agreed to go on anyway; ironically, one of the few bands that didn’t play was Free, best known for their 1970 hit “All Right Now”.  Rock musicians who did perform included MC5, the Pretty Things, Kevin Ayers, Shagrat, the Edgar Broughton Band, Mungo Jerry, Mighty Baby, and the Pink Fairies; the Beat poet William Burroughs was also there. 

 
(March 2014/1)