In the Summertime (Mungo Jerry song)

"In the Summertime"
Single by Mungo Jerry
from the album Electronically Tested
B-side	"Mighty Man"
Released	May 1970
Genre	Folk pop, folk rock
Length	3:40
Label	Dawn Records (UK) Janus Records (US)
Writer(s)	Ray Dorset
Producer	Barry Murray
Mungo Jerry singles chronology
- "In the Summertime" (1970) "Baby Jump" (1971)

"In the Summertime" is a song recorded in 1970 by the British pop-blues band Mungo Jerry. Written by the group's leader Ray Dorset, this song, which celebrates the carefree days of summer, reached the Number 1 position on charts around the world (including seven weeks in the UK), Number 1 for 2 weeks in Canada, and Number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the US. It is considered one of the highest selling singles of all time with an estimated 5-10 million copies sold. It was also the year-end top seller of 1970 in the UK singles chart.

Background

It was unusual because the initial UK release, on Dawn Records (a new label launched by Pye), was a maxi-single, playing at 33 rpm (whereas singles generally played at 45 rpm), including an additional song, "Mighty Man" (also written by Dorset) on the A-side, and a much longer track, the Woody Guthrie song "Dust Pneumonia Blues", on the B-side. As it was sold in a picture sleeve (which was not standard at the time), and only sold at a few pence more than the normal 45 rpm two-track single, it was considered value for money. Small quantities of 45 rpm discs on the Pye record label were pressed for use in jukeboxes. These are now rare collectors items.

Chart successions

Preceded by "Yellow River" by Christie	UK number one single (Mungo Jerry version) 13 June 1970 (seven weeks)	Succeeded by "The Wonder of You (Live)" by Elvis Presley
Preceded by "As the Years Go By" by Mashmakhan	Canadian RPM 100 number-one single (Mungo Jerry version) 6 - 13 September 1970 (two weeks)	Succeeded by "Lookin' Out My Back Door" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Cover versions

A near identical version of the song was released in Australia in 1970 at the time of the 1970 radio ban by The Mixtures, which had a beach-related promo music video. They followed it up with "The Pushbike Song", which sounded nearly identical to "In the Summertime". Another cover version was recorded by the Idle Race and enjoyed some success in South America, but it was not released in the UK until its appearance on a retrospective CD in 1996. The 1996 film The Substitute used a new version of the tune in its soundtrack. In 2006, the progressive keyboardist Derek Sherinian covered the song on his album Blood of the Snake, featuring singer Billy Idol, guitarist Slash, and bassist Tony Franklin. In 2007 it was on Lazlo Bane cover album, Guilty Pleasures. In 2007, the American rap rock group Phunk Junkeez covered the song on their album Hydro Phonic. The lyrics are altered to including various references to smoking marijuana, as well as the addition of original rap verses. In 2010, the stars of multiple Disney XD shows performed a "family friendly" version of the song to promote Summer on Disney XD 2010. The song is performed by Adam Hicks, Daniel Curtis Lee and Hutch Dano. The music video has cameos by Cole Sprouse and Dylan Sprouse from The Suite Life on Deck; and Mitchel Musso, Doc Shaw and Kelsey Chow from Pair of Kings (Shaw being in Suite Life on Deck and Pair of Kings), a new series premiering fall 2010.

Shaggy version

"In the Summertime"
Single by Shaggy featuring Rayvon
from the album Boombastic
B-side	"It No Matter" "Gal You a Pepper"
Released	May 23, 1995
Format	CD single, Cassette, 12" vinyl
Recorded	1994-1995
Genre	Reggae fusion, hip hop, reggae
Length	3:46
Label	Virgin
Producer	Shaggy, Rayvon
Shaggy singles chronology
"Lately" (1994) "In the Summertime" (1995) "Boombastic" (1995)

In 1995, Jamaican rapper Shaggy covered the song, and released it as the lead single from his third studio album, Boombastic. His cover version features long-time collaborator Rayvon, who performs parts of the original song, while Shaggy raps his own verses. His version was successful in various countries, reahcing number 5 in the UK and number in the USA. Shaggy also changed one line of the original part of the song to reflect modern-day values. In Mungo Jerry's version, the lyrics encouraged people to "have a drink, have a drive..." while Shaggy's version says "I'm going to ride and drive ...". The relevant part of the original recording was used in 1992 on British TV public service advertisements warning viewers not to drink and drive. In 1996, the single was re-released as the theme to the movie epic Flipper.

Track listing

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" vinyl / Cassette

1. "In the Summertime" (Single Edit) - 3:46
2. "It No Matter" - 3:56

• 12" 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

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" 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

Chart (1995)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	14
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)	35
Germany (Media Control Charts)	60
Ireland (IRMA)	13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)	21
New Zealand (RIANZ)	4
United Kingdom (The Official Charts Company)	1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	3