Mungo Jerry Song Poll
As part of the ’50 years celebrations’ we decided to conduct another record poll. We called it simply, ‘Mungo Jerry Best Song Poll’.
Some of you may remember that Derek did one a few years ago for the 25 year anniversary, and in the 70’s, Mungo fan, John Justice put one together for the fan club when it ran from London.
50th ANNIVERSARY MUNGO JERRY SONG POLL FINAL TABLE
To score the poll votes, we awarded 10 points for your first choice, 9 points for second, 8 third and so on. Of course, it was very difficult to pick ‘just’ ten and Derek said, “My list would change everyday and to be honest a list of 100 would not have been enough, In The Summertime should be on there for the fact that it is a great tune and all the others may not have been possible without it.
“Springing to mind in the “how can I leave this song out” department is Hallelujah and Come To The Party. Oh, and what about Peace In The Country. See what I mean! Enough waffle, here we go with the final results with a few added comments from various fans:
1 | LADY ROSE |
237 points (inc 10 pts for the Boot Power version) “My personal favourite. Captured the ‘magic’ of the classic line-up in 1971.” – Alan Taylor. “Never get tired of it after all these years. Simple song but not an easy one to write.” – Bengt Hertzman. “Bought for me on my 14th birthday in the summer of ’71. Such a great song.” – Frank Smith. |
2 | IN THE SUMMERTIME |
133 points “Simply a great record, that’s so evocative of my teenage years, I had to include it.” – Jim McHugh |
3 | BABY JUMP |
121 points “Utter musical mayhem, and my favourite live Mungo song.” – Mike Berry. |
4 | YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE IN THE ARMY TO FIGHT IN THE WAR |
103 points “The sentiments registered with me as a rebellious, repressed adolescent.” – Mike Berry. “Ray using the medium of pop music, to make valid social comment every bit as effectively as Ray Davies.” – Jim McHugh. “Always loved this one. The lyrics still up to date.” – Bengt Hertzman. |
MY GIRL & ME |
103 points “Very possibly my favourite Mungo single. Came out late ’72, great song and great memories. Should have been a hit.” – Frank Smith. “How did this not become a hit”? – Derek Wadeson. |
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5 | MIGHTY MAN |
82 points “Says it all”! – Derek Wadeson. |
6 | OPEN UP |
74 points (including 25 points for the Boot Power version, 8 points for Oxford Arms live) |
7 | SHE ROWED |
61 points |
8 | ALRIGHT ALRIGHT ALRIGHT |
57 points |
9 | FOLLOW ME DOWN |
53 points “The follow-up number one to In The Summertime that never was.” – Jim McHugh |
HELLO NADINE |
53 points “Criticised at the time by some critics as being just another In The Summertime/Lady Rose hybrid. Speaking for myself, this track instantly puts me in a good mood.” – Frank Smith. |
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10 | GOING UP THE RIVER |
50 points “Happy song, the lyrics, the arrangement, everything is nice here.” – Bengt Hertzman “So catchy”! – Derek Wadeson. |
11 | WILD LOVE |
47 points |
12 | PEACE IN THE COUNTRY |
41 points |
HAVE A WHIFF ON ME |
41 points |
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46 & ON |
41 points “From the same maxi-single as My Girl & Me and another gem.” – Frank Smith. |
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13 | MAGGIE |
40 points “The epitome of the early Mungo Jerry sound, built on kazoo, harp and Ray’s gruff irreverent vocal.” – Jim McHugh. “Just realised I hadn’t included anything from that wonderful first album. And again, on a different day, I could have picked any one of four or five.” – Frank Smith. |
14 | PIGEON STEW |
39 points “Wouldn’t be surprised if I’m the only one to choose this track as no-one else I’ve spoken to seems to rank it so highly. Not sure why, because it’s a massive favourite of mine.” – Frank Smith. |
15 | THE MAN BEHIND THE PIANO |
38 points “Even though I loved In The Summertime, I became a real Mungo fan with the release of Baby Jump. The most exciting record I’d heard at the time and not sure ANY record I’ve heard since has had the same effect. “Amazingly, Baby Jump has now just missed out on my top 10 and I’ve plumped for the Paul King track instead. Loving its irresistible good-time feel. I remember learning and writing down the lyrics in my school jotter ; ‘Go on the booze, what you got to lose, cos’ women they come free!’ “Ha-ha! really Paul? Speaking from bitter experience (two relationship break-ups in my earlier adult life), I can say without question that women certainly DO NOT come free!” – Frank Smith. |
16 | MEMOIRS OF A STOCKBROKER |
36 points “Electronically Tested was the first LP I ever bought and I was so happy and proud of my purchase that I could barely let it out of my sight. So much so, that I stood it up on my bedroom chest of drawers when I went to bed, so that it would be the first thing I saw when I woke up in the morning! “This is probably my fave track, but they’re hard to separate!” – Frank Smith. |
17 | LONG LEGGED WOMAN DRESSED IN BLACK |
33 points |
18 | SEE YOU AGAIN |
32 points “I’ve heard Ray say this was a throw away, but I think it’s an hauntingly melancholy folk song.” – Jim McHugh. |
19 | COMING BACK TO YOU WHEN THE TIME COMES |
29 points “I think Ray’s first serious piece of work, the last track on Electronically Tested pointing to a future that sadly didn’t materialise. Would have been at home with a horn and string arrangement on Cold Blue Excursion” – Jim McHugh |
20 | HELLO IT’S YOU AGAIN |
28 points |
21 | SUGAR MAMA |
26 points “Uptempo blues with a great sound.” – Derek Wadeson. |
22 | SAY GOODNIGHT |
25 points |
23 | MARGARITA |
24 points (including 18 points for the Lost Recordings version, 6 points for Together Again version) “The version on Together Again is a perfect rock/pop song. Should have been a hit.” – Bengt Hertzman |
24 | JOHNNY B. BADDE
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23 points |
SOMEBODY STOLE MY WIFE |
23 points “Love hearing it live and it especially reminds me of a fantastic gig at The Archer pub in Newcastle in 1996.” – Frank Smith. |
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25 | SHADOW OF THE TREES |
22 points |
DUST PNEUMONIA BLUES |
22 points |
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26 | STRAY DOG |
20 points “Sounds great both on record and live.” – Derek Wadeson. |
27 | HEY ROSALYN |
18 points |
LITTLE MISS HIPSHAKE
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18 points |
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YELLOW GLOVES/IN THE SNOW
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18 points |
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28 | FEELS LIKE I’M IN LOVE |
17 points “Slow version, and whilst totally different to Baby Jump, for me it’s a favourite live singalong song.” – |
29 | DANCE DANCE DANCE |
16 points |
GET DOWN ON YOUR BABY |
16 points (including 4 points for the long version) “Serious blues with a beat.” – Derek Wadeson. |
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SIMPLE THINGS |
16 points “A beautiful melody well arranged, albeit on simple instrumentation.” – Jim McHugh. |
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30 | RED LEATHER & CHROME |
15 points (Snakebite version) |
HOW CAN I LIVE A LIE |
15 points “A masterpiece in all aspects, timeless lyrics and perfect arrangement.” – Bengt Hertzman. |
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31 | WHERE R U |
14 points “A great song I think. Tim Green was brilliant on the entire album.” – Alan Taylor. |
ELLA SPEED |
14 points |
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SAD EYED JOE |
14 points “Written by Paul about our sadly departed friend Joe Rush.” – Alan Taylor. |
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32 | JUST CAN’T SAY GOODBYE |
13 points |
33 | MY FRIEND |
12 points |
MILK COW BLUES |
12 points “One of the very best Mungo Jerry recordings for me. Never tire of listening to it”. – Alan Taylor. |
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IMPALA SAGA |
12 points |
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34 | TRAMP |
11 points |
35 | WITH ME |
10 points |
TAKE ME BACK |
10 points |
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LET’S GO (1975) |
10 points |
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GLAD I’M A ROCKER |
10 points |
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COLD BLUE EXCURSION |
10 points |
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GONNA BOP ‘TIL I DROP |
10 points “Authentic rock ‘n roll at its best”! – Derek Wadeson. |
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SUMMER’S GONE |
10 points |
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BRAND NEW CAR |
10 points |
Below 10 points…
36 | GOING DOWN TO MEXICO |
9 points “Great vibe”! – Derek Wadeson. |
ON A SUNDAY |
9 points |
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CAN’T GET OVER LOVING YOU |
9 points “Sadly nearly forgotten, but it is a perfect pop single with Ray’s voice at its best. Should have been a hit in more territories than just Denmark.” – Bengt Hertzman. “No social comment here, just bubblegum pop at its best. This could have been number 1 for Smokie in 1977.” – Jim McHugh.
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36 – GOING BACK HOME/NORTHCOTE ARMS/ALL DRESSED UP & NO PLACE TO GO/ONE MORE NIGHT WITHOUT YOU (Rewind version) – 9 points
37 | SNAKEBITE |
8 points “In your face rocker”! – Derek Wadeson. |
37 – WE GOTTA GET OUT OF THE ARMY/SHE LOVES ME LIKE A WOMAN/SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES/MR MIDNIGHT/WITH A GIRL LIKE YOU (Candy Dreams version)/LITTLE LOUIS/YOU BETTER LEAVE THAT WHISKY ALONE/DRAGSTER QUEEN/NEVER MIND I’VE STILL GOT MY ROCK ‘N ROLL – 8 points
38 – WE SHALL BE FREE/THANK YOU VERY MUCH (Prospects TV show/ST.PETE’S FLORIDA BLUES/GONE TO MALAYA/TOO FAST TO LIVE, TOO YOUNG TO DIE/DON’T LET GO/DON’T LET GO/AIN’T TOO BAD – 7 points
39 | THE DEMON |
6 points I’m always thinking that Mungo Jerry should record this again but a more hard-hitting version. Very good song and with ever fresh lyrics.” – Bengt Hertzman. |
39- SUGAR IN THE BOWL/SHORTY GEORGE/HELP ME (First fan club cassette)/MAMA DON’T ALLOW NO MUSIC/IT’S A SECRET/THE BLAYDON RACES – 6 points
40 – WE WILL NEVER BE ALONE/SITTING ON A RAINBOW/O’REILLY/LIVE FROM HOLLYWOOD/GOODTIME (Ray Dorset & Mungo Jerry version)/THE PUSHBIKE SONG/ROCKIN’ ON THE ROAD/THAT OLD DUST STORM/THE GREASE – 5 points
41 – THANK YOU (LOCKDOWN SONG)/LOOKING FOR MY GIRL/JEAN HARLOW/GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY/COME TO THE PARTY/PICK A BALE O’COTTON/GONE GONE GONE/I HAD A BIRD/JESSE JAMES/COME ON YOU LATICS/LANA – 4 points
42 | AWAY WE GO AND AWAY WE FLY |
3 points “An overlooked classic. One of Ray’s best stomping songs, with an anthemic sing-along coda.” – Jim McHugh.
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YOU’LL BE SORRY/NO GIRL REACTION/MAKE ME HAPPY (Naked From The Heart version)/BABY LET’S PLAY HOUSE/ALL I WANNA DO (Snakebite version)/HIT ME (including long version 2 pts)/ HEARTBREAK AVENUE/BLAZE AWAY/THERE’S A MAN GOING ROUND TAKING NAMES – 3 points
43 | PRAYING SO HARD |
2 points “Please Ray, remix it and put some female vocals on the chorus. It can be a hit.” – Bengt Hertzman.
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MY OWN COUNTRY |
2 points (It’s Hard Rock and All That Version) “Nostalgic home thoughts from abroad, built around a beautiful riff.” – Jim McHugh. |
43 – THE WIND IS BLOWIN’ (When She Comes, She Runs All Over Me version)/SHE HAD TO GO/REMEMBER ME/MOTOR BIKIN’/MESSING AROUND/COME DEEPER/ANOTHER BAD DAY/ALL I WANNA DO (Snakebite version)/PLAY FOR YOU MY DRUM/I JUST WANNA MAKE LOVE TO YOU/SHAKE ‘TIL I BREAK – 2 points
44 | PLAY THAT FUNKIN’ MUSIC |
1 point “Just like the albums title, it’s Naked From The Heart.” – Derek Wadeson. |
44- WE’RE OK/TOUCH THE SKY/SEE ME/KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR/HELP YOUR FRIENDS/THERE GOES MY HEART AGAIN/FAIRY TALE OF NEW YORK – 1 point