MUNGO JERRY NEWS
Welcome to our Mungo Jerry news page. Here you will find all the latest on our ‘mighty man’ and his band.
PLATO CONTOSTAVLOS R.I.P
Sadly, it’s been announced that Plato Contostavlos, father of Tulisa from the band N-Dubz, has passed away.
Plato played keyboards on the 2001 CD album, Candy Dreams, along with brother Byron, father of Dappy from the band, who passed away in 2007.
Ray posted this message on his X page, “I am sincerely devastated to learn of the passing of my dear friend of the past few decades, Plato Contostavlos.
“He played keyboards for me onstage as well as contributing greatly to the production of many MJ recordings.
“R. I. P. Bro.’
Our condolences to Plato’s family and friends.
SNAKEBITE REVISITED (2025)
(Release date 18th August)
PROMO VIDEO
7A Records are delighted to present the deluxe, expanded reissue of Mungo Jerry’s Snakebite album, released on August 18th.
It has been such a joy to be able to work with Ray Dorset on this release and we have both put a lot of time, energy and effort into making sure that it both sounds and looks the best it ever will do.
Snakebite Revisited has been remastered and expanded with bonus tracks, lyrics and extensive liner notes. You can pre-order the album now from:
AMAZON UK CD
AMAZON UK VINYL
CD SIGNED BY RAY DORSET
VINYL SIGNED BY RAY DORSET
U.S.A CD – U.S.A VINYL
GERMANY CD – GERMANY VINYL
DENMARK CD – DENMARK VINYL
AUSTRALIA VINYL
More territories to follow soon. Note that there will only be 30 copies of each of the signed CDs and LPs available for now.
THE ALBUM: 20 years after 1970’s anthemic In the Summertime became an international chart-topper and sold an estimated 30 million copies worldwide, Mungo Jerry’s Ray Dorset was enjoying his creative freedom. In 1990, he sensed the time was right for a new recording project. The result was Snakebite, one of the most visceral and exciting albums in the Mungo Jerry discography.
Snakebite first appeared in 1990 in the U.K. on the BBC Prestige Records label. 7A Records have remastered the recordings and expanded it with seven bonus tracks.
Released On August 18th, the CD version includes a 24 page colour booklet with rare photos, lyrics and extensive liner notes. The vinyl version is pressed on 180g Blue Vinyl and is limited to 300 copies. It includes a 12” colour insert.
The album received much critical acclaim upon its release and quickly became a fan favourite. Ray Dorset credits Snakebite’s varied feel for the album’s endurance. “I think Snakebite still sounds fresh because it’s not like any one style of music won out all the way through.
“I always try to integrate a certain level of spontaneity and dynamics in the recording studio. It’s got that live feel, and the lyrics have good stories and are interesting. I think you could go back and listen to it and say, ‘That sounds like it was recorded a couple of weeks ago.’
“They’re good songs. I could play them onstage now, and 30-odd years later, they would still sound as fresh as ever.”
CD Track Listing: Snakebite/All I Wanna Do/Remember Me/Sugar In The Bowl/Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rock ‘n’ Roll/Heartbreak Avenue/(Ghost) Riders in the Sky/Red Leather And Chrome/Jesse James/Right On
Bonus Tracks: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door/Gone To Malaya/With A Girl Like You/All I Wanna Do (Live)/So Lonely (Previously Unissued)/I Hear Music (Previously Unissued)/Psychotic Reaction (Previously Unissued)
• Remastered
• Expanded With 7 Bonus Tracks
• Includes 24 Page CD Colour Booklet
• Extensive Liner Notes & Lyrics
180g Blue Vinyl Track Listing: Side One: Snakebite/All I Wanna Do/Remember Me/Sugar In The Bowl/Rock ‘n’ Roll, Rock ‘n’ Roll/Heartbreak Avenue
Side Two: (Ghost) Riders In The Sky/Red Leather And Chrome/Jesse James/Right On
Bonus Tracks: Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door/Gone To Malaya/Psychotic Reaction (Previously Unissued)
• Remastered With 3 Bonus Tracks
• Limited To 300 Copies
• 180g Blue Vinyl
• 12” Lyrics colour Insert
• Extensive Liner Notes
Don’t forget, 7a’s Re-issue of Mungo Jerry’s second LP, Electronically Tested is still available to buy.
Just check out our 7A RECORDS page for more info.
Check out 7A Records PROMO VIDEO
Here is the first review by The Second Disc – Click HERE
And another review by GOLDMINE magazine – Click HERE
7A Records is proud to present our deluxe reissue of Mungo Jerry’s Electronically Tested. The album has been remastered and expanded with four bonus tracks and features extensive liner notes including Ray Dorset’s own recollections.
The CD features a 24-page booklet and the LP is pressed on 180g Red Vinyl.
Electronically Tested, Mungo Jerry’s second album, was first released in March 1971.
Electronically Tested originally peaked at # 14 on the U.K. Albums Chart the week of April 14, 1971.
• Remastered with 4-bonus tracks
• Big 24 Page CD Colour Booklet
• 180g Red Vinyl
• Gatefold Sleeve
• Extensive Liner Notes
Our deluxe reissue of Mungo Jerry’s Electronically Tested is released on July 19th.
MUNGO JERRY – ‘SONG-BY-SONG’ BOOK
“I’m amazed how little I really knew about the band. A very informative read.” …Mike Harris.
‘AVAILABLE NOW’
Click AMAZON to order your copy
THE BEAT MAGAZINE ‘BOOK OF THE MONTH’ FOR JUNE
“With every single and album dissected, it’s the must-have encyclopedia for die-hard Mungo Jerry aficionados everywhere.”…Ian Woolley – The Beat Magazine.
(The Beat have made it their Book Of The Month and you can order your copy by clicking HERE)
Check out their home page HERE
Check out the online link HERE
“It looks great, well done to you all. Enjoying the excellent, new Mungo Jerry Song-By-Song book on the beach. If you haven’t got your copy yet, we strongly recommend you get a copy from Amazon. “…Glenn Gretlund, 7a Records.
“I want to congratulate you on the brilliant production of the encyclopedia song-by-song book. It is a singularly marvellous work and one that I am hugely proud to be associated with”…Mick O’Hanlon.
“The book looks great”…Andy Harrison.
“The book is really an amazing job!…Jean Jacques Bedrossian.
“The book is fantastic you guys did a great job”…Marc Viscel.
“Just received my copies, Great job”!…Jean Jacques Bedrossian.
“My copies have just arrived, over the moon with them”…Stuart Turner.
It’s here at last, a few last minute delays meant we couldn’t release on our planned 22nd May release date.
These included remembering to put the In The Summertime picture sleeve on the front cover and Ray remembering the names of people he wanted to thank for their involvement in his career.
Also changing the record sleeves from black & white to colour inside the book took up time and cost but gave the book a real professional finish.
Over 340 pages highlighting the recording career of Ray Dorset with over 450 songs being reviewed.
Five of us contributed to vary the reviews to give the reader a comprehensive insight to the craft of the songwriting ability of Mungo Jerry and we are proud of what we have achieved although knackered from all those last minute hiccups.Enjoy the book landing on your doormat.
Derek Wadeson.
(The book is available to order in both Paperback (now 343 pages) and Kindle form, exclusively through AMAZON).
SONG OF THE WEEK
A song performed as The Insiders in 1980 and the B-side of the single Rollin’ & Strollin’.
JJ has passed on the link for the full gig from a previous week’s Song Of The Week, so just click HERE to watch.
Click HERE to watch video of the Mitchell Creek Rock ‘n’ Blues Festival in 2019.
ROCKTALK
Here is Ray’s latest video as part of his Rocktalk series. This time, he chats about his influences amongst other things.
As part of Rock Talk, Ray would very like to hear from fans who would like to ask a question of him. Just email your questions to us at ‘World’ and we will pass them on and post any replies as part of his Rock Talk videos. You can also reach him via his X Account.
Click HERE to check out his other videos in the series.
Email: [email protected]
LADY ROSE (1971) CLIP
Roel Van Ekeris has discovered this brilliant film of Mungo Jerry performing Lady Rose from 1971
Click HERE to view
THREE DEMOS
On former band member, Dave Woods Facebook channel, we came across three demo recordings by Mungo Jerry. Click on the song titles to view.
LET’S MAKE LOVE TOGETHER
COME DEEPER
ALL I WANT IS BOOGIE
David Robinson talks to Ray Dorset – Click HERE to listen in.
TALKING PICTURES * 16/4/25
From Ray…”On Wednesday April 16th at 08.30 a.m, Talking Pictures TV will broadcast the short spot that I did with Mike Read with a live audience at The Regency Theatre, Christchurch. The show can also be seen at any time using the TPTV Encore facility on smart Televisions using the red button.” – thanks to Ray and Mick O’Hanlon for the heads-up.
It looks as though you will need to subscribe but you can view on catch-up by clicking HERE
E-Mail: [email protected]
You can follow Mungo Jerry on X formally Twitter, & now Threads, as well as Facebook, Facebook Fans, Instagram, TikTok, & Rumble
Keep an eye on the MJ YouTube channels too.
The Official channel & Mungovision
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DARREN JONES
Ray has asked us to post a link to this video from Mungo Jerry’s bass player and Ray’s excellent tech guy, Darren Jones. There is an age restriction on it so you will have to login to watch it.
Click HERE to watch
“I’ve been given a terminal diagnosis and have “months not years” to live. I wanted to say goodbye to all those who have given me support and purpose over these years.”
Click HERE to order Darren’s Book.
Shareable link to that page is BOOK
The just giving page is HERE
“Everything is greatly appreciated at this incredibly difficult time.
“Thank you for everything over the years.”
COLIN EARL R.I.P
We have very bad news to report, Colin Earl, Mungo Jerry’s amazing pianist sadly has passed away.
Colin, one of the original three who started up the band in the 60s, along with Joe Rush and Ray Dorset, when they were still The Good Earth and the trio that performed at the legendary Oxford University gig, Christmas 1968. Of course, we have a lot more to add about Colin and will be doing so over the next few days.
Ray Dorset said…“It’s with great sorrow that I have been informed that Colin Earl who I have known since I was 15 years old, and became the original Mungo Jerry piano player, passed away yesterday lunchtime. I will always be truly grateful for everything that I learned from him R. I. P.”
We have started up a tribute page to Colin with messages from fans, former band personnel and also a few stories from Colin himself, taken from his handwritten notes for the 1990 book, Beyond The Summertime.
Click HERE to visit the page.
If anyone wants to leave a message, just email us: [email protected]
NEW ALBUM – UNDEFINABLE
Ray Dorset said (6/11/24): “Despite the many issues that have cropped up I’ve now completed all ten tracks for the ‘Undefinable’ album & put the running order together. Next step is to get the mastering done. The artwork from Bruce at ARTHOLE is well on its way”
Click here for: REVIEW & LYRICS
TRACK LISTING:
ROAD TRIP/FIVE HUNDRED MILES/BORN TO SING THE BLUES/MADE WITH LOVE/ALWAYS TIME FOR COFFEE/STAND UP/WE WERE BORN/I WALK ALONE/THAT IS WHY (I’M SO IN LOVE WITH YOU)/KEEP ON ROCKIN’.
LADY ROSE COVER
John Hornhaver in Denmark has once again discovered another cover version of a Mungo Jerry song. This time it is Lady Rose by an Indonesian band called The Black Ravens – nice one John!
ALWAYS TIME FOR COFFEE
The new single taken from the album, Undefinable is Always Time For Coffee (The Barista Party Mix).
It made it to 23 on the Heritage Chart and the song is now available for downloading on all of the major platforms.
Below is the unmixed mp3 of the track. Ray has given the go-ahead for us to post this.
MONEY FOR NOTHING
Ray would very much like everyone to read the document entitled ‘Money For Nothing’.
Just click HERE
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY REQUESTS FOR AUTOGRAPHS BY POST OR BY EMAIL AS THEY CANNOT BE DEALT WITH.
Click HERE to catch Ray on the Alan Turner-Ward show.
MUNGO JERRY FANS GROUP ON FACEBOOK : For those who don’t know, there is a Mungo Jerry discussion page up-and-running on Facebook.
Created by Kevin Bennett, who is based in the U.S, Kevin told us, “the page has 521 members, a small but elite group.
“There’s at least one band member, or former band member on here.”
Click HERE and log-in to have a look and join up.
ROB KAMPHUES : Don’t forget to visit our friend Rob Kamphues’s website covering his vast Mungo Jerry collection, believed to be the biggest in the world.
It really is something to behold for all Mungo Jerry fans to trawl through.
Rob has literally hundreds of pieces of memorabilia, ranging from vinyl, CD’s, cassettes, 8-tracks, posters, press cuttings photographs and much, much more.
Click HERE to check it out.
