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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMUNGO JERRYUK pop group led by Ray Dorset (b 21 March '46, Ashford, Kent) on lead vocals and guitar. Began as skiffle band Good Earth, with Colin Earl (b 6 May '42, Hampton Court) on piano, Paul King (b 9 Jan. '48, Dagenham), guitar, banjo; changed name and had rapturous reception '70 at Newcastle Under Lyme's Hollywood Music Festival, blowing Grateful Dead, Family etc off the stage: goodtime music was just right for summer outdoors, proved when first release, Dorset composition "In The Summertime' with washboard and jug rhythm and infectiously catchy chorus, was UK no. 1/USA 3. "Baby Jump' '71 invaded Marc Bolan's teeny territory, but repeated no. 1 UK; following singles reverted to acoustic skiffle sound with Dorset's cheerful, high-pitched Bolanesque sound a disctinctive factor. Three LPs had the original lineup before King and Earl quit to form King-Earl Boogie Band; Jerry's hits continued: six more top 40 singles '71-4 incl. gentle "Lady Rose', strident "Alright Alright Alright' in top 5; but Dorset and his ever-changing band had lost original freshness (He released solo Cold Blue Excursion '72, deliberately veering from formula: it was panned). Last hit was no. 13 "Longlegged Woman Dressed In Black', a Continental hit with new English lyrics. Dorset soldiered on, still popular in clubs; "Summertime' is still an all-time seasonal anthem, like the Young Rascals' "Groovy'; in the '90s it was used on UK TV in an anti-drink/driving message. |