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Bloom wrote this about the city in Jamaica. Bloom said of the city when introducing the song: "It has a certain peacefulness that really sticks in your mind. It's the kind of a place that makes you write songs about it."
Jeff Barry wrote this with Bloom and produced the track. Barry, whose songwriting hits include "Be My Baby" and "Leader of the Pack," worked with Bloom on various projects, including a Monkees album.
Bloom did a lot of session work in the '60s while working on his solo material. This was his only hit, as he died on February 28, 1974, at age 28 after he was accidentally shot. (thanks, Sean - Altoona, WI)
This song has an interesting quasi-Jamaican feel, with whistling, hand claps and odd percussion. It was influenced by the Bubblegum sound, as Barry and Bloom were working in that genré: Bloom wrote "Indian Giver" and Barry wrote "Sugar, Sugar."
The full version of this song ends with a few bars of "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" from the musical, Oklahoma!. (thanks, Tony - Vero Beach, FL)
In 1986 Amazulu covered this song reaching #16 in the UK and #90 in the US. This was to be the last of four UK Top 20 hits for the British group, their most successful one being another cover, this time of The Chi-Lites "Too Good To Be Forgotten," which peaked at #5. Amazulu were a new wave/ska revival group who comprised five females and a sole male, Nardo Bailey, on drums. Their name means "For the Zulu people" in the Zulu language.
More songs featuring hand claps
More songs with whistling
More songs with names of cities in the title
More songs about places
More songs written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich
More songs from 1 hit wonders
Comments:
This song truly does capture the ambiance of Montego Bay and Jamaica's laid-back "no worry, mon" culture. Great early example of reggae. Maybe the first reggae on the charts...?
- Guy, Woodinville, WA