Baby Jump

Album: Electronically Tested (1971)
Charted: 1
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by Mungo Jerry lead singer Ray Dorset in the late '60s and was a concert favorite under a different title. When Mungo Jerry agreed that this would be the follow-up to their #1 UK hit "In the Summertime," Dorset re-wrote the lyrics and came up with the new title. It was released 9 months after "In The Summertime," as they wanted the massive international sales of their breakthrough hit to die down first.
  • Mungo Jerry recorded this at Pye, originally in a 16-track studio, but the band weren't happy with the sound and they re-recorded it at the 8-track studio where they had cut "In The Summertime."
  • When this rose to #1 in the UK, Mungo Jerry became only the second act whose first 2 releases both topped the British chart. (Gerry & The Pacemakers had been the first). Their third single "Lady Rose" only reached #5. In America, unlike "In The Summertime," "Baby Jump" flopped.
  • One of Mungo Jerry's regular gigs was at The Northcote Arms in Southall. Ray Dorset recalls in 1000 UK #1 Hits by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh, "A lot of Hells Angels and Teds used to go there, and all the girls used to wear tiny little jumpers with leather skirts, and that gave me the idea for 'Baby Jump.' It was an aggressive, simple riff - 'Baby jump into my dreams.' Like 'In The Summertime,' the single was too short and Barry Murray (the producer) joined two bits together."

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