Summer of 1970 was my introduction as a 14 year old into to the world of music. MUNGO JERRY made me smile and in that year, "Summertime" topped the charts for an eternity. I bought the band's first album to look a bit deeper and ended up totally hooked. The following year, I got my hands on their 2nd LP, 'ELECTRONICALLY TESTED' and had been thrilled by, 'BABY JUMP' hitting the No.1 spot, so you can imagine how I felt when I learned that the band were to play the Caird Hall in Dundee.

So, Monday 12th of April, a front seat ticket for the show, a return bus ticket and I was off. After, MERLIN and the SLEAZE BAND had done the supporting honours, MUNGO came on to good applause, sat down and kicked straight into, 'MIDNIGHT SPECIAL'. Ray on guitar and vocals, JOHN GODFREY on bass, COLIN EARL on the keys and PAUL KING on guitar, banjo, harp and anything else he could lay his hands on. The pace was hectic, 'JOHNNY B.BADDE', 'SAN FRANCISCO BAY BLUES', 'SHE ROWED', 'SOMEBODY STOLE MY WIFE', 'MOVIN'ON' by Paul.

They seemed to be working through both albums. Played live however, the numbers seemed ten times the size. I remember the balance of sound was good, 'cos you could pick out each instrument. A thumping rendition of, 'I JUST WANNA MAKE LOVE TO YOU' with Ray exhorting the crowd during the 'freedom' part. The crowd now filled the isles dancing to, 'IN THE SUMMERTIME'. The hall erupted to, 'BABY JUMP' but I was running out of the door having forgotten about my bus.

Friday 26th April, and St. Brendans Social Club was the venue 20 years to the month since I had first seen the band. Ally, a mate of mine had come along with me, so it would be interesting to see how he would react to the show. Well, we grabbed a front table and after a couple of acts, the band came on. JAMEI ROBERTS on drums, LES CALVERT on bass, TIM GREEN on guitar and Ray sporting a great pair of studded leather boots. No messing and straight into, 'SOMEBODY STOLE MY WIFE'. 'SEE YA LATER ALLIGATOR' was greatly appreciated and you could see it was a matter of time before the party was gonna start.

Ray started to manipulate the crowd during, 'LONG LEGGED WOMAN'. Some great vocal work during, 'LADY ROSE' was followed by Ray cheekily laughing and playing a part of the rip-off, 'PUSHBIKE SONG'. An up-tempo version of the old Scottish, 'MARIE'S WEDDING' was followed by, 'SUGAR IN THE BOWL' from 'SNAKEBITE'. The band had kept it old, new and rock'n roll that by now had people dancing at their tables. Ally turns and says, "I'll give it five minutes and the place is gonna go nuts". He was right, 'OH! SUSANNAH', 'PICK A BALE O' COTTON', got everybody on their feet, and then, 'BABY JUMP' had the place goin' wild. 'WHOLE LOTTA SHAKIN' and 'IN THE SUMMERTIME' kept the mayhem going, as did a medley of 'MIGHTY MAN' and the 'BANANA BOAT SONG' with JAMEI at stage front givin' it big licks with one of his tom-toms strapped on. A finale of, 'ROCK'N ROLL' with Ray asking the crowd twice, "can you do it all night?" After cheers, he leered back, "me thinks you can too".

A terrific hour of entertainment and musicianship from four blokes hell bent on having such a good time themselves, that the crowd can't help but get sucked in and drawn along with the band. I would have loved to have a short chat with the boys after the gig but they were followed off by well wishers who were determined to wait at the dressing room door. It didn't matter, cos' this time, I didn't have to run for no bus and I still had a smile on my face. So did Ally!

STEVE SAMSON, FORFAR, SCOTLAND.

Among the records played on, NODDY HOLDER'S, PICCADILLY RADIO programme (3rd November 1990) when interviewing, RAY DORSET was BOB SEGER's, 'NIGHT MOVES'. Ray had been a great fan of Bob's since the mid-70's, when POLYDOR RECORDS boss at the time, CHRIS PARRY, the man largely responsible for the disappearance of those world famous sideburns, told Ray that he sounded just like Mr Seger. "Who?" Was Ray's immediate reaction. Out of curiosity, he bought BOB SEGER'S, 'LIVE BULLET' LP and was hooked.

In the third edition of, THE GUINNESS BOOK OF HIT SINGLES (1981), one of the appendices listed several performers favourite all time singles. Would you believe that LEMMY, of MOTORHEAD chose ABBA's, 'I HAVE A DREAM'! Honest! Significantly, Ray's was listed as, 'NIGHT MOVES'. A surprise perhaps, to those who might have expected him to choose, 'BABY LET'S PLAY HOUSE' or something else from that era, but perhaps not so much to anybody lucky enough to have heard, MUNGO JERRY's, 'MARGUERITA' on the European-only, MUNGO JERRY LP, 'TOGETHER AGAIN'. The BOB SEGER influence was apparent on this song with it's striking use of sax and female backing vocals.

Several other British outfits acknowledged their admiration of, BOB SEGER by recording his compositions in the mid-70's, long before he was starting to sell records significantly this side of the Atlantic. THIN LIZZY used 'ROSALIE' in 1975 on their LP, 'FIGHTING' and it was lifted as a single; a live version of the same song from the double LP, 'LIVE AND DANGEROUS' in 1978 gave them a Top 20 hit single. Meanwhile the Chuck Berry-ish, 'GET OUT OF DENVER' was covered by, EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS on their, LIVE AT THE MARQUEE EP in 1976 and by, DAVE EDMUNDS on the LP, 'GET IT' the next year. More recently, the classic Bob smoocher, 'WE'VE GOT TONIGHT' has been butchered by the likes of, KENNY ROGERS & SHEENA EASTON, ELKIE BROOKS and doubtless many others on the chicken-in-a-basket circuit. Don't complain Bob, at least you get the royalties...

Although it's purely coincidental, there is another DORSET/SEGER connection. JESSE JAMES, a current stage favourite from MUNGO's live set and also on the, SNAKEBITE' CD, can also be heard on Bob's 1972 LP, 'SMOKIN' O.P's'. Bob's version though is virtually unrecognizable as the same song, his arrangement sounding more like, 'GET BACK' with it's tempo, heavy drumming and soul-inspired backing vocals, than skiffle.

JOHN VAN DER KISTE.

Late one beery Friday night, 'the Cube' and I found ourselves at a MUNGO JERRY gig. The venue was a hot smokey speakeasy, the kind of place that I try to keep 'the Cube' out of. We had no idea what to expect from, MUNGO JERRY, being only familiar with the hits. So like most punters at your average gig, we posed about trying to look cool and aloof.

Casually and without any great fuss, the band took to the stage and got straight down to the business of the evening, no long winded introductions, no drama or pomposity, just straight honest rock'n roll. Just as well really, 'the Cube' is not a man for airs and graces. Anyway, like the rest of the audience, we were warming to MUNGO after the first number. No frills, no delays and straight into the next one. By the end of this rock'n roll set, the place had cheered up greatly. It was as though MUNGO JERRY had their own sunshine machine with them on stage.

RAY DORSET grinned broadly while doling out a fair measure of his happy music, taking the time to introduce his fine set of musicians, one by one through a stomping number as they moved smoothly into their jug band set. They seemed to have the knack of making the mistimings and bum notes an integral part of the fun packed show. Studied poses and coolness evaporated like morning dew in July as everyone clapped and danced and sang along. The bar staff worked overtime catering to the throngs of thirsty revellers, and a wide smile creased 'the Cube's grizzled face (not a pretty sight, I might add). We roared our approval as the band belted out the hits and more, their motto seemed to be, the more you want, the more you get. With this, time sped by largely unnoticed until the band were roared back onto the stage for several encores.

Our appetite for the good time music had been aroused to the state of gluttony and still there was room for more. "There's no such thing", said 'the Cube' just before he slid under the table. "There's no such thing as a MUNGO JERRY gig, there's only MUNGO JERRY parties".

That's one thing you've got to say about 'the Cube', he's no square, and neither are MUNGO JERRY.

DAWN RICHARDSON, APRIL 1991.