In May 1970, the little-known band Mungo Jerry shocked the music industry when their debut single “In the Summertime” jumped from No. 13 to No. 1 on the U.K. Singles Chart in just one week.
Their set at the Hollywood Music Festival helped the song break through, selling roughly 30 million copies and becoming one of the best-selling singles of the time.
The band proved it wasn’t a one-hit wonder the following year when frontman Ray Dorset returned them to No. 1 with “Baby Jump” — their second and final chart-topping single.
The four-piece band performed without a traditional drummer, relying instead on Paul King on guitar, stand-up bass played by Mike Cole and piano from Colin Earl.
Looking for a follow-up hit, they called on producer and manager Barry Murray, who encouraged the band to go for something punchier than their debut.
“After the decision not to run with ‘Have a Whiff On Me,’ ‘Follow Me Down’ was also considered, Barry decided on ‘Baby Jump’ after I had come up with the new lyric. I had no title and suggested that I call the song ‘Baby Jump’ but I was unsure, Barry said that it was a good idea,” Dorset recalled in Baby Jump Sheet Music.
“The groove that we created on stage with this one was tremendous and we also used to play it at the rock‘n roll clubs.”
Barry had attended one of the band’s gigs at the Northcote Arms and was impressed by the dancing in the crowd. Inspired by the energy he saw, Dorset realized it would make the perfect basis for a new song.
“Somebody called out for me to play ‘Brand New Cadillac’ but I didn’t know it, although I had heard the song, so I just played the riff on the guitar and everybody in the band joined in and I made up and mumbled some words, it developed from there,” he continued.
“It was also good that it was totally different from anything else that we had recorded so it would surprise the critics who thought that we would most probably follow up ‘In The Summertime’ with something similar. It was a good move.”
Just like their debut, the follow-up became a major hit, claiming the No. 1 spot on the U.K. Singles Chart for two weeks in March 1971. However, it would also be the last time Mungo Jerry topped the charts.
The band, which went through several lineup changes, continued releasing songs that made it into the Top 20, though none would ever return to No. 1 in the U.K.
Although live performances are now less frequent, Mungo Jerry has kept producing new music. In 2025, they released the single “The Wonder of Christmas,” along with updated versions of some of their classic hits.
While no live shows are currently scheduled, the band hopes to share a live-streamed performance later this year.
