Grazing in the Grass
"Grazing in the Grass" is an instrumental composed by Philemon Hou and first recorded by the South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. Released in the United States as a single in 1968, it followed United States trumpeter Herb Alpert's vocal performance of "This Guy's in Love with You" to the top spot on the Hot 100 chart,[1] ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year.[2] The song also reached #15 Adult Contemporary.[3] Masekela included the song in his albums Grazing in the Grass: The Best of Hugh Masekela (2001), Still Grazing (2004), and Live at the Market Theatre (2006).
| "Grazing in the Grass" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Hugh Masekela | ||||
| from the album The Promise of a Future | ||||
| B-side | "Bajabula Bonke (Healing Song)" | |||
| Released | May 1968 | |||
| Recorded | March 12, 1968 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 2:55 | |||
| Label | Uni (55066) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Philemon Hou | |||
| Producer(s) | Stewart Levine | |||
| Hugh Masekela singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Grazing In The Grass" on YouTube | ||||
Masekela’s recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.[4]
A vocal version by The Friends of Distinction, with lyrics by band member Harry Elston, was a US chart hit in 1969. "Grazing in the Grass" has been recorded by many other musicians.
Hugh Masekela recording
The music was inspired by an earlier novelty recording, "Mr. Bull No. 4", by Freddie Gumbi,[5] which Masekela had heard in Zambia, that started with a cowbell. When Masekela was recording his debut album, the running order was short by three minutes and his record company suggested he add the tune. Philemon Hou, an actor and singer who was present in the studio, came up with a new melody while the backing track was already being recorded.[6] The session was held at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.[7]
Personnel
- Hugh Masekela – trumpet
- Bruce Langhorne – guitar
- Al Abreu – alto sax
- William Henderson – piano
- Henry Franklin – bass
- Chuck Carter – drums, cowbell[8]
Charts
| Chart (1968) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
The Friends of Distinction version
| "Grazing in the Grass" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Side A of the US single | ||||
| Single by The Friends of Distinction | ||||
| from the album Grazin' | ||||
| B-side | "I Really Hope You Do" | |||
| Released | March 1969 | |||
| Recorded | 1969 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:52 | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) | John Florez | |||
| The Friends of Distinction singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Grazing in the Grass" on YouTube | ||||
The Friends of Distinction recorded a vocal remake of the tune in 1969 on RCA Victor, which was also a Top Ten pop and R&B hit, reaching #3 on the former and #5 on the latter.[9] One of the group's members, Harry Elston, wrote lyrics for the song and sang lead on the Friends Of Distinction's version of it.
Personnel
- The Friends of Distinction – vocals
- Max Bennett – electric bass
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Al Casey and Arthur Wright – guitars
- Gene Cipriano – piccolo flute
- John Audino, Anthony Terran, Bud Childers, Dalton Smith – trumpets
- King Errisson – congas
- Douglas Davis – cello
- Jim Horn – tenor saxophone
- Garry Nuttycombe – viola
- Harry Bluestone, Jimmy Getzoff – violins
- Jack Arnold – percussion
- Larry Knechtel – piano
Legacy
The Friends of Distinction appear, performing the song on Peter Griffin's lawn, in S17 Episode 8 of the adult animated sitcom Family Guy, as part of a dream sequence.[10]
A cover by Raven was in the end credits of the animated film The Lion King 1½.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
| Chart (1969) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada RPM Top Singles[11] | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100[12] | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Soul/R&B Singles[13] | 5 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100[14] | 6 |
Year-end charts
References
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 380.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968". musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 154.
- ^ "Meet The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Class Of 2018". grammys.com. 16 January 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ "Grazing grooves", Song Curio, January 23, 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021
- ^ "The Friends Of Distinction: Grazing In The Grass & Going In Circles". June 10, 2020.
- ^ Bronson, Fred; Adam White (1993). The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits. Billboard Books. p. 49.
- ^ Payne, Douglas. "Hugh Masekela Discography 1955–1969". Retrieved August 12, 2009.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 215.
- ^ "Music by The Friends of Distinction". Tunefind.
- ^ "Image : RPM Weekly – Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top 40 Hits: 1955–2009. Record Research. p. 256.
- ^ a b "1969: The Top 100 Soul/R&B Singles". Rate Your Music. Archived from the original on 2016-11-12. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Top 100 1969-06-21". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-07-24.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1969/Top 100 Songs of 1969". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016-10-02.
- ^ "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1969". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2016-05-20.