Monday, October 3, 2011

Two 1970 Mongoose Hits


On October 3, 1970, two songs about mongooses charted side by side on the Billboard Hot 100. “Mongoose,” by Elephant’s Memory (#54), was a five-minute hair-shaker featuring the occasional straight narrative, while Donovan’s “Riki Tiki Tavi” (#55) treated Kipling’s Jungle Book character metaphorically over a cowbell groove. I always did assume that pop chart compilers were nothing but jokers.

Elephant's Memory - "Mongoose" (Billboard #50, entered 8/8/70). Written by Rick Frank and Stan Bronstein. Produced by Ted Cooper. 45: "Mongoose"/"I Couldn't Dream" (Metromedia 1970). LP: Take It to the Streets (Metromedia 1970).
Donovan - "Riki Tiki Tavi" (Billboard #55, entered 8/22/70). Written and produced by Donovan Leitch. 45: "Riki Tiki Tavi"/"Roots of Oak" (Epic 1970). LP: Open Road (Epic 1970).