Grazing in the Grass
{{Short description|1968 composition by Philemon Hou}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Grazing in the Grass
| cover = GrazingInTheGrassMasekelaSingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Hugh Masekela
| album = The Promise of a Future
| B-side = Bajabula Bonke (Healing Song)
| released = May 1968
| recorded = March 12, 1968
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Jazz
| length = 2:55
| label = Uni (55066)
| writer = Philemon Hou
| producer = Stewart Levine
| prev_title = There Are Seeds to Sow
| prev_year = 1968
| next_title = Puffin' on Down the Track
| next_year = 1968
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|cDTYsgPwP1s|"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,{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=380}} ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1968.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968|publisher=musicoutfitters.com|access-date=February 11, 2016}} The song also reached No. 15 Adult Contemporary.{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=154}} 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).
Masekela's recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/david-bowie-whitney-houston-dr-dre-recordings-added-grammy-hall-fame|title=Meet The GRAMMY Hall Of Fame Class Of 2018|date=16 January 2018|publisher=grammys.com|access-date=February 14, 2018}}
A vocal version by American vocal group 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,[https://curious.com/curios/14569#date "Grazing grooves"], Song Curio, January 23, 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2021 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.{{Cite web|url=https://internetfm.com/the-friends-of-distinction-grazing-in-the-grass-going-in-circles/|title=The Friends Of Distinction: Grazing In The Grass & Going In Circles|first=Eric|last=Berman|website=internetfm.com|date=June 10, 2020}} The session was held at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.{{cite book |title= The Billboard Book of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits|last=Bronson |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Bronson |author2=Adam White |year=1993 |publisher=Billboard Books |page=49}}
Personnel
- Hugh Masekela{{snd}}trumpet
- Bruce Langhorne{{snd}}guitar
- Al Abreu{{snd}}alto sax
- William Henderson{{snd}}piano
- Henry Franklin{{snd}}bass
- Chuck Carter{{snd}}drums, cowbell{{cite web
| last = Payne
| first = Douglas
| title = Hugh Masekela Discography 1955–1969
| url = http://www.dougpayne.com/hmd5569.htm
| access-date = August 12, 2009 }}
Charts
{{unreferenced section|date=July 2024}}
| class="wikitable" |
| align="left"|Chart (1968)
! style="text-align:center;"|Peak |
|---|
| align="left"|US Billboard Hot 100
| style="text-align:center;"|1 |
The Friends of Distinction version
{{Infobox song
| name = Grazing in the Grass
| image = Grazing in the Grass by The Friends of Distinction US single.png
| alt =
| caption = Side A of the US single
| type = single
| artist = The Friends of Distinction
| album = Grazin'
| B-side = I Really Hope You Do
| released = March 1969
| recorded = 1969
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Sunshine pop{{AllMusic |class=album |id=mw0000822851
|title=Various Artists - Chartbusters USA: Sunshine Pop (2009) Review |last= Deming|first= Mark |access-date= November 16, 2024}}
| length = 2:52
| label = RCA Victor
| writer = {{Flatlist|
- Philemon Hou
- Harry Elston
}}
| producer = John Florez
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Going in Circles
| next_year = 1969
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|T_tffjrItC4|"Grazing in the Grass"}} }}
}}
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 No. 3 on the former and No. 5 on the latter.{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=215}} One of the group's members, Harry Elston, wrote lyrics for their version and sang lead vocals.
=Personnel=
- The Friends of Distinction{{snd}}vocals
- Max Bennett{{snd}}electric bass
- Jim Gordon{{snd}}drums
- Al Casey and Arthur Wright{{snd}}guitars
- Gene Cipriano{{snd}}piccolo flute
- John Audino, Anthony Terran, Bud Childers, Dalton Smith{{snd}}trumpets
- King Errisson{{snd}}congas
- Douglas Davis{{snd}}cello
- Jim Horn{{snd}}tenor saxophone
- Garry Nuttycombe{{snd}}viola
- Harry Bluestone, Jimmy Getzoff{{snd}}violins
- Jack Arnold{{snd}}percussion
- Larry Knechtel{{snd}}piano
Legacy
The Friends of Distinction performed the song on The Ed Sullivan Show on December 27, 1970,{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_tffjrItC4|title=The Friends Of Distinction "Grazing In The Grass" on The Ed Sullivan Show|date=December 27, 1970|via=www.youtube.com |access-date=21 September 2023}} and appeared in a cameo section of Season Episode 8 of the adult animated sitcom Family Guy.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feon0VVMeRw "Family Guy Grazin' In The Grass"], via YouTube. Their version also used in a 2023 TV commercial for Airbnb.{{cn|date=September 2023}} A cover by Raven-Symoné is featured in the end credits of the animated film The Lion King 1½.{{cn|date=September 2023}}
=Chart performance=
==Weekly charts==
==Year-end charts==
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/19123361/The+Friends+of+Distinction/Grazing+in+the+Grass Lyrics of this song]
- {{YouTube|_1T8-7zbdkk|International Jazz Day: Hugh Masekela with Stevie Wonder – "Grazing In The Grass"}} (2016)
- {{YouTube|tKQ47h6S6p4|The Friends of Distinction – Grazing in the Grass}}
{{Hugh Masekela|state=autocollapse}}
{{The Friends of Distinction}}
{{Raven-Symoné}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Cashbox number-one singles
Category:The Friends of Distinction songs