Deaf Indie Elephants recorded this great cover of Devendra Banhart throwing some love to perhaps the greatest summer song ever, Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime.”
He doesn’t deviate much from the song and I never thought I’d miss the washboard in this lazy, ramshackle of a song, but it’s a good cover and a great way to start the morning.
It cracks me up everytime he sings the line “When the weather’s fine you got women on your mind. Have a drink have a drive go out and see what you can find. If her daddy’s rich take her out for a meal, if her daddy’s poor just do what you feel.” Just puts a big ole shit-eating grin on my face.
Also, I just learned that Mungo Jerry was an English folk group and not some Appalachian American musician. If you could see my face it would be the look of extreme disappointment mixed with utter happiness. Because the song and the video below is just that awesome.
By James Furbush | November 27th, 2007 | 7:11 am PST
Former Attorney General and former late-night joke fodder, Janet Reno has put together a three disc compendium of American music featuring the likes of The Black Crowes, Devendra Banhart, John “Cougar” Mellencamp and Martha Wainwright.
The box set features 50 songs, all reinterpreted by various artists, of classic Americana like “Dixie’s Land” and “The Times They Are A Changin.’”
I think they can learn more about their country, I think they can be inspired by what they hear, from some of these songs. They can remember when they are facing adversity that people were able to overcome terrible situations in their life and in the history of our country. When you think about it, the Depression, which this project talks about in clear detail, was such a dark cloud over this nation. I remember my mother’s stories of the Depression. If my mother could carry a tune she would have composed one of these songs that talks about the Depression, because it was so much a part of her life. And then to come out of the Depression into World War II, into the greatest war we have ever had, and to face the challenge of the atomic bomb, ever present after that war, gives us a sense of the challenge we face. But it’s also there to say, “Look, we did it, we can overcome, we can get past this time in our history.
I’m not sure I buy the whole “freak folk” label placed on Devendra Banhart. I mean I guess I reluctantly do. In a way it’s an apt description, but really how do you label someone who clearly floats through life to their own ethereal frequency? Nowhere is the freak flag flying higher than on the songwriters latest album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon. It’s, well, it’s a difficult album to process. Musical it is one of the more enjoyable and adventurous albums to be released this year, but it’s almost too difficult to take Banhart seriously.
The baggage of his personality, the adopted role of mystical shaman poet (not to be confused with Jim Morrison’s dark take on this same personality, his was merely rock star posturing, but to look at Banhart you have to wonder if he actually believes this is who he thinks he is or should be) almost outweighs the heights he soars here.
I say almost, because at the end of the day the music is all that matters. Lots of songs standout but we love the 70’s disco sunshiney dance funk of “Lover”(Mp3).
It takes you back to a mythological age of roller skates, bubblegum, eight tracks and that feeling of disposable good times. How could it not with lyrics like “I wanna be your cow / give ya all the milk around.” Still, that’s one damn groovy bass line and guitar hook. One of the best this year. It doesn’t get much better than the initial excitement of summertime love and wanting something so bad, looking from afar across the pool.
You can purchase Devendra Banhart’sSmokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon at Amazon.
Believe me, it’s worth it to own and listen to many many times. This is one album that sounds off-putting at first, but truly is a gem with repeat listens. Give it a shot if you can. Sonically gorgeous but lyrically goofy.
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Deaf Indie Elephants recorded this great cover of Devendra Banhart throwing some love to perhaps the greatest summer song ever, Mungo Jerry’s “In the Summertime.” 
