Released July 1970 (1970) Label Mercury | Genre Rhythm and blues Producer(s) Gene Chandler | |
B-side "Not the Marrying Kind" Writer(s) Russell Lewis
Herman Davis | ||
"Groovy Situation" is a 1969 song written by Russell Lewis and Herman Davis, and first recorded by Mel and Tim. It became a hit single when recorded by Gene Chandler on Mercury Records in 1970, in a version produced by Chandler.
Chandler's single reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was a Top 10 Billboard R&B hit, peaking at #8. It was also an RIAA Certified Million-Seller, the Gold Record being awarded to Gene in November 1970. It was Chandler's second- biggest chart hit single, his biggest being the million-selling #1 Grammy Hall of Fame smash, "Duke of Earl", in 1962. It was taken from his album, The Gene Chandler Situation. This version is noted for the instrumental quoting, by muted trumpets, of the song "A Tisket, A Tasket" heard during the Introduction as well as in the Coda section, before the repeated Chorus takes place before the song's fade.
The success of this, and other records he wrote, recorded and produced that year earned him The National Association of Television and Radio Announcers Producer of the Year Award in 1970, against other nominees that included Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff and Norman Whitfield.
A portion of Chandler's version of the song was used in the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, and appears on the film's soundtrack.