The Mugwumps (band)

History

The origin of the band's name is unclear. One source says that it was taken from the William S. Burroughs novel The Naked Lunch. The liner notes for the 2007 re-release of The Mugwumps reports that Jim Hendricks claimed that the name came from music producer Erik Jacobsen. Denny Doherty claimed that the name came from his Newfoundland grandmother. (Historically, "Mugwumps" were dissident American Republicans of 1884, from Algonquian mugquomp, "important person"). They largely played covers with some of their own material and played live. The album was released after the band had split up.

Members Cass Elliot and Denny Doherty would become one-half of The Mamas & the Papas (who told the story of The Mugwumps in their hit song "Creeque Alley"), while John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky would form the Lovin' Spoonful.

Jim Hendricks formed the Lamp of Childhood, which recorded three singles for Dunhill Records, and had some success as a performer and songwriter. He wrote the top 15 hit "Summer Rain" for Johnny Rivers, and the theme song "Long Lonesome Highway" for the TV show Then Came Bronson.

A different 1960s group known as The Mugwumps, based in Los Angeles and produced by Mike Curb for his Sidewalk Records label, had no connection to the New York group but reached #127 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart in 1966 with a cover version of "Jug Band Music", a John Sebastian-penned song on The Lovin' Spoonful's Daydream album.

Albums

The Mugwumps (Warner Bros. 1967)

1. Searchin'
2. I Don't Wanna Know
3. I'll Remember Tonight
4. Here It Is Another Day
5. Do You Know What I Mean

1. You Can't Judge a Book By the Cover
2. Everybody's Been Talkin'
3. Do What They Don't Say
4. So Fine

John Sebastian did not appear on this album. Produced by Roy Silver & Bob Cavallo in association with Alan Loeber /A Cavallo & Silver Production. Recorded in August 1964.

Singles