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Grazing in the Grass

"Grazing in the Grass"
GrazingInTheGrassMasekelaSingle.jpg
Single by Hugh Masekela
from the album The Promise of a Future
B-side "Bajabula Bonke (Healing Song)"
Released May 1968
Format 7"
Recorded March 12, 1968
Genre Jazz
Length 2:38
Label Uni, (55066)
Writer(s) Philemon Hou
Producer(s) Stewart Levine
Hugh Masekela singles chronology
"There Are Seeds to Sow" "Grazing in the Grass"
(1968)
"Puffin' on Down the Track"
"Grazing in the Grass"
Grazing in the Grass - The Friends of Distinction.jpg
Single by The Friends of Distinction
from the album Grazin'
B-side "I Really Hope You Do"
Released May 1969
Format Vinyl 7", 45 RPM, 8-track
Recorded 1969
Genre Pop, R&B, psychedelic soul
Length 2:52
Label RCA Victor
Writer(s) Philemon Hou, Harry Elston
Producer(s) John Florez
The Friends of Distinction singles chronology
"Grazing in the Grass'"
(1969)
"Going in Circles"
(1969)
"Grazing in the Grass"
Single by Raven-Symoné
from the album The Lion King 1½ and
This Is My Time
Released 2004
Genre R&B, dance-pop, soul
Length 3:08
Label Hollywood
Writer(s) Philemon Hou, Harry Elston
Producer(s) Robbie Buchanan
Raven-Symoné singles chronology
"With a Child's Heart"
(1999)
"Grazing in the Grass"
(2004)
"Backflip"
(2004)

"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 hit no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, ranking it as the 18th biggest hit of the year.

The title phrase was rumoured to be a synonym for the practice of smoking marijuana, one of whose nicknames is "grass."

"Grazing in the Grass" was inspired by an earlier Masekela recording, "Mr. Bull No. 5". Hou, an actor and singer, came up with the melody while the backing track was already being recorded. The session was held at Gold Star Studios in Hollywood.

The Friends of Distinction recorded a vocal cover version 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. One of the group's members, Harry Elston, wrote lyrics for the song and sang lead on the Friends Of Distinction's version of it.

"Grazing in the Grass" has been recorded by many other musicians, including Stevie Wonder (on his 1968 album Eivets Rednow), Chet Atkins, Galapagos Duck, Boney James, Rick Braun, Larry Harlow, Willie Mitchell, The Monitors, The Scofflaws, Meco, cc: DIVA and, in 2016, Dexys on their album Let The Record Show: Dexys Do Irish And Country Soul.


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