"Grazing in the Grass" | ||||
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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 | ||||
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"Grazing in the Grass" | ||||
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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 | ||||
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"Grazing in the Grass" | ||||
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Single by Raven-Symoné | ||||
from the album The Lion King 1½ and This Is My Time |
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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 | ||||
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"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.