Summary
"Melting Pot" is the 1969 debut single from UK pop group Blue Mink. The song was written by Blue Mink's lead singer Roger Cook and long-time songwriter partner Roger Greenaway.[1]
| "Melting Pot" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cover of the single released in Germany | ||||
| Single by Blue Mink | ||||
| from the album Melting Pot | ||||
| B-side | "Blue Mink" | |||
| Released | 31 October 1969 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 3:50 | |||
| Label | Philips | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Blue Mink | |||
| Blue Mink singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart in the first week of 1970, number 10 in Australia, and also reached number 11 in Ireland.[2] "Melting Pot" did best in New Zealand, where it spent three weeks at number 2.[3]
It became the opening track on the group's 1969 debut album, also titled Melting Pot.[4]
While the song has assimilationist undertones, it is generally considered a plea for racial harmony,[5] although such phrases as "curly Latin kinkies", "mixed with yellow Chinkies" and "little bitty bit of Red Indian boy" could today be denounced by some as "offensive".[citation needed]
The track was also chosen by the singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher as one of his favourite tracks on the BBC Radio 1 show All Back To Mine broadcast on 25 December 1997. In it he explains to host, Sean Rowley, that he had gone around for years asking people what the track was, with the short line "What we need is...", but couldn't recall any more of the song! Then finally someone, that he couldn't recall, responded with "What you mean Blue Mink 'Melting Pot'? Yeah I've got a CD, would you like to borrow it?"
Formats and track listings edit
7" (1969)
- "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
- "Blue Mink" (Alan Parker)
7" (1969)
- "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
- "But Not Forever"
7" (1975)
- "Melting Pot"
- "Gimme Reggae"
When the Cat's Away version edit
| "Melting Pot" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by When the Cat's Away | ||||
| from the album When the Cat's Away | ||||
| B-side | "Fire" | |||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 3:56 | |||
| Label | CBS | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway | |||
| When the Cat's Away singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
In 1988 "Melting Pot" was covered by New Zealand female vocal group and covers band When the Cat's Away.
Their version peaked at number one in the New Zealand charts, and charted for 15 weeks.[6] The single was certified gold.[7] It was one of three songs by New Zealand artists to reach number one in 1988.
The group released a low-budget, self-produced music video, directed by photographer Kerry Brown. The video features the group performing with a band in a white room, footage of people of different ethnic groups around Auckland, and cats.[8]
Track listing edit
- "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
- "Fire" (Bruce Springsteen)
Other versions edit
- The reggae singer Max Romeo covered the song and released it as a single on the Unity label in the UK in 1970.[citation needed]
- The New Seekers recorded a version for their 1974 album Together (member Eve Graham had originally been offered the song back in 1969).[9]
- English pop group Culture Club played a live version of "Melting Pot" as an encore on their 1983-1984 world tour. A live recording from their December 1983 show at the Hammersmith Odeon was made available on the 2003 digital remaster of their 1983 album Colour By Numbers.[citation needed].
- Culture Club singer Boy George also performed the song during an appearance on the UK TV show The Tube (TV series) in April 1987, at the start of his solo career.
- Boyzone recorded a version on their 1996 album A Different Beat, which also featured the vocals of Madeline Bell.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ "Blue Mink – Melting Pot". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 66. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 3 April 1970
- ^ "Blue Mink – Melting Pot". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Artist Biography by Dave Thompson". All Music. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY - MELTING POT (SONG)". charts.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "When The Cat's Away". Muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Melting Pot". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Lyn Paul. "Together album details". Retrieved 16 March 2011.