"Solomon Grundy" is a song that was written by Eric Allendale

Eric Allendale

Eric Allendale was a trombonist, songwriter, occasional singer and former bandleader, as well as being a member of various jazz groups in England.-Early life:...

 a member of the English Multi-racial group The Foundations

The Foundations

The Foundations were a British soul band, active from 1967 to 1970. The group, made up of West Indians, White British, and a Sri Lankan, are best known for their two biggest hits, "Baby Now That I've Found You" , written by Tony Macaulay and John MacLeod; and "Build Me Up Buttercup" The Foundations...

. The song is loosely based on Solomon Grundy

Solomon Grundy

"Solomon Grundy" is an English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19299.-Lyrics:The rhyme has varied very little since it was first collected by James Orchard Halliwell and published in 1842 with the lyrics:* The premiere of Sesame Street features a Solomon Grundy...

, the 19th century children's nursery rhyme.
It appeared on their 1969 Digging The Foundations album that featured the hit single "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)

In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)

"In The Bad Bad Old Days" was a hit for The Foundations in 1969. It was the fourth hit single for the group. It was written by Tony Macaulay and John McLeod. It went to #8 in the UK Singles Chart...

", and it was the B side of their minor American hit single "My Little Chickadee

My Little Chickadee (song)

"My Little Chickadee" was the last chart entry for The Foundations. It was a minor hit in the US in 1969.It was not released as a single in the UK....

". The singer pronounces it "Solomon Grandy" throughout the song, even though it foils the rhyme. It was also released as a single by Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

 beat group Danny Diaz & The Checkmates

Danny Diaz & The Checkmates

Danny Diaz & The Checkmates were a Filipino rock band, based in Hong Kong in the 1960s.They were part of the Hong Kong beat group scene between 1964 and 1969, that included other Hong Kong groups, such as Anders Nelson & The Inspiration, D'Topnotes, Fabulous Echoes, Joe Jr. & The Side Effects,...

 and it was the song that Polly Brown & Pickettywitch

Pickettywitch

Pickettywitch was a British pop group. Fronted by singer Polly Brown , the group became best known for its hit single, "That Same Old Feeling", which was written by Tony Macaulay and John Macleod...

 were first noticed with when they appeared on ITV

ITV

ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

's Opportunity Knocks television talent show. It was also the B side of Pickettywitch's 1969 debut single "You've Got Me So I Don't Know".

Single Releases

• The Foundations - "My Little Chickadee" / "Solomon Grundy" - UNI 55137 - 1969 (USA) & PYE 4002 - 1970 (Canada)
• Danny Diaz & The Checkmates - "Solomon Grundy" / "Goodbye Baby" PYE 7N 17690 - 1969 (UK)
• Pickettywitch - "You've Got Me So I Don't Know" / "Solomon Grundy" PYE 7N 17799 (UK)

Compilation

• The Foundations, Baby, Now That I've Found You - Sequel Records - NEECD 300 - 1999
• The Foundations, Build Me Up Buttercup (The Complete Pye Collection) [Remastered] - Castle - 2004
• Pickettywitch, That Same Old Feeling / The complete Recordings UK : 2001 Sanctuary CMRCD 265 (CD)
• Pickettywitch / Pickettywitch + 13 Japan : 2001 Victor VICP-61439 (CD)
• (Various Artists), Round The Gum Tree - The British Bubblegum Explosion! - Danny Diaz & The Checkmates - Castle Music - CMRCD 906 - 2004 (UK)

External links

• Youtube Pickettywitch - Solomon Grundy