"The Pushbike Song" is a popular Australian song originally recorded by The Mixtures

The Mixtures

-Biography:Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of The Strangers, and the three decided to form a band together after a jam session. They quickly signed to EMI that same year and released three singles. They went through...

, a Melbourne band that formed in 1965.

History and chart success

Written by brothers Idris and Evan Jones, "The Pushbike Song" was released in 1970 and reached the top-spot for two weeks in the Australian charts in March 1971. It also proved popular in the UK, reaching the number two spot on 16 January (beaten by George Harrison's My Sweet Lord), and number 31 in Canada.

Vinyl and CD releases

• Mungo Jerry
  Mungo Jerry
  Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
  
   (1990, UK) - This cover was recorded in 1990. Available on CD, All The Hits Plus More.
• The Beggars (70s, Germany) - Only available in vinyl format from specialist record shops (see GEMM and Music Stack and occasionally eBay). Sounds very similar to the original Mixtures performance.
• The Great American Disaster (70s, USA) - Again, only available in vinyl format from specialist record shops. Features heavy use of the washboard and a great honky-tonk piano. B-side of the record contains Sister Lily.
• Anita Harris (??, UK) - Only female artist to record this cover professionally. Although the chorus while sounding deeply male (in the region of Barry White) actually appears to be Anita Harris' own voice pitch-altered down a few octaves. Available on the Those Pesky Kids! Cult Children's Classics CD (most large retailers will still stock this)
• Pinky and Perky
  Pinky and Perky
  Pinky and Perky is an animated children's television series first broadcast by the BBC in 1957, revived in 2008 as a CGI animation.-Original series:...
  
   (??, UK) - Only available in vinyl format. A surreal performance from the popular pig puppets. Helium induced fun.
• The Mixtures
  The Mixtures
  -Biography:Australian musicians Terry Dean and Rod De Clerk met in Tasmania in 1965. They then met Laurie Arthur, a member of The Strangers, and the three decided to form a band together after a jam session. They quickly signed to EMI that same year and released three singles. They went through...
  
  (??) - Polydor/Sire Records 45 Single (Produced by David Mackay
  David Mackay (producer)
  David Mackay is an Australian record producer/arranger and musical director. He was born in Sydney, Australia and began his music career at the age of 15 in a production of Bye Bye Birdie for J.C. Williamson Theatre Company...
  
  )
• The Wurzels
  The Wurzels
  The Wurzels are a British Scrumpy and Western band...
  
   (1978, UK) - A parody on the original Pushbike Song. Available on CD as part of The Best of Adge Cutler and the Wurzels.
• Leon Henry/Carlin (1971, UK) - Found on a 45 extended play RPM vinyl called Top of the Tots Pop Party Vol. 3 from Mr. Pickwick (A product of Pickwick International). Also contains covers of Ob-la-di Ob-la-da, Two Little Boys and Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep. Little or no information can be found on the artist.
• The New Seekers/Mick Flinn (2006) - Performed live in concert. Available on the The New Seekers Live CD.
• The Clowns (1972, Brazil) - Brazilian band covering a variety of well-known songs. Taken from the vinyl album A Patota.

Television / Other

A music video was created for the song in 1970, which depicted the band and friends riding bicycles through the streets of Melbourne. Filmed in black and white, it was notable for scenes involving a procession of bicycles (including a penny farthing and rollerskaters) on a busy six-lane Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

 arterial road, and a scene of four members of the band 'riding' a tandem bicycle atop a car transporter travelling at speed across a bridge.

Australia's Young Talent Time

Young Talent Time

Young Talent Time is an Australian television variety program screened on Network Ten, running from 1971 until 1988. The series features a core group of young performers in the vein of The Mickey Mouse Club, and a weekly junior talent quest. The "Young Talent Team" regularly performed popular...

also performed "The Pushbike Song" during one of their episodes in 1986.

The australian childrens show Play School

Play School (Australian TV series)

Play School is an Australian educational television show for children produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It is the longest-running children's show in Australia, and the second longest running childrens show in the world. An estimated 80% of pre-school children under six watch the...

 recorded a version of this song for the album There's A Bear In There, sung by Philip Quast

Philip Quast

Philip Quast is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his role as Inspector Javert in the stage musical version of Les Misérables, or for appearances in numerous Australian soap operas including Sons and Daughters, The Young Doctors and Police Rescue.-Personal life:Quast was born in 1957 in...

.

Karaoke / Backing tracks

• Karaoke 70's from EMI Gold
• Music Backing Tracks (UK)

Sources

• Poparchives.com.au's entry on The Pushbike Song
• Music video for The Pushbike Song
• Young Talent Time

See also

• List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1970s#1971