The Pushbike Song

Infobox Single
Name = The Pushbike Song


Artist = The Mixtures
from Album =
Released = December 1970
Format = 7" single
Recorded = 1970
Genre = Bubble Gum
Length =
Label = Polydor (UK); Fable AUS
Writer = Idris and Evan Jones
Producer =
Chart position = Number 2 (UK) ; Number 1 (AUS)
Reviews =
Last single = "In the Summertime" (1970)
This single = "The Pushbike Song"
(1970)
Next single = "Henry Ford"
(1971)

The Pushbike Song is a popular Australian song originally recorded by The Mixtures, a Melbourne band that was 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 2 weeks in the Australian charts in March 1971. It also proved popular in the UK too, reaching the number 2 spot on the 16th January (beaten by George Harrison's My Sweet Lord), and #31 in Canada.

Covers

Vinyl and CD releases

* Mungo Jerry (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 [http://www.gemm.com GEMM] and [http://www.musicstack.com Music Stack] and occasionally [http://www.ebay.com 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.
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0364431/ 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 pitched 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 (??, UK) - Only available in vinyl format. A surreal performance from the popular pig puppets. Helium induced fun.
* The Mixtures (??) - Polydor/Sire Records 45 Single (Produced by David Mackay)
* The Wurzels (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 [http://www.myspace.com/thenewseekersofficial 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 [http://youtube.com/watch?v=xsKqa3ej5sU 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 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 [http://groups.msn.com/YoungTalentTime/1986partii.msnw Young Talent Time] also performed The Pushbike Song during one of their episodes in 1986. Young Talent Time was a programme that helped launch the careers of a few famous Aussies including Kylie and Danni Minogue amongst [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243097/ others] .

Karaoke / Backing Tracks

* [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00005QJFH Karaoke 70's] from EMI Gold
* [http://www.musicbackingtracks.co.uk/index.html Music Backing Tracks] (UK)

Sources

* [http://www.poparchives.com.au/feature.php?id=510 Poparchives.com.au] 's entry on The Pushbike Song