The Monkey Time

"The Monkey Time" is a song written by Curtis Mayfield and performed by Major Lance. It reached No. 2 on the U.S. R&B chart and No. 8 on the U.S. pop chart in 1963.[1] It was featured on his 1963 album The Monkey Time.[2]

"The Monkey Time"
Single by Major Lance
from the album The Monkey Time
B-side	"Mama Didn't Know"
Released	June 7, 1963
Genre	R&B
Length	2:46
Label	Okeh
Songwriter(s)	Curtis Mayfield
Producer(s)	Carl Davis
Major Lance singles chronology
"Delilah" (1963) "The Monkey Time" (1963) "Hey Little Girl" (1963)

The song was arranged by Johnny Pate produced by Carl Davis.[3]

The song ranked No. 49 on Billboard magazine's Top 100 singles of 1963.[4][5]

Other charting versions

• The Tubes released a version of the song as a single in 1983 which reached No. 16 on the U.S. rock chart and No. 68 on U.S. pop chart.[6] It was featured on their album Outside Inside.

Other versions

• The Miracles released a version of the song on their 1963 album The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey.[7]
• Georgie Fame released a version of the song on his 1964 album Fame at Last.[8]
• Gene Barge released a version of the song on his 1965 album Dance with Daddy "G".[9]
• Archie Bell & the Drells released a version of the song on their 1968 album I Can't Stop Dancing.
• The Mad Lads released a version of the song entitled "Monkey Time '69" on their 1969 album The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Lads.[10]
• Laura Nyro and Labelle released a version of the song as a medley with "Dancing in the Street" on their 1971 album Gonna Take a Miracle.[11]
• Al Kooper released a version of the song on his 1972 album A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's End.[12] Kooper also released it as a single the same year, but it did not chart.
• Johnny Rivers released a version of the song on his 1977 album Outside Help.[13]
• Jimmy Burns released a version of the song on his 1999 album Night Time Again.[14]
• The Action released a live version of the song on their 2004 compilation album Uptight and Outasight.[15]
• The Velvelettes released a version of the song on their 2004 compilation album The Velvelettes: The Motown Anthology.[16]

References

1. "Major Lance, "The Monkey Time" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
2. "Major Lance, The Monkey Time". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
3. "Major Lance, "The Monkey Time" Single Release". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
4. "Top Records of 1963", Billboard, Section II, December 28, 1963. p. 30. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
5. Kowal, Barry. Billboard Magazine's (USA) Top 100 Single Recordings of 1963, Hits of All Decades. August 27, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
6. "The Tubes, "The Monkey Time" Chart Positions". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
7. "The Miracles, The Miracles Doin' Mickey's Monkey". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
8. "Georgie Fame, Fame at Last". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
9. "Gene Barge, Dance with Daddy "G"". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
10. "The Mad Lads, The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Lads". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
11. "Laura Nyro and Labelle, Gonna Take a Miracle". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
12. "Al Kooper, A Possible Projection of the Future / Childhood's End". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
13. "Johnny Rivers, Outside Help". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
14. "Jimmy Burns, Night Time Again". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
15. "The Action, Uptight and Outasight". Retrieved March 10, 2019.
16. "The Velvelettes, The Velvelettes: The Motown Anthology". Retrieved March 10, 2019.