Mungo Jerry

Lovin' in the Alleys & Fightin' in the Streets was a mouthful of a title for Mungo Jerry's second Polydor LP, issued in the spring of 1977. This album actually had a serious split personality, half of it much harder than one was used to hearing from the group, with a pounding electric rock sound throughout and screaming vocals, while the other half was more in keeping with the group's familiar low-wattage roots rock sound. The title track and "All That a Woman Should Be" represented the snarling, aggressive side of the music, while "Heavy Foot Stomp" showed off their more genial, skiffle-inspired sound (though still with a serious beat); the driving, hook-laden "Gone to Malaya" managed to recall Bob Dylan's "Hurricane" and any number of Bruce Springsteen tracks of the era; and the album closed on the heavy, electric rock & roll singalong-style track "Just Can't Say Goodbye." ~ Bruce Eder, All Music Guide