"Melting Pot"
Cover of the single released in Germany
Single by Blue Mink
from the album Melting Pot
B-side"Blue Mink"
Released31 October 1969
GenreRock
Length3:50
LabelPhilips
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Blue Mink
Blue Mink singles chronology
"Melting Pot"
(1969)		 "Good Morning Freedom"
(1970)

"Melting Pot" is the 1969 debut single from UK pop group Blue Mink. The song was written by Blue Mink's lead singer Roger Cook and long-time songwriter partner Roger Greenaway.[1]

The song peaked at number three in the UK Singles chart in the first week of 1970, number 10 in Australia, and also reached number 11 in Ireland.[2] "Melting Pot" did best in New Zealand, where it spent three weeks at number 2.[3]

It became the opening track on the group's 1969 debut album, also titled Melting Pot.[4]

While the song has assimilationist undertones, it is generally considered a plea for racial harmony,[5] although the phrases "Mix with yellow Chinkies" and "little Red Indian boy" would today be denounced by some as "offensive".

The track was also chosen by the singer-songwriter Noel Gallagher as one of his favourite tracks on the BBC Radio 1 show "All Back To Mine" - broadcast December 25th 1997. In it he explains to host, Sean Rowley, that he had gone around for years asking people what the track was, with the short line "What we need is...", but couldn't recall any more of the song! Then finally someone, that he couldn't recall, responded with "What you mean Blue Mink 'Melting Pot'? Yeah I've got a CD, would you like to borrow it?"

Formats and track listings

7" (1969)

  1. "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
  2. "Blue Mink" (Alan Parker)

7" (1969)

  1. "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
  2. "But Not Forever"

7" (1975)

  1. "Melting Pot"
  2. "Gimme Reggae"

When the Cat's Away version

"Melting Pot"
Single by When the Cat's Away
from the album When the Cat's Away
B-side"Fire"
Released1988
Recorded1988
GenrePop
Length3:56
LabelCBS
Songwriter(s)Roger Cook and Roger Greenaway
When the Cat's Away singles chronology
"Sanctified"
(1987)		 "Melting Pot"
(1988)		 "Free Ride"
(1990)

In 1988 "Melting Pot" was covered by New Zealand female vocal group and covers band When the Cat's Away.

Their version peaked at number one in the New Zealand charts, and charted for 15 weeks.[6] The single was certified gold.[7] It was one of three songs by New Zealand artists to reach number one in 1988.

The group released a low-budget, self-produced music video, directed by photographer Kerry Brown. The video features the group performing with a band in a white room, footage of people of different ethnic groups around Auckland, and cats.[8]

Track listing

  1. "Melting Pot" (Roger Cook/Roger Greenaway)
  2. "Fire" (Bruce Springsteen)

Other versions

References

  1. ↑ "Blue Mink – Melting Pot". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved 13 October 2013.
  2. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 66. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ↑ Flavour of New Zealand, 3 April 1970
  4. ↑ "Blue Mink – Melting Pot". Discogs. 1969. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Artist Biography by Dave Thompson". All Music. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  6. ↑ "WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY - MELTING POT (SONG)". charts.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  7. ↑ "When The Cat's Away". Muzic.net.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  8. ↑ "Melting Pot". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  9. ↑ Lyn Paul. "Together album details". Retrieved 16 March 2011.
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