JMJ joined Francis Dreyfus in 1972-73. During this this time he worked freelance for several artistes linked to the Dreyfus label one of which was 'The Popcorn Orchestra'. The group had recorded a cover version of the original Popcorn and JMJ helped with the re-recorded version (MT 4028). For this collaboration JMJ used the pseudonym Jammie Jefferson. This has led many fans to believe that the
1906 7" single "Cartolina" is JMJ working under the title of Jammie Jefferson; but there are few facts to back this up. Whatever the case JMJ wrote the music.
JMJ played Moog on Popcorn and wrote and played Moog on the (B) side called Blackbird. Blackbird is a piece of music very similar to 'Bridge of Promises' from the Deserted Palaces' album.
This is from
www.kingsleysound.com -
Despite the wide range of music Gershon Kingsley has composed, he is most well-known for a 1972 instrumental dance hit called "Popcorn."
Kingsley recalls that he wrote the primary melody to "Popcorn" in about 30 seconds. The song was first released in 1969 as part of a Kingsley solo album called "Music To Moog By." Then the First Moog Quartet, while on their nation-wide tour of college and universities, used "Popcorn" as their encore song.
In 1972, "Popcorn" was recorded by a group of musicians under the band name Hot Butter. Stan Free, who was a member of the First Moog Quartet, played the Moog on this recording. More information on the recording is available here.
The song quickly became an international hit, with cover versions sprouting up all over the world. It hit Number 1 on the German charts and sold over one million copies in that country alone.
And unlike so many pop songs, it has not faded into history. Not at all. Cover versions of "Popcorn" have continued to show up. Most recently, an English group called the "Space Penguins" have used the "Popcorn" melody in their tune "The Electrofunk." It is also featured in the soundtracks of two recent movies, "Dick" and "Detroit Rock City."
And Kingsley himself, with the help of Producer Dave Baron, has remade "Popcorn" for an upcoming compilation on the Beastie Boys' Grand Royal label. Sharing the CD will be Beck, Sonic Youth, Jean-Jacques Perrey and many others.
This proves that Popcorn wasn't written by JMJ and that the version on which JMJ plays is a re-released version. And yes, i have got the version by Hot Butter and no it doesn't credit JMJ or Jammie Jefferson.