A group whose sound and songs were more pop than soul, Jay & the Techniques earned some points for the playful, joyous "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie," which was their lone Top 10 R&B and pop hit in 1967 on Smash.[1]
Career
The band was best known for its Top 10 debut single, "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie", which was released in 1967 and reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[2] The track was arranged by Joe Renzetti, and written by Maurice Irby, Jr. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3] Although this song served as the band's primary hit, the group also captured various chart positions with "Keep the Ball Rolling" (#14) and "Strawberry Shortcake". "Keep the Ball Rolling" also notched up sales in excess of a million copies, to secure a second gold disc for this group.[3]
However, its position on the 1960s pop charts declined after "Baby Make Your Own Sweet Music" was released. Jay & the Techniques made their final effort with its R&B hit, "Number Onderful", but after that, the group disbanded.
In 1996, Mercury Records released a compilation album of the band's hits entitled The Best of Jay & the Techniques.
Original band members
Jay Proctor: Lead vocalist and primary founder of the group
George "Lucky" Lloyd: Second vocalist
Dante Dancho: Lead guitar
Chuck Crowl: Bass guitar
Karl Landis (Lippowitsch): Drums (was replaced by Paul Coles, Jr.)
Ronnie Goosley: Saxophone
Jon Walsh: Trumpet (was replaced by Danny Altieri)
Apples Peaches Pumpkin Pie
Jay & The Techniques Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gee that used to be such fun
Apples peaches pumpkin pie
Who's afraid to holler I?
That's a game we used to play.
Hide and seek was its name.
Oh ready or not, hear I come,
I always used to find a hiding place,
Times have changed.
Well I'm one step behind you, but still I can't find you.
Apple peaches pumpkin pie,
You were young and so was I.
Now that we've grown up it seems
You just keep ignoring me.
I'll find you anywhere you go,
I'll follow you high and low.
You can't escape this love of mine anytime.
Well, I'll sneak up behind you,
Be careful where I find you.
Apple peaches pumpkin pie,
Soon your love will be all mine.
Then I'm gonna take you home,
Marry you so you won't roam.
Marry you so you won't roam. Right now
I'll find you anywhere you go,
I'm gonna look high and low.
You can't escape this love of mine anytime.
Well, I'll sneak up behind you,
Be careful where I find you.
Ready or not here I come,
Gee that used to be such fun
The lyrics to Jay & The Techniques' "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" depict a playful game of hide and seek between two young people who are interested in one another. The game represents the flirtatious and innocent nature of their relationship, shown in the repetition of the refrain "ready or not here I come," which suggests the forward momentum of their affection.
The chorus of "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" reinforces this theme with its childlike references to summer fruit, creating a sense of nostalgia for simpler times. However, the verses reveal a deeper longing and possessiveness from the singer, who is unable to find his love interest and is determined to catch her. The line "I'll find you anywhere you go, I'll follow you high and low" suggests an obsessive quality that would be concerning if not for the seemingly innocent context of the game.
Overall, "Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" is a charming and lighthearted song that captures the playful energy of young love while also expressing a hint of tension and desire. It reminds listeners of the joys of childhood and the thrill of romantic pursuit, all set to a catchy and upbeat melody.
Line by Line Meaning
Ready or not here I come
I am going to find you, whether you are ready or not
Gee that used to be such fun
I used to enjoy playing games like hide and seek, but now things have changed
Apples peaches pumpkin pie
These are just nonsensical words used to transition into the next verse
Who's afraid to holler I?
Who is hesitant to speak up or make their presence known?
That's a game we used to play
Hollering 'I' was a part of the game we used to play
Hide and seek was its name
The game we used to play was called hide and seek
I always used to find a hiding place
When we played hide and seek, I was good at finding a good spot to hide
Times have changed
Things are different now
Well I'm one step behind you, but still I can't find you
I am trailing behind you and searching for you, but I can't seem to locate you
You were young and so was I
When we used to play games like hide and seek, we were both children
Now that we've grown up it seems
As adults, things are not the same as they used to be
You just keep ignoring me
You don't seem to want to interact with me anymore
I'll find you anywhere you go
No matter where you go, I will be able to track you down
I'll follow you high and low
I will not stop searching for you, even if it means looking in difficult places
You can't escape this love of mine anytime
My love for you is constant and enduring, and you cannot run away from it
Be careful where I find you
You should be cautious about where you go, because I am determined to locate you
Soon your love will be all mine
I am confident that eventually you will return my love
Then I'm gonna take you home
Once you do return my love, I am going to take you back to my home
Marry you so you won't roam
I want to marry you to keep you with me and prevent you from wandering away
I'm gonna look high and low
I will continue my search for you, exploring every possible place you might be
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MAURICE IRBY JR.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@d.tlerraayers278
OH MY GOODNESS THIS SONG BRINGS BACK SUCH GOOD MEMORIES,
AND IT'S GREAT TO HEAR TODAY 6-29-19
THANK YOU
"JAY & THE TECHNIQUES",
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED
THEIR SONG. FABULOUS HITS WITH GREAT SKILL
SING GREAT SONGS AND MELODIES,
THAT ARE ALWAYS GREAT MUSIC TO MY EARS.
@billeybop
I'm a 104 years old and still play mostly 60's soul! Love this stuff!
@angelinacarter4696
I'm 51 and still appreciate the music I grew up on 50-70s that's all I prefer
@sparklecanada0112
๐๐๐๐ค๐ผ๐ถ๐ถ๐ป๐
@derekducharme8510
Def not 114
@ciampooh
I want to hang with you ๐
@Repunza
@Derek Ducharme lol
@conradford7493
For those of us who were kids in this era, we had it great. Nicer people and the best music. Ever.
@thatman4853
Show off!!๐๐โ๏ธ
@conradford7493
@@thatman4853 it really was the best time of my life.
@conradslemmer4117
Loved this song as a kid. Didn't realize it was a racially mixed group. Yet another reason to totally dig them!โ๐