First recorded by Billy Lawrence (1971).
Hit versions by Clint Holmes (US #2/MOR #7/CAN #7/NZ #3 1972), Johnny Ashcroft (AUS #19 1973).
From the wiki: “‘Playground In My Mind’, a nursery rhyme-styled song, was written by record producer Paul Vance (‘Catch a Falling Star’, 1957; ‘Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini’, 1960) with Lee Pockriss, and was first recorded in 1971 by Billy Lawrence (in a session produced by Vance and Pockriss) and released in June 1971 by Atlantic Records with no apparent chart impact.
“When produced again by Vance, it featured a duet with Clint Holmes and Vance’s son, nine-year-old Philip, on the chorus. ‘Playground in My Mind’ was released in the U.S. in July 1972 but did not reach the Billboard Hot 100 chart until March 24, 1973 – going on to chart for a total of 23 weeks, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It ended 1973 at the 12th most popular song of the year.”