C Moon

"C Moon"
Label of the UK 7-inch single
Single by Wings
A-side	"Hi, Hi, Hi"
Released	1 December 1972
Recorded	2 September 1972
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Rocksteady reggae rock [1]
Length	4:33
Label	Apple Records
Songwriter(s)	Paul McCartney Linda McCartney
Producer(s)	Paul McCartney
Wings singles chronology
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" (1972) "C Moon" / "Hi, Hi, Hi" (1972) "My Love" (1973)
Alternative cover art
Back cover of the German release of "Hi Hi Hi"

"C Moon" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with "Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. The single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and since "Hi Hi Hi" was banned by the BBC, "C Moon" received much airplay in the United Kingdom. ^{[2] [3]} In the United States, "C Moon" did not appear on any of the major record charts. ^[4]

Lyrics and structure

The title "C Moon" was inspired by lyrics in the song "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. McCartney said, "There's a line in [Wooly Bully] that says, 'Let's not be L7.' Well, L7, it was explained at the time, means a square—put L and 7 together and you get a square... So I thought of the idea of putting a C and a moon together (a half-moon) to get the opposite of a square. So 'C Moon' means cool, in other words." ^[5]

The recording includes a missed-cue intro that was kept in the released version. ^[6]

The song is in the key of C and is in 4/4 time. The performers change instruments from their usual places. Guitarist Henry McCullough plays drums and tambourine, guitarist Denny Laine plays bass, and drummer Denny Seiwell plays xylophone and cornet. ^[7]

The song was recorded around the same time as "Hi, Hi, Hi", in September 1972. ^[8]

Releases

Country	UK	US	Germany	France	Japan
Label	Apple	Apple	EMI Electrola/Apple	Apple	Apple
Catalogue number	R 5973	1857	1C006-05208	2C006-05208	EAR-10241
Release date	1 December 1972	4 December 1972	December, 1972		20 January 1973
Chart ratings	5 (16 January 1973)	—	N/A	N/A	26 (February, 1973)

The song was included on the Paul McCartney compilation albums All the Best! (1987) and Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) and as a bonus track on the 1993 remastered CD of Red Rose Speedway , as part of The Paul McCartney Collection . It was also included on The 7" Singles Box in 2022. ^[9]

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and backing vocals, piano, cornet
• Linda McCartney – harmony and backing vocals
• Denny Laine – bass
• Denny Seiwell – xylophone, cornet
• Henry McCullough – drums, tambourine

References

1. Wawzenek, Bryan (7 March 2014). "Top 10 Reggae Rock Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock.
2. McGee 2003, p. 35.
3. "Official Charts: Paul McCartney". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-13.
4. Whitburn, Joel (2015). The Comparison Book. Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 333. ISBN   978-0-89820-213-7.
5. McGee 2003, p. 198.
6. Luca Perasi, Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013), L.I.L.Y. Publishing, 2013, ISBN   978-88-909122-1-4, p.92
7. Rhino Records 2007.
8. "Hi, Hi, Hi / C Moon (Album)".
9. "'The 7" Singles Box' – Out 2 December 2022". PaulMcCartney.com. 10 November 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.

Sources

• McCartney, Paul (2007). The McCartney Years (DVD). Rhino Records.
• McGee, Garry (2003). Band on the Run: A History of Paul McCartney and Wings. New York: Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN   978-0-87833-304-2.