Moon Hop

Last updated
"Moon Hop"
Single by Derrick Morgan
A-side "Moon Hop"
B-side "Harris Wheel" (Reggaeites) [1]
Released1969 [1]
Genre Reggae [1]
Label Crab Records [1]
Songwriter(s) Derrick Morgan (Moon Hop) [1]
Joe Willis (Harris Wheel) [1]

"Moon Hop" is a 1969 single by Derrick Morgan. Backed with the Reggaeites' "Harris Wheel", it reached #49 on the UK Singles Chart. The British Afro-Caribbean ska and reggae band Symarip covered "Moon Hop" as "Skinhead Moonstomp"; whilst unsuccessful on first release, in the wake of the 2 Tone revolution it was re-issued and charted at #54.

Contents

Background

"Moon Hop" was written to commemorate the July 20, 1969 landing of the Apollo Lunar Module on the moon. [2] Symarip's version was released shortly afterwards and many see a strong similarity between the two. [2] The Symarip version includes a vocal introduction: "I want all you skinheads to get up on your feet/Put your braces together and your boots on your feet/And give me some of that old moonstomping" which was based on Sam & Dave's "I Thank You.” The screeching guitar and lyrics were intended to appeal to skinheads. When released for the first time, Moonstomp sold 5,000 copies, and Symarip named their album after it. [2]

Chart performance

"Moon Hop" was the first version to chart on the UK Singles Chart; backed with the Reggaeites' "Harris Wheel", it spent a week at #49 in January 1970. [3] Although Symarip's version didn't chart on first release, it was re-released ten years later in 1980 in the wake of the 2 Tone revolution, and spent three weeks on the UK Singles Chart in 1980. [4]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Derrick Morgan/Reggaeites - Moon Hop/Harris Wheel". Discogs.
  2. 1 2 3 "Skinhead Moonstomp". AllMusic.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 379. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  4. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 544. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.