| "Moon Hop" | |
|---|---|
| Single by Derrick Morgan | |
| A-side | "Moon Hop" |
| B-side | " Harris Wheel" ( Reggaeites) [1] |
| Released | 1969 [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.
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]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Derrick Morgan/Reggaeites - Moon Hop/Harris Wheel". Discogs.
- ^ a b c "Skinhead Moonstomp". AllMusic.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 379. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 544. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.