Moon Hop

{{short description|1969 single by Derrick Morgan}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Moon Hop

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Derrick Morgan

| album =

| A-side = Moon Hop

| B-side = "Harris Wheel" (Reggaeites){{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Derrick-Morgan-Reggaeites-Moon-Hop-Harris-Wheel/release/859482|title=Derrick Morgan/Reggaeites - Moon Hop/Harris Wheel|publisher=Discogs}}

| released = 1969

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Reggae

| length =

| label = Crab Records

| writer = Derrick Morgan (Moon Hop)
Joe Willis (Harris Wheel)

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

"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. Symarip's version was released shortly afterwards and many see a strong similarity between the two. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/song/skinhead-moonstomp-mt0003127826|title=Skinhead Moonstomp|publisher=AllMusic}}

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.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 379}} 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.{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5

| page= 544}}

References