Moon Hop

"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.

"Moon Hop"
Single by Derrick Morgan
A-side"Moon Hop"
B-side"Harris Wheel" (Reggaeites)[1]
Released1969[1]
GenreReggae[1]
LabelCrab Records[1]
Songwriter(s)Derrick Morgan (Moon Hop)[1]
Joe Willis (Harris Wheel)[1]

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
  1. "Derrick Morgan/Reggaeites - Moon Hop/Harris Wheel". Discogs.
  2. "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.
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