I had never seen that clip -- or even known it existed -- before yesterday, so I think you'll agree we're already ahead of the game.
But in any case, that brings us to the business at hand, inspired -- obviously -- by last Monday's celestial light show. To wit:
...and your favorite (or least favorite) post-Elvis pop/rock/soul/country song referencing the moon or the lucky old sun in its title or lyrics is...??????
Discuss.
In case you're wondering what my picks are, here's one you may get a perverse kick out of. Dr. Feelgood and the Interns and their "Mr. Moonlight."
The Beatles' more famous cover of that -- which appeared on Beatles '65 in this country -- is, of course, by most people's reckoning the least popular track the Fabs ever did. I go back and forth on it, myself, but say what you will, at least it's faithful to the original. (Which, BTW, was a minor hit on the American charts, but not in the UK).
And if you're among the folks who dislike the song to the point of wondering why the Beatles bothered to record it in the first place, this amusing story about its performance history (from the lads' faithful road manager Neil Aspinall) provides a clue:
"'Mr. Moonlight' was great because there would be this moment of tension in the audience. The song would be announced and everybody knew John would have to start on that note -- MISTER! Moonlight!!! There was no chord to precede it, he had to get it right from nothing."
Showmanship!!!
Okay -- what would YOUR choices be?
And have a great weekend, everybody!!!
26 comments:
Mr Sun, Mr Moon Paul Revere & The Raiders.
Here Comes the Sun The Beatles
Distant Sun Crowded House
When The Sun Comes Up John Wesley Harding.
I'm very fond of Gerry Rafferty's song Bajan Moon - very romantic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0iux57MV00
It's on the same album as Rafferty's cover of John Lennon's "Out the Blue" - which was the first dance at spouse and self's wedding reception.
I've never been to Barbados, and I didn't know until just now that "Bajan" refers to that island and their creole language and culture. Here's something I just came across:
“De higher monkey climb, de more he show he tail.” This proverb warns that the higher one rises without humility, the more their flaws become apparent.
I love The Beatles' "Mr. Moonlight" because of John's opening wail! Killer.
Mott's "The Moon Upstairs" kicks ass.
And there is a lovely cover of "Moon River" by Neil Finn and Paul Kelly out there.
The Byrds - Space Odyssey
Orbital Captain Al
The Kinks: Sunny Afternoon
Donovan: Sunshine Superman
Gordon Lightfoot: Sundown
David Bowie: Moonage Daydream
Cat Stevens: Moonshadow
Stones: Moonlight Mile
Sparks: Moon Over Kentucky
Kevin Ayers: Caribbean Moon
And since you've been on a Cream kick of late, 'Sunshine of Your Love.'
Personally, I love the long semi-psychedelic Traffic songs, because no matter what they were doing, they always laid down a killer groove - yeah, “Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Roll Right Stones” are each like 12 minutes long, but I never get bored of them. And sure, “Sometimes I Feel So Uninspired” is several minutes long, but Winwood’s vocal is so good, and his guitar playing is so good, and the gospel groove of the song is so good (the Muscle Shoals Swampers IIRC), that I wish it was longer. Great, great stuff. Traffic is one of my all-time favorite bands.
So, sticking with the Traffic theme…Pearly Queen, “I traveled ‘round the world to find the sun”; my absolute favorite version of the song is from the 2008 Winwood/Clapton live at MSG album. That whole album is fantastic, one of my favorite live albums of all time. If you get the chance to see Winwood live, take it, he puts in a great show!
And Winwood solo, from the terrific Arc of a Diver album, the kinetic and compelling Night Train, “pull up the shade, let the sun in”.
The Beatles may own this list
- Here Comes the Sun (I mean if you have Paper Sun...)
- Sun King
- I'll Follow The Sun
- the aforementioned Mr. Moonlight
Mike Oldfield "Moonlight Shadow"
H/t to Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown", but i don't think thats about the "sun"....
I'll second Distant Sun from Crowded House and Moonlight Mile, and add Another Satellite from XTC, Fat Old Sun from the Pink Floyd, Waiting For the Sun by The Jayhawks, and Mad Man Moon by Genesis
Often overlooked in the wide, much-deserved praise to Traffic is drummer Jim Capaldi, definitely on the short list of great British rock drummers. Listen to Smiling Phases, where he executes identical complex drum fills twice. Oh! and the Ramones cover of "Warm California Sun."
Tom Waits- Drunk on the Moon
Grapefruit Moon
I'll Shoot the Moon
are all worthy contenders.
rs
Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying by Gerry and the Pacemakers.
Lost Her In The Sun -John Stewart
Bad Moon Rising - CCR
Black Sails in the Sunset - Elvis Costello and the Attractions
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying - Gerry and the Pacemakers
Let's See The Sun - The Fleshtones
Ride Into the Sun - Velvet Underground
Six Hours Ahead of the Sun - Steve Goodman
The Sun and The Moon - The Pogues
and just because it is one of our hosts favorites - Waterloo Sunset - The Kinks
Pink Floyd’s “Eclipse” mentions both the sun and the moon
The Waterboys “The Whole of the Moon” is another of my favorites.
And one for Sal: Sunny (by too many artists to count).
Paul in DK
The Kinks:
Sunny Afternoon
Lazy Old Sun
Waterloo Sunset
Love Me Till the Sun Shines
Here Comes the Moon - George Harrison.
Yeah, that’s real.
Mr Moon by Carlene Carter from.her amazing debut
And moonlight becomes you by Frank Sinatra
Those last two are from Cleveland Jeff
Moon Martin - Havanna Moon
Rodney Crowell - Blame It On the Moon
Rolling Stones - Child of The Moon
Captain Al
Correction---
Rodney Crowell - Shame on the Moon
Sorry
Looking at the Sun--Matthew Sweet, a favorite from Girlfriend
Harvest Moon--Neil Young, who I'm listening to again after a 2=year rest
Bill
A liitle late, but...
"Spanish Moon" - Little Feat
"California Sun" - Ramones
"Who Loves The Sun" - The Velvet Underground
"There's A Moon In The Sky Called The Moon" - The B-52's
Dave Mason - blech
and how about "I Live for the Sun" by the Sunrays - managed by Murry Wilson after the Beach Boys fired him
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