C Moon Explained

C Moon
Cover:C Moon by Wings pink label UK vinyl.png
Caption:Label of the UK 7-inch single
Type:single
Artist:Wings
A-Side:Hi, Hi, Hi
Released:1 December 1972
Recorded:2 September 1972
Studio:Morgan Studios, London
Genre:
Length:4:33
Label:Apple Records
Producer:Paul McCartney
Prev Title:Mary Had a Little Lamb
Prev Year:1972
Next Title:My Love
Next Year:1973

"C Moon" is a song with a reggae beat, written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with "Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. The single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and since "Hi Hi Hi" was banned by the BBC, "C Moon" received much airplay in the United Kingdom.[2] In the United States, "C Moon" did not appear on any of the major record charts.[3]

Lyrics and structure

The title "C Moon" was inspired by lyrics in the song "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. McCartney said, "There's a line in [Wooly Bully] that says, 'Let's not be L7.' Well, L7, it was explained at the time, means a square—put L and 7 together and you get a square... So I thought of the idea of putting a C and a moon together (a half-moon) to get the opposite of a square. So 'C Moon' means cool, in other words."

The recording includes a missed-cue intro that was kept in the released version.[4]

The song is in the key of C and is in 4/4 time. The performers change instruments from their usual places. Guitarist Henry McCullough plays drums and tambourine, guitarist Denny Laine plays bass, and drummer Denny Seiwell plays xylophone and cornet.

The song was recorded around the same time as "Hi, Hi, Hi", in September 1972.[5]

Releases

CountryUKUSGermanyFranceJapan
LabelAppleAppleEMI Electrola/AppleAppleApple
Catalogue numberR 597318571C006-052082C006-05208EAR-10241
Release date1 December 19724 December 1972December, 197220 January 1973
Chart ratings5
(16 January 1973)
N/AN/A26
(February, 1973)

The song was included on the Paul McCartney compilation albums All the Best! (1987) and (2001) and as a bonus track on the 1993 remastered CD of Red Rose Speedway, as part of The Paul McCartney Collection. It was also included on The 7" Singles Box in 2022.[6]

Personnel

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top 10 Reggae Rock Songs. Bryan. Wawzenek. Ultimate Classic Rock. 7 March 2014 .
  2. Web site: Official Charts: Paul McCartney. The Official UK Charts Company. 2011-10-13.
  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel . 2015 . The Comparison Book . Menonomee Falls, Wisconsin . Record Research Inc. . 333 . 978-0-89820-213-7.
  4. Luca Perasi, Paul McCartney: Recording Sessions (1969-2013), L.I.L.Y. Publishing, 2013,, p.92
  5. Web site: Hi, Hi, Hi / C Moon (Album) .
  6. Web site: 'The 7" Singles Box' – Out 2 December 2022. PaulMcCartney.com. 10 November 2022. 5 December 2022.