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" 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]

"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]