(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing every #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
The Marcels - "Blue Moon"
Hit Number 1: April 3, 1961
Stay at Number 1: 3 Weeks
Continuing with the trend of songs being covered and turned into hits in the 60s, "Blue Moon" was a song adopted by the doo-wop group The Marcels. The original song, which was written in 1934, was very slow and it was more of a ballad. The song details the sad story of a person who is "without a love of their own" and how the blue moon is looking down upon them. But they eventually find someone to love and "care for", and the moon turns to "gold". The Marcels completely turned the song around, turning it into a fast and upbeat song, that sounds joyous even in the beginning when the song's lyrics are rather sad.
The Marcels were a biracial group, which was definitely a big deal back in those days. They sort of combined soul and rock and roll into their own music, and you can hear that on "Blue Moon". But "Blue Moon" all kind of happened on accident. The group was recording for an album that just so happened to be called "Blue Moon". They still needed three songs to record, but only needed one to complete the album. The producer, Stu Phillips, didn't like any of the songs except one that had the same chord changes as "Heart and Soul" and "Blue Moon". He asked the group if any of them knew either of those songs, and one happened to know "Blue Moon". He taught the song to the rest of the group, though he screwed up the bridge in the song, but obviously no one cared that much. The introduction to "Blue Moon" is arguably the most iconic part of the song, and it was an excerpt of an original song that the group was going to use in their album. It's a good thing that Phillips at least allowed that to happen.
You're immediately hooked onto "Blue Moon" when it starts. The beginning consists only of the Marcels' bass singer singing "bom-ba-da-bom-ba-dang-a-dang-dang-a-ding-a-dong-ding" but that part alone is so catchy, that you have to stick around and see where this song is going. And you won't be disappointed either. The song is tons of fun, with full contributions from all the group members. Some of the members are making funny noises in the song, and it almost sounds like the Marcels sort of freestyled the track, and just had fun with it. I absolutely love the transition they made, going from a ballad type song (which worked just fine) and turning it into something almost approaching novelty territory. On paper, this is something that quite honestly shouldn't have worked very well. But the Marcels made it work, made it even better in my opinion, and were awarded a #1 song because of it. That is a hell of an achievement.
GRADE: 9/10
JUST MISSED:
Jorgen Ingmann's "Apache" (which would later become "hip hop's anthem") was kept off the top spot on the charts, peaking at #2 behind "Blue Moon". It's a 7.
Comments