THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

478-Symarip-Skinhead Moonstomp.

1969-It didn’t chart in the UK until it was reissued in 1980, when reaching Number 54.

Bet Bit-At 1.58. Light years before the more difficult to perform the ‘Moonwalk,’ (see also best songs 581 and 191) came the ‘Moonstomp.’

‘Symarip’ were formed in the late 1960’s by Frank Pitter, (drums) and Michael Thomas, (bass guitar) originally calling themselves ‘The Bees.’ Throughout their career they have also used other stage names including ‘Seven Letters,’ Zubaba,’ and ‘The Pyramids.’ The bands name was originally spelled ‘Simaryp,’ which is an approximate reversal of the word pyramids. The other three group members who were also of West Indian descent were Josh Roberts, (guitar) Roy Ellis, (vocals, and trombone) and Monty Nalsmith, (keyboards.) The group were active between 1967-1985, with Thomas and Nalsmith, plus other new members reforming in 2008 to tour. ‘Symarip’ were heavily influenced by the ‘Ska,’ Reggae,’ and ‘Rock Steady’ music coming out of Jamaica in the mid to late 1960’s. and are widely regarded as one of the first ‘skinhead’ Reggae bands, targeting skinheads as an audience. The discography of ‘Symarip’ includes four studio Albums (two as ‘Symarip,’ and two as ‘The Pyramids’) released between 1968-1985, and a further two compilation Albums released on ‘Trojan’ records in 2004, and 2009, they have also released at least 65 singles under their differing stage names, between 1967-1974.

In 1969 the Jamaican Reggae artist Derrick Morgan wrote and recorded ‘Moon Hop,’ which reached Number 49 in the UK. The song was written to commemorate the July 20th, 1969 landing of the ‘Apollo Lunar Module’ on the moon. Symarip’s very similar sounding ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ soon followed. Symarip denied accusations of plagiarism, saying there was no relation between the two songs, but Derrick Morgan disagreed, calling them ‘Copy Cats.’ The Symarip recording of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ is credited as being co-written by Roy Ellis and Monty Nalsmith, of Symarip, with the production credited to Graeme Goodall (1932-2014.) At the very start of ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ you hear the lyrics ‘I want all you skinheads to get on your feet, put your braces together and your boots on your feet,’ this introduction was heavily influenced by the ‘Sam & Dave’ song ‘I Thank You’ (1968-Billboard Number 9 & UK Number 34.) In 1980, in the wake of the ‘Second coming of Ska,’ and the forming of ‘2 Tone Records,’ ‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ was reissued, and charted for the first time in the UK, when reaching Number 54. Other notable versions recorded, include ‘The Specials’ from their 1980 ‘The Special A.K.A. Live! EP,’ which also included their UK Number 1 single ‘Too Much Too Young,’ (see also best songs 924) and also a version by the late great Judge Dread (1945-1998.)

Derrick Morgan ‘OD’ was born on March 27th, 1940, in Clarendon, Jamaica, he has written, produced and recorded in the genres of ‘Rocksteady,’ ‘Reggae and ‘Ska.’ He has been a prolific recording artist, issuing over 250 singles in Jamaica, from 1959 onwards, and 21 Albums between 1969-2019. In 1960 he became the only artist ever to fill the places from one to seven on the Jamaican Pop chart simultaneously. In the 1960’s in Jamaica there was a great rivalry between Morgan and Prince Buster, (1938-2016) (see also best songs 734 and 139) who accused Morgan of stealing his ideas. This led to several ‘diss’ records from both parties, with followers of the two artists often clashing, eventually the government had to step in with a staged photo shoot depicting the rivals as friends. Derrick Morgan retired from the music industry because of illness in the 2010’s, but has since performed sporadically.

‘Skinhead Moonstomp’ was produced by Graeme Goodall, who was born in 1932, in Caulfield, Victoria, Australia, he died on December 3rd, 2014, from natural causes, at the age of 82. Goodall was a key figure in the promoting of Jamaican music, constructing several of the Island’s recording studios, and co-founding ‘Island Records’ in 1959 with Chris Blackwell, (see also best songs 494-291 and 56) and Leslie Kong (1933-1971.) After Goodall’s relationship broke down with Chris Blackwell he relocated to the UK in 1965, and starting up his own record labels ‘Doctor Bird,’ ‘Pyramid.’ and the ‘Trojan Records’ subsidiary ‘Attack Records.’ In 1969 Leslie Kong sent Goodall the master tapes of a song called ‘Poor Me, Israelites’ by Desmond Dekker, (1941-2006) which was proving popular in clubs, but receiving little air play, Goodall remixed the track and released it in the UK in 1969 on ‘Pyramid Records’ as ‘Israelites.’ the single went on to top the UK Singles Chart, and sell in excess of two million copies (see also best songs 122.)

Now, before we reach the moon, fellas, we got to make sure that everything is spic and span, alright? We got to make sure you, shine your boots, brush your teeth, because the man on the moon look different from man on the Earth. That’s what I say boys.’