June Moon: Mr. Moonlight

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Well howdy! It’s a new week, but you’re still getting mooned by these songs. The top ten will start next week, and I know you CAN wait for that. I hope you’re enjoying this mix of big band (yesterday), jazzy rock (Friday’s song), folk, and now…yep, it’s “Linda? NO!!!!” time with the country. Here’s today’s song. Mr. Moonlight - Johnny Horton NO relation to the song the Beatles recorded. It was enough of a shock that they did Buck Owens’ “Act Naturally.” Couldn’t see them pulling a Johnny Horton song out of their mop tops. (Although, if you’ve heard some of those studio jams, they’re pretty cool! I love their offbeat rendition of the theme to The Third Man.) Nope, this was written by Canadian country singer/songwriter Ray Griff (1940 - 2016). Johnny Horton, whom “everybody” knows from “The Battle of New Orleans,” had a rockabilly edge to him in spots. Here he tried to suppress it, but it sneaked out…just a little. This was one of my favorite albums when I was a kid. I have news for you: it’s still one of my favorite albums. Mr. Moonlight Written by Ray Griff Recorded by Johnny Horton From The Spectacular Johnny Horton, 1960 Nobody really cares when the moon goes at dawn: