Feature Song: “Dancing in the Moonlight”
Although this has happened in a previous DUTC or two, I was completely blindsided with the revelation during my research into this song to find out that the original artist/first recording was not done by the band that I initially thought. Not only that, I had also never heard of the original band, even though there is a connection between the two, nor did I know the rather grizzly circumstances that led to the writing of the song.
“Dancing in the Moonlight” is a song written by Sherman Kelly and originally recorded in 1970 by Kelly’s band, Buffalongo, before it became a hit single by King Harvest in 1972, which reached to No.5 in Canada. Having grown up in Canada, this may be the reason I thought King Harvest was the original band. It also may have something to do with me thinking that they were a Canadian-based band… they are not. I know, quite the learning curve! The song was written by Kelly in 1969 while he was recovering from a vicious assault by a gang in St. Croix. I will spare you the grizzly details, but the song came to be during his rehabilitation as he was envisioning some kind of alternate reality, the dream of a peaceful and joyful celebration of life. He recorded it with his band, singing the lead vocals, and it was included on their album, Beyond Your Head, the final single from that album. Buffalongo was a short-lived enterprise (1968-1971). They formed in 1968 in Ithaca, New York with Keith Ginsberg (guitar), Basil Matychak (keyboards), Ritchie Vitagliano (drums) and Larry Hoppen (bass). Kelly would join the band after they moved from Ithaca to New York City before the release of their second album containing the feature song.
Now, the King Harvest version came to be because, at the time, Sherman Kelly’s brother, Wells Kelly, introduced the song to the Paris-based band in which he was the drummer, along with former Boffalongo member, Dave “Doc” Robinson, who was lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the band. In fact, the original King Harvest lineup were also all from Ithaca, but they broke up and then reformed when all four original members ended up migrating to Paris, France in the same year, 1972. The original members included the aforementioned Robinson, Ron Altbach (keyboards), Ed Tuleia (guitar), and Rod Novak (saxophone), as all were attending Cornell University at the time. After they had relocated abroad, several more members were added, including some former Buffalongo bandmates. I guess there is nothing like keeping it in the family.
My chosen cover this week is by yet another band I had never heard of before, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, who are a New York-based soul/rock band. Ya gotta love the name! The band is led by singer Arleigh Kincheloe (Sister Sparrow), with Jackson Knicheloe (harmonica), Josh Meyers (bass), Dan Boyden (drums), Phil Rodriguez (trumpet), and Brian Graham (baritone & tenor saxophones), making up the “dirty birds.” Since 2011, Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds have played at venues across the US and Canada. Frontwoman Sister Sparrow first began writing music while living between New York City and the Catskill Mountains as a teenager. She was accompanied by her brother Jackson on harmonica, adding members and forming as a band in 2008. While Sister Sparrow is the principal songwriter, the entire band works collectively on arrangements. They embarked on their first tour in 2011, and by the end of that year they had played about 150 shows in 28 states. They have opened for bands sand musicians, such as Dr. John, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band. I really liked what they did with this song. Enjoy!
Boffalongo. “Dancing in the Moonlight” 1970.
King Harvest. “Dancing in the Moonlight” cover, 1972.
Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds. “Dancing in the Moonlight” cover. Performed for the Phases of the Moon Festival’s ‘Moon Tunes’ Series, Danville, Illinois, 2014.
Los Angeles 2024
Quite the remarkable story with this song. Sister Sparrow is new to me and its a cool jazzy take. You certainly have a knack for finding unique covers!
Yeah, I was definitely surprised when I discovered all that stuff. Thank you. The downside to those finds is that I spend way to much time scrolling on YouTube! Like they say: “What the large print giveth, the small print taketh away!”
I don’t believe Ive heard that phrase!
It’s actually from a Tom Waits song, but I will have to get back to you with the title, need to find it. I do remember it’s in a spoken word part of the song. Got it: “Step Right Up” from the album Small Change, one of my favorites of his.
Great line.
I have always loved this song but, apparently like a lot of others, I thought it was sung by Van Morrison! The original is amazing, and so are Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds’ version. Thanks for enlightening me!
I too thought this was a King Harvest original. A nice, lively cover by Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds.
The title didn’t ring a bell but the version by King Harvest certainly did, though I wasn’t aware of the group’s name. I prefer it over the original. I also think the rendition by Sister Sparrow & the Dirty Birds is neat!