THE MARCELS – “Blue Moon”
I don’t think even the glitchiest glitch could match “Blue Moon”‘s introductory slap. This stutter, this chatter, this cheek – this is “Blue Moon”?? And when the Marcels start the song ‘proper’ the swell and mess of voices doesn’t retreat to its rightful backing place, it actually grows. The group take the endpoint of “Blue Moon” – the sweet overwhelming relief that comes with finding someone to be with in this world – and turn it into the song’s foundation. The result is a two-minute party, a compressed essence of not-alone-ness and one of the funniest Number Ones to boot.
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See also Unchained Melody by Vito & The Salutations. Not as funny as the Marcels, but just as pantheon-trashing. And better than Jimmy Young of course.
Blue Moon could also be seen as the death knell for the Doo Wop revival – scenes always seeming to curl up in a ball of self-parody and nov. Luckily a new wave – the Frankie Lymon inspired Girl Groups – were about to take group harmonies and teen pop to the next level.