The Original Dancing In The Moonlight… Or Was It?
American rock band King Harvest, formed in Paris in the early ’70s, is best known for their 1973 hit Dancing In The Moonlight. But there’s an interesting twist to this tale—one of the band’s founding members, Sherman Kelly, had already written and released the song with his previous band, Boffalongo.
In fact, the song’s origins predate King Harvest’s success, with Sherman having penned it well before he joined the group. Upon his arrival in King Harvest, he convinced the band to re-record the track, although he himself wasn’t present for the studio session, as he had left France before the band began recording.
Released as a single, Dancing In The Moonlight became a hit in the U.S., propelling King Harvest to success. However, the band was short-lived, breaking up soon after the song’s release. They reunited briefly when the single gained traction, recording an album named after the track, but failed to produce any further hits, and the band split for good in 1976.
But the legacy of Dancing In The Moonlight didn’t end there. In 1999, English band Toploader scored a much bigger hit with their version of the song, which became their most successful single. Ironically, Toploader’s version of the song is often seen as their one-hit wonder.
Interestingly, while the name might suggest a cover, Thin Lizzy’s Dancing In The Moonlight (It’s Caught Me In Its Spotlight) is an entirely different tune, with only the title bearing a resemblance.
So, which version reigns supreme? The original by King Harvest, Toploader’s 1999 hit, or Thin Lizzy’s track? That’s a matter of taste, but the song’s enduring popularity speaks to the lasting impact of its simple yet catchy melody.
King Harvest Tunes | Related Pages
Dancing In The Moonlight | Chords + Lyrics
Learn how to play Dancing In The Moonlight by King Harvest (and Toploader) using chords, lyrics, and the original recordings.
| Fm7 (A) | Bb7 | Eb Bb/D | Cm7 |
We get it, almost every night, when that moon gets so big and bright…
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