Blue Moon of Kentucky

Infobox Single
Name = Blue Moon of Kentucky


Cover size =
Border =
Caption =
Artist = Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys
Album =
A-side =
B-side =
Released = 1950
Format =
Recorded =
Genre = Bluegrass
Length =
Label = Columbia Records
Writer = Bill Monroe
Producer =
Audio sample? =
Certification =
Last single =
This single =
Next single =
Misc =

"Blue Moon of Kentucky" is a waltz written in 1947 by bluegrass musician Bill Monroe and recorded by his band, The Blue Grass Boys. The song has since been recorded by Elvis Presley, Patsy Cline [cite web | url= [http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/P/patsyclinelyrics/patsyclinebluemoonofkentuckylyrics.htm | title=Blue Moon of Kentucky Lyrics] Ronnie Hawkins, Rory Gallagher, LeAnn Rimes, Paul McCartney, Boxcar Willie, Ray Charles and others.

Recording history

Bill Monroe wrote the song in 1947, but didn't record it until three years later. Carl Perkins played an uptempo version of this song in his early live performances.When the just starting out Elvis Presley, along with Bill Black and Scotty Moore, completed a take of the song in July 1954, Sun Records owner Sam Phillips exclaimed, "BOY, that's fine, that's fine. That's a POP song now!." Presley responded, "That sounds like Carl Perkins!" [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000002WX6 Elvis ‘56 DVD]

Elvis Presley's version went to number one on the country charts across the American South in 1954. This song was the second recorded by Presley, and released by Sun Records. According to guitarist Scotty Moore, it was bassist Bill Black who began playing an irreverent version of the song during an up until then unproductive recording session to produce a second side for the previously recorded "That's Alright Mama". Presley and Moore then joined in.

Ralph Stanley and Carter Stanley recorded version of the songthey tracked at Monroe's urging in 1954 shortly after Presley's hit version was released. their take on the song neatly bridges the stylistic gap between Monroe's and Presley's approaches. [http://shop.cmt.com/The-Definitive-Collection-1947-1966-Old-Timey_stcVVproductId10297302VVcatId423553VVviewprod.htm] "Blue Moon of Kentucky" is the official bluegrass song of Kentucky. In 2002, Monroe's version was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Later, in the 1960s, the song was covered by instrumental pop band The Tornados; it was one of the few songs that the band ever recorded which employed vocals. Another cover version was released by the Kentucky Headhunters on their 1993 album "Rave On!!".

A splendid version, although rather nervous, was recorded in 1994 by the late Rory Gallagher during the Montreux Jazz Festival, as a part of a medley. This version was released 9 years later in the Wheels Within' Wheels album, in 2003.

In 1995, the remaining Beatles, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr performed an impromptu 4/4 version of the song that was eventually released on the Bonus DVD of "The Beatles Anthology" video release.

In 2002, "Blue Moon of Kentucky" appeared on King of the Hill (Season 6, Episode 9: The Bluegrass is Always Greener)

In 2003, CMT ranked "Blue Moon of Kentucky" #11 on its "100 Greatest Songs in Country Music".

In 2000, John Fogerty recorded a version of this tune on Ricky Skaggs and Friends' "Big Mon" tribute album to Monroe. This version begins with a few seconds of the original recording.

In January 2008, late-night talk show host Conan O'Brien led the house band, Max Weinberg and The Max Weinberg 7 in a rendition of the song on Late Night With Conan O'Brien. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9lXcUL2GQw]

External links

* [http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1113449/a/Blue+Moon+Of+Kentucky+(Sony+Special+Products).htm 30 second sample @ cduniverse]
* [http://www.kdla.ky.gov/resources/kybgsong.htm Kentucky's State Bluegrass Song: Blue Moon of Kentucky]
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1081905 NPR report including various versions]