C Moon

"C Moon" is a song written by Paul and Linda McCartney and performed by Wings. It was released as a double A-side with "Hi, Hi, Hi" in 1972. The single reached No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart and since "Hi Hi Hi" was banned by the BBC, "C Moon" received much airplay in the United Kingdom.^[2][3] In the United States, "C Moon" did not appear on any of the major record charts.^[4]

"C Moon"
Label of the UK 7-inch single
Single by Wings
A-side	"Hi, Hi, Hi"
Released	1 December 1972
Recorded	2 September 1972
Studio	Morgan Studios, London
Genre	Rocksteady reggae rock[1]
Length	4:33
Label	Apple Records
Songwriter(s)	Paul McCartney Linda McCartney
Producer(s)	Paul McCartney
Wings singles chronology
"Mary Had a Little Lamb" (1972) "C Moon" / "Hi, Hi, Hi" (1972) "My Love" (1973)
Alternative cover art
Back cover of the German release of "Hi Hi Hi"

Lyrics and structure

The title "C Moon" was inspired by lyrics in the song "Wooly Bully" by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. McCartney said, "There's a line in [Wooly Bully] that says, 'Let's not be L7.' Well, L7, it was explained at the time, means a square—put L and 7 together and you get a square... So I thought of the idea of putting a C and a moon together (a half-moon) to get the opposite of a square. So 'C Moon' means cool, in other words."^[5]

The recording includes a missed-cue intro that was kept in the released version.^[6]

The song is in the key of C and is in 4/4 time. The performers change instruments from their usual places. Guitarist Henry McCullough plays drums and tambourine, guitarist Denny Laine plays bass, and drummer Denny Seiwell plays xylophone and cornet.^[7]

The song was recorded around the same time as "Hi, Hi, Hi", in September 1972.^[8]

Releases

Country	UK	US	Germany	France	Japan
Label	Apple	Apple	EMI Electrola/Apple	Apple	Apple
Catalogue number	R 5973	1857	1C006-05208	2C006-05208	EAR-10241
Release date	1 December 1972	4 December 1972	December, 1972		20 January 1973
Chart ratings	5 (16 January 1973)	—	N/A	N/A	26 (February, 1973)

The song was included on the Paul McCartney compilation albums All the Best! (1987) and Wingspan: Hits and History (2001) and as a bonus track on the 1993 remastered CD of Red Rose Speedway, as part of The Paul McCartney Collection. It was also included on The 7" Singles Box in 2022.^[9]

Personnel

• Paul McCartney – lead, harmony and backing vocals, piano, cornet
• Linda McCartney – harmony and backing vocals
• Denny Laine – bass
• Denny Seiwell – xylophone, cornet
• Henry McCullough – drums, tambourine