Last month I wrote a post (link here) about that amazing full moon we in the UK were all witness to. Having discovered that all full moons have a name, generally having come from the Native Americans who very much used the moon’s cycle as their calendar, I decided to embark on a series of “moon posts” to coincide with whenever a new one appears in our skies. Last night, despite the fact there had been solid cloud cover all day, I managed to witness the Cold Moon, so-called because it occurs at that time of the year when the cold grip of winter really starts to take hold. I tried very hard to get a good shot of it both with my phone and camera, but not easy, so here is the best I could come up with – My Cold Moon as seen in the Highlands of Scotland.
The next full moon will occur in January, so as this is my last lunar offering of 2017 I am going to feature a song by an artist who sadly left us earlier this year and whom I have been remiss in not mentioning until now. I am talking about Al Jarreau who despite having had an incredibly long career as a jazz performer will, for me, always be remembered as the guy who sang the “Moonlighting” Theme. Al started out in 1968 and during his lengthy career received a total of seven Grammy Awards and was nominated for over a dozen more. He is perhaps best known for his 1981 album “Breakin’ Away” but passed away back in February this year at the age of 76, just two days after announcing his retirement.
“Moonlighting” Theme by Al Jarreau:
Moonlighting was the American comedy-drama television series, set in the offices of a private detective agency, that ran for four years in the late 1980s. It was must watch telly in the flat I shared with my best friends and even when we all started to move out and go our separate ways, it was always a great excuse for a get-together back at the mothership!
The show made a star out of Bruce Willis and re-launched the career of Cybill Shepherd. The relationship between their characters, David and Maddie, was of course one of those “will they, won’t they” ones but naturally once they did, the magic ended. Still included in most lists of the best TV couples of all time however.
Next month’s full moon will be called the Wolf Moon so I shall return at the start of January with another lunar song title. A bit of a quirk next month however in that we will also have a Blue Moon. Doesn’t happen often (thus the name) but as all full moons occur every 29.5 days we will have one on the 2nd and the 31st (just snuck in there at the end of the month). Plenty of song choices for blue moons but will have to have a think about which song would be most suitable for a wolf moon. Bob Seger and his Silver Bullet Band immediately comes to mind but we’ll see!
Until next time…. RIP Al Jarreau
Moonlighting Lyrics
(Song by Al Jarreau/Lee Holdridge)
Some walk by night
Some fly by day
Nothing could change you
Set and sure of the way
Charming and bright
Laughing and gay
I’m just a stranger
Love the Blues and the Braves
There is the sun and moon
Facing their old, sweet tune
Watch them when dawn is due
Sharing one space
Some walk by night
Some fly by day
Something is sweeter
When you meet ‘long the way
There is the sun and moon
Facing their old, sweet tune
Watch them when dawn is due
Sharing one space
So come walk the night
Come fly by day
Something is sweeter
‘Cause we met ‘long the way
We’ll walk the night
We’ll fly by day
Moonlighting strangers
Who just met on the way
Who just met on the way
What's It All About? 
I like your photo, Alyson. The upper half makes me think of a 19th century painting of a night sky, whereas the lower half puts me in mind of Edward Hopper’s work. Interesting!
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P.S. Please feel free to delete the link to my blog, Alyson. I can’t seem to beg, borrow or steal an audience for these great vintage tunes anymore. Thanks for your very kind comments and support.
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I wouldn’t think of deleting it as one of my long-standing links. Just keep it public all the time if you can, so that people can drop by whenever they click on the link. Will drop by when I’ve finished these replies.
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Thanks, although it really should have turned out better as I could see a well-defined moon but the photo just never showed that. Just had a search for Edward Hopper – I see what you mean. Wasn’t aware of his work but a bit Jack Vettriano-ish.
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Thanks for the lunar lesson. Very interesting. And thanks for featuring the wonderful Mr. Jarreau (RIP). In the same way I talked about the joy I feel anytime I listen James Taylor, the same can be said for Al Jarreau. The song I always come back to is “Roof Garden” (a perfect spot to view a full moon, perhaps?). Are you familiar with it? If not, I recommend finding the original music video. It’s ridiculous in a super-colorful ’80s way, but it just seems like everyone involved was super happy that day. Smiles are guaranteed.
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I got really interested in all these moon facts and figures last month so why not share them! Yes it was Al this month as I felt bad I hadn’t mentioned his passing earlier in the year so appropriate.
Just watched Roof Garden video – I see what you mean. All very “Let’s Get Physical”!
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TV theme tunes don’t sound like that anymore, very nice. Moonlighting was before my time though I do remember re-runs appearing on TV. More familiar with Bruce Willis’ subsequent movie career. Another “moon” song I’m reminded of tonight is Hey Moon by John Maus, simple, yet affecting.
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You’re right – There don’t seem to be many really good theme tunes any more. Although I do like the music used in Peaky Blinders which is a BBC2 show you may or may not have access to – by Nick Cave. Just listened to John Maus and see what you mean. One to remember for this series.
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I don’t watch many shows. I know song Red Right Hand from Peaky Blinders though, it’s a good one. Originally from Nick Cave’s 1994 album.
I have a theory Hey Moon by John Maus really is a song about insomnia. “Everyone else is asleep” and it’s late at night!
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You know what, I don’t think anyone who has a blog watches much telly as not enough time for both but my recent change in circumstances has meant that I have been able to watch a bit more than before (even the Moonlighting pilot!). Going to have to work on that though as not what I had intended at all.
You are right, Hey Moon seems to be very much about insomnia which I do suffer from quite a lot so the lyrics ring true. I envy those people who are out like a light the minute their heads hit the pillow – One of life’s underappreciated gifts I think.
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I’ve said my piece on Moonlighting – I loved that show unapologetically until the end. Yes, I know it lost its sparkle once the “will they / won’t they” stuff was resolved, but I stuck with it regardless.
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I must admit I did think of you when I wrote this but decided NOT TO MENTION your love of Moonlighting and your subsequent first album purchase! I didn’t want the year to end however without paying tribute to Al Jarreau and this moon series seemed to be the time. I’ve now written as many tributes this year as last, but because the artists have been older and less well-known, it hasn’t felt as harrowing a year in terms of loss. Still a few weeks to go though and last year we had George Michael leaving us on Xmas day which I certainly hadn’t expected.
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Hi. I was a fan of Moonlighting, too. Good, sarcastic dialogue in that show. Willis was in the Philadelphia area recently with Samuel Jackson. I forget whose movie they’re in — it might be by M Night (I forget his last name).
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It was good wasn’t it – I just found Season 1 on YouTube so am going to have a bit of a trip down memory lane. Great theme song.
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Love your photo and more moon names. The idea of a Wolf Moon is particularly evocative, and I can imagine a few good songs to accompany it…. so will look forward to your photo of it and suitable soundtrack when it comes around. As for ‘Moonlighting’, have to confess I’ve never seen it – something tells me I’m probably in quite a minority there….
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My photo wasn’t that great actually but really hard to get a good shot. Yes I have a few ideas for next month which will be when we are all just recovering from Hogmanay up here! As for Moonlighting I just discovered that the first season is on YouTube so going to have a trip down memory lane later on!
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Like Rol I stuck with Moonlighting until the bitter end, even though the magic had long gone for me by that point. A truly great show in its day though. I particularly remember the ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ episode and also the one written entirely in iambic pentameter – groundbreaking stuff at the time, for a mainstream TV show.
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Well remembered – I don’t know what I was doing in my late 20s but I certainly can’t recall any specific episodes now. Oh that’s right, I was being a flibbertigibbet (who probably did a bit too much socialising!). I am going to revisit some of the episodes on YouTube though – Great theme song.
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Alyson, I know this is weird, but I have to leave my response to your comment here, because Blogger won’t let me leave a reply on my own blog:
I was initially perplexed, too, when I started to come up as Peterborough, Ottawa and, more recently, as a place called Belle River.
I don’t know if I’ll restore the archive or not at this point, Alyson, though I’m going to leave the site open just in case something comes up on shuffle that I just have to post.
I’m taking a wee break, as I think I’m feeling especially jaded at the moment. It seems that what I’ve always hoped to derive from this blogging lark is entirely different from what others are satisfied with.
🙂
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That is weird isn’t it! As for this time whilst you decide what you’re going to do, a few out there have often suggested that it might be an idea to “do a George” – I missed out on his blog as only found this group last year but once you call time on your own blog it leaves lots of time to visit others and join in the discussion which is often the best bit!
Christmas just round the corner now – I haven’t quite decided which seasonal songs to share yet but a fun time on the blogosphere I seem to remember from last year – I’m sure you’ll think of a few great vintage picks for your place?
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I figured the problem was that Google had fought back against my ad-blocker. When I tried it out the next morning, though, the glitch had corrected itself.
It’s true – there certainly is more time to browse and I always pop over to yours and C’s. As for joining in the discussions elsewhere, I sometimes do, but the truth is that I only rarely appreciate the tunes that are posted, so if I don’t have anything positive to add, I just stay mum.
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Good that it sorted itself out. You are right though, best to browse and then only jump in when you have enjoyed the post. Hopefully I will have time soon for some of the kind of music I know you appreciate.
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Actually, you’ve played many tunes which I’ve enjoyed. Like you, I try to always play songs that I love listening to myself or that evoke for me a particular moment in time. Just playing them for others is a way to express an important part of myself, as I’m circumspect about putting personal details out there on the net. I guess I’m a few years behind the folks who run blogs in our neighbourhood, as most ’90s and ’00s tunes just don’t seem melodically/lyrically interesting or memorable to these ears.
Did you recently post or write about Frank Sinatra’s “It Was a Very Good Year.” It was one I rated highly even back in the ’60s, and recently picked it up from iTunes!
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I must admit if you look on my sidebar at the list of decades featured (in categories section) I could draw a graph where the peak is in the 1970s but from then on it tails off. The 1960s feature quite highly as well so these are the two decades I seem to revisit most often when looking back at the music I must have listened to in my life. Aged 7-17 you have just so much time and a passion for music (and the artists themselves) but unless it is your main hobby, in your 20s/30s and onward, important things like earning your living and raising a family take precedent. This blog has been fun though, as I’m discovering new songs from my favourite decades all the time which has been a joy (Love and Forever Changes recently).
Yes Frank’s song “It Was A Very Good Year” featured in my New Jersey Odyssey post as it formed the anchor to which I then attached songs from all the years mentioned in it. A wonderful song with wonderful phrasing.
As for the personal details, I tried to approach this blog as a writer with a pseudonym would use personal details for a book – My thinking is that no-one I know visits here and I am still pretty anonymous (although less so all the time!) on the net so would be impossible to link me to my posts/personal stories. Adds another dimension to a post about a particular song.
Anyway – better head off and start doing something about Christmas – Just round the corner now.
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Thank you for sharing this post, I appreciate your work that goes into making each post. This song grabbed me as a teenager (I am 44now) when Moonlighting was on later at night here in New Zealand. As a lover of older style jazz and classical I was drawn to Al and throughout my journey I then stumbled upon George Benson, Grover Washington Jnr, Quincy Jones, Barry White, etc etc etc…. I always tried to style my teenage locks like Cybil’s but couldn’t quite do it as my hair is naturally wavy. I think I ended up with a perm after that and shoulder pads in my blouses…. What were they thinking? Merry Christmas Alison and thank you for another great memory.
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Thanks for dropping by Kiwigal – Yes it seems a lot of people loved that show and Al’s title song was sublime. I actually watched the pilot show again recently on YouTube and like you really admired Cybill’s look back in the day. Yes it was a decade of perms and shoulder pads – What were they thinking indeed! Made a massive star out of Bruce Willis and Cybill didn’t do too badly out of it either. I didn’t realise until writing this post that Al had such a long and successful career though, as I just knew him for this song – My loss obviously.
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My pleasure, I have your posts come directly into my inbox and I knew that I had to come in and say hi and how this song brought back so many memories of my teenage years. Al had a wonderful voice and yes a successful career… his music along with the others that I mentioned gave me another taste of jazz music… and those perms and shoulder pads aggggghhh… don’t get me started 😊 and Bruce and Cybil certainly were great together. I think that I might have to watch the pilot again too😌
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Oh that’s really nice to know – thanks. Hopefully I will write about something else soon that also strikes a cord. Feel free to drop by any time.
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Thank you, I certainly will. I read a number of your posts and smile as the song may remind me of a memory…this song one of my songs from my teenage years that changed the way I listened to jazz so it was a great way to be introduced to modern jazz and a wee bit different to my Chet Baker etc…😎😊
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Blue Moon – Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis
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What a great clip – Quite a while since I wrote about Sybil and Bruce now but just been reminded of that great show and of their undeniable chemistry. Thanks.
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