As an avid vinyl enthusiast, I’m always updating my collection and recently
found a copy of a record I had been seeking out for years. As a big fan of the
Who and their legendary drummer, I felt having Two Sides Of The Moon,
Keith Moon’s only solo album from 1974, was a must. They even made a big
deal about one of the songs, “Move Over Ms. L” on the Lost Lennon
Tapes, but more on that later.
The record starts with “Crazy Like A Fox,” one of the few tunes
featuring Moon on drums. It’s like the drummer’s answer to Ziggy
Stardust with Moonie riding the glitter wave. Recorded at the Record Plant in
Los Angeles, a string of West coast players like Jay Ferguson (Spirit, Jo Jo
Gunne) and guitarist Jesse Ed Davis appear on this one. “Solid Gold,”
featuring Ringo Starr and Joe Walsh, has the feel of the Stones’ Their
Satanic Majesties Request.
Then we have Moonie on “Don’t Worry Baby,” the Beach Boys
classic. What a production! Talk about too much, but we all know how much Moonie
loved the surf music. Even John Sebastian and Flo and Eddie couldn’t save
this one. “One Night Stand,” a slow country rocker was written by
Dennis Larden, lead guitarist from Rick Nelson’s Stone Canyon Band. Nelson
himself contributes some vocals and there’s some nice steel guitar on
the song.
The version of “The Kid Are Alright” contains the only real rock
drumming from Moon with an emphasis on his unorthodox style. At the time of
this record’s release, I had only seen the Who once, a couple of months
before Who’s Next. For years, he was unrivaled as the
most fun-to-watch and animated drummer there was. For this rave-up of a Who
classic, Moon has guitarist Joe Walsh and Flo and Eddie on board to close out
side one on a high note.
The second side opens with a John Lennon obscurity, “Move Over Ms. L.”
This is a rocking take with Moon on drums and a horn arrangement by the Beatles’
road manager and confidant Mal Evans. “Teenage Idol” follows with
Dick Dale on laying down “surf” guitar on this early 60s style tune
— very tame for rock’s wildman drummer. “Back Door Sally”
is keyboard-driven tune with a Bobby Keys sax solo. Another Lennon number, this
time the Beatles’ “In My Life,” find Moon singing passionately
over a piano and strings arranged by, once again, Mal Evans. Harry Nilsson’s
“Together,” featuring Ringo Starr, finishes the record off.
Shortly After this record’s release, I attended an Eric Clapton concert
in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Keith Moon came out on stage to play “I
Can’t Explain” with Clapton and his band. He later returned with
Pete Townshend to play “Layla.” Around a year after that, I saw
the Who in Miami. Moonie was the focal point of the group; I was amazed by his
energy. It seemed like he was a machine pumping out beats. Since Moon’s
death, the Who never really replaced him; they just carried on without him.
Over 30 years after his demise, Moonie is still, to so many, the Who’s
one and only drummer.
Two Sides Of The Moon touches on Moon’s versatility,
yet fails in doing him any real justice. Although there are some enjoyable spots,
the true talent of Moonie was pushing the Who to the forefront of the rock hierarchy
by becoming the drummer’s drummer. To this day, everyone agrees Keith
Moon was one of the great, if not the greatest, rock drummers of the vintage
rock era. Which is why, after you pick up and listne through the double-CD deluxe
version of Two Sides Of The Moon (issued in 2006), you may
want to slip on Live At Leeds to hear the master loon at his
absolute best.
~ Dave Gardiner
