Starbuck ~ Moonlight Feels Right 1976 Disco Purrfection Version

Strictly speaking, Starbuck is not a one hit wonder, although most would be hard pressed to name any other song by the band. For the record, Billboard defines a one hit wonder that has a Top 40 hit, and then other releases do not reach the Top 40. They did have a #43 hit "I Got To Know" in October 1976, then a #38 hit in 1977 with "Everybody Be Dancin'" which kept them out of the one hit wonder category.

This song was recorded in demo form in April of 1974 and when Bill Lowery heard the song, he signed the band to record "Moonlight" and three other Blackman singles. According to Blackman, the alternate version I used in this remix was his demo recording that was disappeared from his studio, but is on sale at iTunes. Apparently, he is not getting any royalties from that track. He is currently looking into enforcing his copyright for ownership

Frankie Valli's Private Stock records agreed to distribute "Moonlight" and released it in September of 1975. The song floundered until a DJ in Birmingham, Alabama added it to his playlist. The song entered the chart at #90 on April 17, 1976 and hit #3 sixteen weeks later, where it remained for two weeks. Starbuck got its start in 1974 when Bruce Blackman got together with his former band mates from Eternity's Children whose song, "Mrs Bluebird", had peaked at #69 for three weeks in August of 1968. This time, the band experimented with synthesizers and wound up with a #3 hit in "Moonlight Feels Right" during the summer of 1976. The distinctive marimba break played by Bo Wagner could have easily been played with keyboards, but the use of natural instruments was perfectly balanced with the synthesized sounds.

The band went everywhere on the strength of that single...touring with KC & The Sunshine Band, Hall & Oates, ELO and Boston until the early 80's when they disbanded. Happy to say Bruce and the boys got back together in 2013 and are performing and recording new material. You can visit the band at http://www.moonlightfeelsright.com/bi...